Are Any of You Annealing Your Rifle Brass?

[Bill2905]

I never gave annealing much thought before now. I started shooting in a F-Class league this summer and with the increased shooting and reloading volume, I'm becoming more interested in it.

Are any of you annealing your brass and if so, what equipment/method are you using?

Thanks

 

[Hawkeye7br]

 

[Creedmoor]

Owned a Giraud with one brother, it was a pain shipping back and forth.
I bought a first gen Annealeez years ago, it works well. I like it or the Giraud because you can set it and walk away doing other tasks in the loading room while its working away.

 

[Leo]

For forming wildcat rounds like 7mm TCU or .357 herret, annealing is almost mandatory.

My rig was simple and cheap. I sat on a short stool with a bucket of water between my knees. Set a propane torch on the floor with the flame pointing over the bucket, away from me. I got one of those 4 claw pickup tools for a whole $3. Sitting in a dim garage, put the base of the case in the pickup tool, slowly spin it in the flame for about 15 seconds and drop it in the bucket. It does not need to be glowing cherry red for our use. repeat. This method helped me go from splitting about 50% to maybe 5%

It helps if you have a radio playing something you like.

 

[Leadeye]

There is a good study and test series posted by a fellow board member here, Shibumiseeker, which covers a lot about the pros and cons of case annealing with regards to case life.

 

[Bill2905]

Owned a Giraud with one brother, it was a pain shipping back and forth.
I bought a first gen Annealeez years ago, it works well. I like it or the Giraud because you can set it and walk away doing other tasks in the loading room while its working away.

Is the Annealeez fairly easy to set up and learn to use properly?

 

[drm-hp]

I use a Giraud, after 2 firings. I am finding that I am having more issues with primer pockets than brittle necks.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

For forming wildcat rounds like 7mm TCU or .357 herret, annealing is almost mandatory.

My rig was simple and cheap. I sat on a short stool with a bucket of water between my knees. Set a propane torch on the floor with the flame pointing over the bucket, away from me. I got one of those 4 claw pickup tools for a whole $3. Sitting in a dim garage, put the base of the case in the pickup tool, slowly spin it in the flame for about 15 seconds and drop it in the bucket. It does not need to be glowing cherry red for our use. repeat. This method helped me go from splitting about 50% to maybe 5%

It helps if you have a radio playing something you like.

I've only done it when I was making 30-40 Krag cases from .303 Brit brass. I would set 20 pieces of brass upright in a 13x9 baking pan with about an inch of water in it. Using a blow torch, I would heat up the neck of each case, then knock it over into the water.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Not with the amount of once fired brass that's out there.

 

[Goodcat]

I anneal every firing for any precision rifle cartridges. Annealez, ugly annealer, etc I’ve found if you turn off the lights, having the brass just barely start to glow orange on the neck before it drops is always consistent with 750 tempilaq inside the case neck. I run SDs in the 6-7s.

 

[Creedmoor]

Is the Annealeez fairly easy to set up and learn to use properly?

Yes. Most folks buy a bottle or two of templic temperature paint from a welding supply or online. Once you understand the color of brass you want, its easy.
You can adjust the torch handle and flame temp along with speeding the wheels on the machine slower or faster.
We form a bunch of cases and like above, annealing is imperative.
If I have time tomorrow I will post a video.

 

[Creedmoor]

I use a Giraud, after 2 firings. I am finding that I am having more issues with primer pockets than brittle necks.

Are you blowing out pockets?
What case?

 

[Dinny]

I anneal using a cordless drill and the caliber specific tools from Little Crow Works. I count to 12 and drop the hot brass into water. Works like a charm and has allowed me to get more loading from my brass.

 

[Creedmoor]

What is the reason some drop annealed brass into water?

 

[Leo]

What is the reason some drop annealed brass into water?

As far as the annealing goes, it makes no difference, but it saves you from having to set them up for air cooling and washes the cooked flakes of carbon and other debris from the inside.

If you need to load them right away, water can slow that down.

 

[Goodcat]

What is the reason some drop annealed brass into water?

I personally don’t quench because I don’t want to deal with drying the brass, but as Leo said, it doesn’t make any difference at all from an outcome stand point.

 

[Creedmoor]

As far as the annealing goes, it makes no difference,

I was hoping that was going to be your answee.
Some believe the cases continue to get hotter when the heats removed and keeps annealing more of the case.

 

[Bill2905]

The AMP annealer looks really interesting but the $1,595 price is kinda out there. Another guy in my shooting league has one and anneals for a couple of his closer friends. Maybe I need to get in his good graces.

Back in the more cost effective world, the Annealeez seems to get a lot of favorable press.

 

[russc2542]

I do my rifle brass because I can. I put cobbled together an induction annealer fed by my dillon casefeeder. Temps controlled by electronic timer based on tempilaq. Combination of amazon chinesium annealer and timer, 3d printed feeder assembly, hi-temp glass guide tube, and other motors and microswitches I had laying around. Basically fire and forget (but I don't leave it unattended because it's just something I cobbled together, not exactly UL rated.)

 

[turnerdye1]

I do my rifle brass because I can. I put cobbled together an induction annealer fed by my dillon casefeeder. Temps controlled by electronic timer based on tempilaq. Combination of amazon chinesium annealer and timer, 3d printed feeder assembly, hi-temp glass guide tube, and other motors and microswitches I had laying around. Basically fire and forget (but I don't leave it unattended because it's just something I cobbled together, not exactly UL rated.)

Gotta see that! Induction annealing has peaked my interest. Always thought of making one but never pulled the trigger