Annealing Cases

[chain]

This is probably a dumb question but here goes. Do you anneal prior to resizing?or DO you re -size then anneal. I usually tumble, re size, clean primer pockets, trim if neccessary, brush out brass, tumble, load. I am guessing I would anneal before doing anything else. Thanks

[jmason]

You want to anneal prior to resizing. Annealing will allow the hardened brass to become more flexible and take the shape that the die is trying to give it.

[Len Backus]

14mm deep socket (approx $6.00), 4" X 1/4-20 machine screw ($.50), 1/4-20 nut ($.09), 1/4 flat washer ($.09); total: $6.68.

Great! Where do I send my $6.68?

[johnnyk]

Len,
This was the cost of an amateur home project. Picked the items up at the ACE Hardware in town. If I were to make you one I would have to include time/labor cost ($25.00 per hr), mileage ($1.62 per mile), S&H (current postal rates) and insurance (whatever the insurance guys feel like that day!). It may be cheaper for you to try it yourself first .

Note: The WSM, H & H Magnum and .30-06 family of cases fit great inside the 14mm deep socket, and seem to have just the right amount of case sticking out for annealling. The short cases, .308 Win family, .22-250, .223, etc., don't have enough case exposed. I will have to visit ACE Hardware again whenever I plan on annealling these JohnnyK.

[chain]

I am guessing that the driving force behind annealing is to extend the life of your brass. Has annealing SIGNIFICANTLY improved anyone's accuracy? I am asking this because I don't want to ruin brass to save brass, but if it tighten up my groups, well all bets are off then. Thanks

[jmason]

I have seen no notable accuracy improvements but that's just me. Your mileage may vary. It does extend brass life and keep you from having to do those 1 time chores associated with new brass as frequently.

[Buffalobob]

Has annealing SIGNIFICANTLY improved anyone's accuracy? I am asking this because I don't want to ruin brass to save brass, but if it tighten up my groups, well all bets are off then. Thanks

As the neck of a piece of brass work hardens it will loose neck tension. After resizing you will be able to seat a bullet with just one finger and your thumb when a case neck is really hardened. You will also be able to pull it back out with one finger and a thumb or jar it further down in the case. So, when bullets are this loose in the neck it is unlikely that you can maintain any reasonable standard of accuracy.

If you opt to go to a smaller neck die to get more tension rather than annealing there will come a point in time that the neck has hardened enough that it will split on firing.

Annealing will not improve "new" unfired brass, it is for work hardened necks.

So here are your options:

1. Anneal your brass when the necks get hardened (maybe every four or five firings) and spend maybe $10 on the equipment and process.

2. Keep buying smaller and smaller neck sizing bushing until you split the case necks and ruin it all which will cost you about $200 in bushings and ruined brass.

3. Every four or five firings just throw all your brass away and buy new brass which will cost you maybe $150 plus all the time for brass prep.

Its your money and your time.