Annealing bullets

danman344

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Can someone explain to me why you would anneal bullets and what affect it has on the terminal ballistics of the round.
 
Can someone explain to me why you would anneal bullets and what affect it has on the terminal ballistics of the round.

Don't know where you got this information, I most certainly have not heard of annealing bullets.
You may be confusing annealing the case necks of cartridges PRIOR to loading them, this is done to ensure neck tension is sufficient after many loadings and when the case necks have work hardened.

Annealing a bullet would be very difficult due to the fact that it contains lead and would soak up the heat pretty rapidly and melt and boil out of the jacket.
Cheers.
gun)
 
It is a ridiculous notion to try and anneal a lead cored bullet it's stupid and if the bullet is heated to true annealing temps it could start to melt the core .
The only bullet that could withstand this is a solid metal bullet like a Barnes X or a turned projectile . However it's just not worth doing even then as it could distort the bullet .
If you are looking for a tougher bullet then go a bonded core bullet .
The only real practical way to have an almost fully annealed jacket is to make your own core bonded bullet using the solder bonding process .
Like the old Woodleigh weld core bullets. I think now all commercial bonded bullets wold be chemical bonding .
 
Bullets are annealed sometimes to improve low velocity expansion properties, I believe some guys on here to this with Sierra Match Kings.
 
I think for the most part guys who are annealing are just softening the tips to help them open. It works well and is easy enough to do, we are doing bullets that have a little cavity to the nose so you don't affect the lead in any way unless you get a little carried away with the heat. It lets the bullets open a little easier at lower velocity, that's all.
 
This topic gives me vapors!

Terminal expansion problems are most readily solved by larger cartridge with more powder. :)

I was thinking just that. It seems a lot less troublesome to 1. take shorter shots or 2. bring a bigger gun. Amax seem to expand pretty violently at "low" speeds.
 
anyone tested this with the 350 gr SMK in 375 cal????? Its main problem is lack of expansion. Been working on installing an aluminum tip on these to aid expansion but annealing the meplat would be a lot easier!!! Does not help BC much though!!:D
 
anyone tested this with the 350 gr SMK in 375 cal????? Its main problem is lack of expansion. Been working on installing an aluminum tip on these to aid expansion but annealing the meplat would be a lot easier!!! Does not help BC much though!!:D

wonder if there is a gameking version in the works. Though I am sure Berger and Hornady are already working up their own version. Maybe a 350 GR Amax.
 
I have heard rumblings that Berger is working on a 375 cal bullet, that would be nice but trying not to even get excited about that one, if they are making one it will be here when it gets here!!!
 
I'd be happy to see any berger in stock

Yep, me to!!! I was stocked up pretty well when this mess hit the fan as I test most of my customers rifles with berger bullets for accuracy testing but I am starting to run low in the 180 gr 7mm, 230 gr 30 cal and 300 gr 338 cal.

Hopefully they catch up soon. Likely new bullet R&D will not gear up until they catch up with back orders.....
 
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