Anneal sized brass?

Hikinghunter · Jun 6, 2026

Starting to anneal every firing to help with SD. I have some virgin Peterson brass I loaded, then pulled bullets from. Thinking I might as well anneal it? It hasn't been fired, but it has been sized, thus work-hardened.

Any reason not to? I'm assuming you can't over-anneal as long as you don't over-heat.

Rick Richard · Jun 6, 2026

Never fired brass ? Well, then it is not fire-formed yet to your chamber and less than optimized for enhanced accuracy. So, do what you think, but I wouldn't put in the extra effort unit fired…..but that is just me.

Bitteroot · Jun 6, 2026

A few reasons for myself not to anneal, one is that good loading and tuning practices will give me low SD without annealing.
Annealing softens brass and makes it more difficult to apply bullet hold, Some combinations prefer plenty of bullet.
New brass is already annealed.
Annealing has never improved a target of mine although softening brass has ruined a few targets.
After acquiring a brass history without annealing I have data to compare annealed versus non annealed.

Mikecr · Jun 6, 2026

You didn't mention what case portions you're annealing. I assume just the necks, and I wouldn't bother in this case.
I do a deep body dip anneal before fire forming, so that cases form as fast as possible.
No more than partial neck sizing until fully formed.

imyourhuckleberry · Jun 6, 2026

This is a topic that will have a few different answers. Personally I anneal all my brass before full length sizing. I have never considered annealing brass that is already sized, especially if it is fire formed from your chamber.

Gary in MD · Jun 6, 2026

I'd fire it at least once and then anneal before re sizing. It has helped eliminate flyers for me and decreases SD if you're worried about that.

DUSTY NOGGIN · Jun 6, 2026

id run expander mandrel down em and see how they feel , and if they still measure good and shoulder datum hasnt moved and only the neck moved , id fill em and get your fire forming on

if they were a hard pull and you think you changed em , ya may have to full size again ( and in that case yeah id anneal and start over )

MagnumManiac · Jun 6, 2026

The only virgin brass I anneal are those that will be fire formed to AI or other improved cases that blow the shoulder out.
I do not FL size this brass again until it has been fired 3 times with only neck sizing, it gets another anneal and then FL sized from that dimension.
I will also say, some brass brands are just not worth the time to anneal.

Cheers.

Mike Matteson · Jun 6, 2026

I annealing just below the shoulder after first firing. First off I work my cases over to set up to use. Most of the time I find that the necks are under what I use to set my neck tension to begain with. So I use a mandrel to expand the neck. Even with reducing the neck to another caliber. I cut my cases to length, cut for thickness, then size the neck down to what I want. Fire once and anneal after that. I do check my length to the shoulder. I also set up and recheck my case length to besure they are all the same. For the first few firing I only neck sizes. Allowing the shoulder to move out.

WoodPecker Hunter · Jun 6, 2026

Hikinghunter said:
Starting to anneal every firing to help with SD. I have some virgin Peterson brass I loaded, then pulled bullets from. Thinking I might as well anneal it? It hasn't been fired, but it has been sized, thus work-hardened.

Any reason not to? I'm assuming you can't over-anneal as long

Just load and shoot it ! Then the hardening begins .

WoodPecker Hunter · Jun 6, 2026

Bitteroot said:
A few reasons for myself not to anneal, one is that good loading and tuning practices will give me low SD without annealing.
Annealing softens brass and makes it more difficult to apply bullet hold, Some combinations prefer plenty of bullet.
New brass is already annealed.
Annealing has never improved a target of mine although softening brass has ruined a few targets.
After acquiring a brass history without annealing I have data to compare annealed versus non annealed.

Wow

who would of thought all us guys shooting and annealing our brass everytime are well - Silly

I guess

AMP annealer for Sale ! Not needed

Thanks Bitter

Bitteroot · Jun 6, 2026

WoodPecker Hunter said:
Wow who would of thought all us guys shooting and annealing our brass everytime are well - Dumb I guess
AMP annealer for Sale ! Not needed
Thanks Bitter

I'm guessing you missed this part. vv

[Any reason not to? ]

[A few reasons for myself not to anneal]

Bitteroot · Jun 6, 2026

WoodPecker Hunter said:
Wow who would of thought all us guys shooting and annealing our brass everytime are well - Dumb I guess
AMP annealer for Sale ! Not needed
Thanks Bitter

I'm not calling anyone dumb, whatever works for you is fine with me. As above I just answered the question with what I see in my little program.
Next time perhaps I'll check with you first to ensure my thoughts align with yours before I offer any.
B

Phil Rizzo · Jun 6, 2026

I'd shoot it once at least before annealing. Done correctly it is not only conducive to precision but case life, if neck splitting is an issue.

Anneal sized brass?

Hikinghunter

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Rick Richard

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Bitteroot

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Mikecr

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imyourhuckleberry

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Gary in MD

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DUSTY NOGGIN

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MagnumManiac

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Mike Matteson

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WoodPecker Hunter

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WoodPecker Hunter

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Bitteroot

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Bitteroot

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Phil Rizzo

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