What is annealing

[cabelas90]

Im shure this question has been asked a thousand times. But WTH is annealing and why is it used in reloading? Any help would be great!

 

[ss7mm]

Here's a pretty good read. Link--> The Art and Science of Annealing

 

[Derek M.]

Here's the brass-o-matic link. You can scroll down and watch their video too:

BRASS-O-MATIC

 

[cabelas90]

Here's a pretty good read. Link--> The Art and Science of Annealing

Wow thats a very informitive read Thanks!

 

[BENNYBOOBOO]

While we're on the topic:

Does some brass come annealed? I don't shoot a lot, but last year I bought 100 rounds of Lapua .308 Win brass that was a different color at the shoulder/neck area. Does Lapua brass come annealed?

If not, how can I tell when it's time? I've only sized them about 4 times.

EH

 

[Derek M.]

While we're on the topic:

Does some brass come annealed? I don't shoot a lot, but last year I bought 100 rounds of Lapua .308 Win brass that was a different color at the shoulder/neck area. Does Lapua brass come annealed?

If not, how can I tell when it's time? I've only sized them about 4 times.

EH

All bottleneck brass comes annealed from the factory. Lapua just does not acid wash them prior to shipping. Annealing on 308 cases can be done about each 4-6 firings. I do it after every firing b/c it's quick and easy. I actually anneal them as the last step prior to reloading them.

 

[Bart B]

I've never annealed a case. Full-length resized one Federal .308 Win. case about 45 times, using max powder charge, then firing it in the same rifle with a muzzle velocity spread of about 25 fps. The only thing I had to do was trim the case back a few thousandths about every 10 sizings. All 45 shots were fired in about 45 minutes.

So much for full-length sizing reducing case life and having to anneal case necks every so often.

 

[Waltech Jim]

I've never annealed a case. Full-length resized one Federal .308 Win. case about 45 times, using max powder charge, then firing it in the same rifle with a muzzle velocity spread of about 25 fps. The only thing I had to do was trim the case back a few thousandths about every 10 sizings. All 45 shots were fired in about 45 minutes.

Not trying to be a smart ***, but could you please share with us the scientific method you used to get from the above to your statement below.

Jim

So much for full-length sizing reducing case life and having to anneal case necks every so often.

 

[Bart B]

... please share with us the scientific method you used to get from the above to your statement below.

There is no scientific method. Just proper use of ordinary full-length sizing dies that are set in the press correctly. I'll list my (and others who've put 20 or more consecutive shots into under 2 inches at 600 yards and 3.5 inches at 800) techniques used for .308 Win. cases.

First, the full-length sizing die gets its neck lapped out to .002 - .003-inch smaller than a loaded round's outside neck diameter. This does away with using the expander ball (also known as a "neck bender") and lets the case neck be sized only down; not back up again which works the case neck excessively. Depending on the neck wall thickness of your various case lots, you may need several dies each with their necks at different diameters. Fired cases sized this way have much straighter necks than when an expander ball is used.

Second, the full-length die's set in the press such that the case shoulder's set back only about .002-inch. This means minimal case stretching as the round fires with its shoulder pressed hard against the chamber shoulder and its back end stretches back very little to the bolt face, then shrinks back a tiny bit.

Third, the full-length sizing die's body diameters at the pressure ring and shoulder should not reduce fired case diameters at these points more than about .003-inch. Sizing dies vary a bit in their dimensions, so use one that just does this.

Full-length sizing means reducing the fired case body and neck diameters as well as setting its shoulder back a bit. Body and neck diameter reduction limits aren't as important as shoulder set back. New cases can shoot groups virtually as small as resized ones providing their necks are straight, all necks have the same tension on the bullet and case headspace is no more than .003-inch shorter than chamber headspace. It doesn't matter that the case body's .004 - .005-inch smaller than the chamber. They all align themselves exactly the same way when they're fired anyway.

Sierra Bullets Head Ballistician, Martin Hull, used this method to test their bullets in their California plant. With WCC-58 7.62mm NATO cases and very good lots of 30 caliber HPMK bullets, their rail gun test bed produced 10-shot groups in the ones at 100 and 200 yards. I don't think Sierra's changed anything these days.

 

[Waltech Jim]

Thank you.

Jim