annealing brass

ruger357w · 11-07-2011, 04:20 PM

how many of you guys anneal your brass and how do you do it? I've seen a few companys that make a kit, but ive read some people just use a porpane torch in water an tip them over. I've been reloading for about 10 years and have never done it. how much long do your cases last?

HEAD0001 · 11-07-2011, 11:31 PM

Your cases will last longer because you are not work hardening the brass by sizing and firing it. The annealing retuns the malleability to the brass. But another good reason to anneal is that it gives you a more accurate load by making your neck tension more consistent.

Google annealing and you will get several different ways of doing it.

But the most important thing is not to get your brass too hot. And you do not need to water quench the brass at the end of the process. The reason most people put their cases in water is so they can assure themselves that they did not get the web of the brass too hot. You don't want the lower part of your brass to weaken by getting too hot. Tom.

falcon · 11-08-2011, 03:49 AM

i used to anneal cases. Did it by holding the case by the base and turning the neck slowly in a candle flame. When the case got too hot to hold it was dumped in water. Now i have a plentiful supply of free cases and never anneal.

Ridge Runner · 11-08-2011, 11:38 AM

on my 7mm Allen, the cases run about 3 bucks each including forming (338 lapua) after 5 full power loads neck tension starts getting really horrible, so I anneal them and can get at least 3 more loadings from them with my normal 1000 yd accuracy.
RR

BTM · 11-11-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcon

i used to anneal cases. Did it by holding the case by the base and turning the neck slowly in a candle flame. When the case got too hot to hold it was dumped in water. Now i have a plentiful supply of free cases and never anneal.

Ditto! I was mystified by annealing and avoided it for many years until I tried the candle method. Works great and greatly extends case life. Wish I'd done it decades ago!

Ridge Runner · 11-11-2011, 01:14 PM

can't see a candle doing a proper job, a propane torch doesn't get them hot enough before they burn your fingers, I use mapp gas.
RR