Annealing, how often?
- Thread starter TexasHaag
- Start date
I anneal every firing so brass is treated the same every firing. That’s how you create consistency.
For just split necks you can go a handful of firings between to eliminate that but you’ll find your results down range can change on each firing so I find it easier to be consistent in my actions rather than chasing what will happen otherwise if I don’t.
For just split necks you can go a handful of firings between to eliminate that but you’ll find your results down range can change on each firing so I find it easier to be consistent in my actions rather than chasing what will happen otherwise if I don’t.
I anneal after every 3rd firing. I haven't seen any better results on paper or with a chronograph from doing it every time. I have started to feel its like when people tell you all your brass has to be trimmed to the same length for consistency, but whats the quantifiable difference. Results from annealing at all seem subjective. For example, a lot of people using salt bath claim great results. At the same time AMP claims salt bath can't get the brass hot enough. The question becomes are we basing our decisions on results or feels. Or as was said around here a lot more back in the day. "Can you shoot the difference?"
Do you have any tell signs that tell you a case lot needs to be annealed?
I notice quite big differences in strength while resizing 6.5 with Hornady dies and some brass are tougher, I wonder if it means that they need annealing?
I notice quite big differences in strength while resizing 6.5 with Hornady dies and some brass are tougher, I wonder if it means that they need annealing?
The answer to that question really depends on what your goal is. For sure, annealing will lengthen the life of your rifle brass. It also can be a big help in getting consistency if you're after a somewhat high level of precision from your cartridges. To get these things, it's best to anneal after every firing. It's not always necessary, but it just depends.
It depends on the brass. Different brass is different. At least every 3rd. I do it every time as I think it helps consistent neck tension.
Annealing can lengthen brass life, not will.
The problem with reloading is that there is so much Bullshit spewed you don't know what to believe.
Thanks to everyone....
This is a gas gun I'm shooting. My loads are not hot, so I'm going go with every 3rd firing.
TexasHaag
This is a gas gun I'm shooting. My loads are not hot, so I'm going go with every 3rd firing.
TexasHaag
This is easily solved. When someone is giving advice... ask them to provide evidence which proves their methods work.
Or trust an expert. Lou Murdica says anneal every time or not at all, with respect to short and long range benchrest. In a gas gun the OP’s regimen seems reasonable.
That’s all anyone can ever provide. You, for example, included. With all due respect.He can certainly provide evidence.
Thats some nice shooting. Are you saying you can only do that if you anneal every time?
I anneal every firing on the precision guns. For my hunting rifles or guns where precision isn’t as great/needed I do every couple firings. Running Lapua brass across the board
I anneal every firing, when you get your Bench Source annealer you will realize how easy it is to anneal so I leave it set up and do it every time, it's fast and easy.
I would suggest you anneal every time for about 3 or 4 firings and then as a test, load up some without annealing, you will notice the difference in the force it takes to seat a bullet.
I would suggest you anneal every time for about 3 or 4 firings and then as a test, load up some without annealing, you will notice the difference in the force it takes to seat a bullet.
You don't need to believe anything but your own lying eyes. Let your target tell you if its necessary for you. I used to anneal every time, and I have a Giraud so time isn't really an object.
Consistently, session after session, month after month? Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.
If you take 3 rounds that have been annealed, 3 rounds that haven't been annealed for 2 firings, and 3 rounds that haven't been annealed for 3 firings... they will all probably shoot different from each other and result in a wandering zero inside 2 tenths of a mil. Each firing will group with each other, but different POI than the other firings. It's not a precision problem. It's an accuracy problem.
Annealing every time, allows me to maintain the same zero, regardless of number of firings on the brass, with the exception of firing 1 or perhaps 2, as the brass is not fully formed yet. It's bad enough having to deal with a shifting zero for the first 100-200rnds on a barrel, but I see no reason to not anneal each firing, adding to the shift. Especially when annealing is so easily done with modern equipment.
Then there's the varying headspace produced by varying degrees of annealing during resizing. So the headspace will change from firing to firing, requiring die adjustments every firing... if you don't anneal each time.
I feel like the headspace thing is an overstatement. I don't have to adjust my dies just because I don't anneal each time. In fact I didn't have to adjust my dies each time even before I started annealing.
Wandering zero inside .2 isn't something a lot of people are going to notice {especially if it is inside .1}, or outshoot. Some might even argue that a wandering zero is actually just the group size you would see if shooting 20 shot groups.
Everything I have done that makes me think 3 is the point to anneal has been based off new to 3 firings. Although the way some of brass I just bought squealed when I chamfered it. I will anneal it after the first firing.
Wandering zero inside .2 isn't something a lot of people are going to notice {especially if it is inside .1}, or outshoot. Some might even argue that a wandering zero is actually just the group size you would see if shooting 20 shot groups.
Everything I have done that makes me think 3 is the point to anneal has been based off new to 3 firings. Although the way some of brass I just bought squealed when I chamfered it. I will anneal it after the first firing.
I used to have access to an AMP but I have since moved. Until I can get an AMP, I’m just going to deal with not annealing. I’m a hunter and recreational long distance steel shooter. I will see if my results change.
When I first started reloading, I saw annealing as one of those things that only the mega anal guys worry about. That perception changed almost instantly after I started researching it. What I have come to find is that the general consensus seems to be to anneal after every firing as it creates a repeatable consistency for neck tension which itself creates repeatable consistency down range. Some guys don't feel the need to do it every time though. I guess your mileage may vary based on the results you are seeing.
Also some people are competitive shooters or have demanding expectations at long range. Myself, I like to hit vital sized steel targets at 500-750 yards.
