Anneal or not Anneal your brass

[338edge]

Who anneals who doesn't. If it doesn't hurt anything with the possibility of reducing extreme spreads, longer brass life etc. Why wouldn't you just do it after every firing?

 

[Wrench]

It really depends on the pressure of your case and your chamber size. Some NEED it every firing.

 

[MidGAHunter]

I now anneal after every firing. I've found I get more consistent seating depths (without having to "walk" each bullet in with micro adjustments) and lower extreme spreads. Doesn't take that much time in the grand scheme of brass prep.

 

[tdot]

Same here. I anneal after every firing.

I reload to achieve consistent results. So it only makes sense to me to anneal after every firing. The only time I shot for groups to test, with annealed and un-annealed brass, it was with 3x fired brass. The ES and SD were lower with the annealed brass. I've never bothered to do it with twice fired brass as both resizing and seating the bullets feels different, that was enough for me.

I use an Annie induction annealer. The process I have is quicker then just about any other step.

I also havent thrown out a piece of brass since I started annealing. The the savings on brass is close to paying for 1/2 the annealer, and that will only get better with time.

 

[Axlrod]

I have a couple annealers and have access to an AMP. I have done extensive tests with regard to group size, Velocity, SD. ( i use Labradar), and brass life/condition and the bottom line is I don't anneal any of my hunting brass and most of my target brass. To date I have tested 300 WM, 28 Nos., 308 Win, 280AI, 6 mm BR, 284 Win and 223. Most comparisons were 200 rounds + in each.
I have found the primer pockets get loose or incipient head separations occur before the necks start to split. Annealing won't help with the first 2.
All of the bras I hunt with are 1x or 2x fired in my gun , I won't risk a hunt on the small price of a piece of brass.
Overall brass fired 10x without annealing has the same or close to the same Group size, Velo, SD. and brass life. My 6mm BR loads had better SD when annealed and my 284 Win un-annealed brass had 10-15% split necks at 10X and up they are turned necks so somewhat thinner.
I don't subscribe to "If you think it works it works" I believe if I prove it works then it works.
Every gun/load is different so if you have the equipment take 20 new cases and load and shoot 10x in each annealing 10 every time and not in the other 10.
If you don't have the equipment just buy a couple hundred new brass shoot them all 1x, save 50 or so for hunting loads and the remaining brass will shoot good for practice till you need a new barrel.
When you hold a piece of brass in flame 3 things can happen
1) Brass Annealed
2) Brass not Annealed
3) Brass Ruined

 

[bitbckt]

Advice worth what you paid:

I’m in the “anneal every reload” camp. I use an AMP. I see improved results at the bench and in the field, and that satisfies me.

 

[Newtosavage]

I almost never anneal. I have Lapua 7mm-08 brass that is 2+ years old that I've annealed 2x. It probably has 12-14 firings on each case. I still get 3/4 MOA and sometimes 1/2 MOA groups routinely out of that brass from my Tikka T3.

My brass looks great and shoots plenty good enough for me.

 

[vonb]

Here's some research to backup whether to anneal or not:

Induction Annealing Case Necks | See Our Research | AMP

View the latest articles from AMP Annealing. Get tips and tricks from our R&D. Here we upload articles to provide your the best possible information on innovations in the annealing process.

www.ampannealing.com

 

[tdot]

Here's some research to backup whether to anneal or not:

Induction Annealing Case Necks | See Our Research | AMP

View the latest articles from AMP Annealing. Get tips and tricks from our R&D. Here we upload articles to provide your the best possible information on innovations in the annealing process.

www.ampannealing.com

I would read Amp's "research papers" with an understanding that they are biased. While I agree with annealing and have tested enough to prove its efficacy to myself. I think that some of the info that Amp puts out there is too skewed.

 

[tdhanses]

Yeah kind of hard to take a mfg research serious when they make the products, do you really think they would state anything but something to sell you?

I’ve done the good old school candle annealing but do it every other just to try and extend neck life. If I’m shooting a lot for practice I don’t usually anneal. So the answer is it just depends.

Good thing is, brass is pretty well available and affordable compared to these machines.

 

[vonb]

The article I posted was written/researched by folks local to me that have no interest in AMP other than being customers of their product. I have no dog in whether AMP is biased or not; Don't own an AMP. However, annealing does reduce ES and SD numbers for me using the old Hornady annealing kit. After a few loadings with no annealing, you can definitely feel springback at the press as well as chasing targeted seating depths due to neck tension.

 

[Cahunter805]

I think the biggest plus from annealing is consistent neck tension resulting in better ES/SD and definitely a plus for LR. If running a higher pressure load the primer pockets won’t last long anyway.

 

[FLS]

You’ll never see the advantage unless your a LR shooter. Consistent neck tension will help minimize vertical dispersion at long distance, in a well tuned load.
If you’re a hunter and never shoot past 3-400 yards it’s a waste of time.

 

[MidGAHunter]

You’ll never see the advantage unless your a LR shooter. Consistent neck tension will help minimize vertical dispersion at long distance, in a well tuned load.
If you’re a hunter and never shoot past 3-400 yards it’s a waste of time.

I'm a hunter, I rarely shoot over 300-400 yards, and annealing is not a waste of time for me.

 

[FLS]

if It gives you confidence by all means do it. I anneal my Lapua match brass for the reasons listed above. I can keep my SD and ES small enough to make it unnecessary for hunting ammo.

 

[cast10K]

I read what appeared to be some pretty solid scientific stuff on it recently that really made me question its value, and whether it really does what people think it does. I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

[Muley Buck]

I read what appeared to be some pretty solid scientific stuff on it recently that really made me question its value, and whether it really does what people think it does. I'll see if I can dig it up.

I'd like to read that if you can find it. I have researched the subject of annealing fairly extensively and it seems to be the most debated step in the reloading process. Furthermore, there is no concensus on methods, proper procedures, or effectiveness of even doing it. That is, IF you are even doing it "right"?? Due to the overwhelming lack of agreement in the reloading community is the reason I have not spent the money on my own annealing machine. I really want to, I'm just not convinced its worth the coin... YET. I just started using a cleaning and annealing service to see if it helps me with consistency and accuracy. Time will tell.