Annealing causing pressure increase

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,104
Loaded up some .300wsm for the range today. Out of curiosity I loaded 10 3x fired and not annealed, and 10 3x fired but annealed. Wanted to see if I saw anything noticeable.

No noticeable difference in groups or ES. But the annealed group jumped 15-25 fps and made very slight ejector marks. ADG brass.

Why? Could I have changed neck tension that much? The neck diameter measurements were still the same. Is this telling me I overdid it? Or?
 

Caseknife

WKR
Joined
Feb 22, 2020
Messages
321
I would think that the maybe annealed cases were gripping the bullet tighter. Notice any difference in seating the bullets? Or with the annealed cases the brass was "stickier".
 
OP
S

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,104
I would think that the maybe annealed cases were gripping the bullet tighter. Notice any difference in seating the bullets? Or with the annealed cases the brass was "stickier".
No noticeable difference in feel while seating.
 
OP
S

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,104
Is there a purpose to annealing after resizing?
Oh yeah, I guess you’re right. I wouldn’t have done that, I don’t think. I must’ve annealed before sizing. That’s what I normally do. Nonetheless, shoulder bump would have been the same.
 

Lawnboi

WKR
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
8,391
Location
North Central Wi
Usually I anneal before sizing so take this for what it’s worth.

Did it feel like the case gripped the bullet more when seating? Neck tension can be more than interference fit, and after annealing especially on an amp that neck can have more grip. I usually combat this the same as I would with virgin brass and if a wet lube/ mandrel and dry tumble after sizing.

On most my brass, post annealing you can look in the neck and see the coloration/ grittiness change.
 

Lawnboi

WKR
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
8,391
Location
North Central Wi
Oh yeah, I guess you’re right. I wouldn’t have done that, I don’t think. I must’ve annealed before sizing. That’s what I normally do. Nonetheless, shoulder bump would have been the same.
Just saw this as well. If you’re not measuring, annealed cases will usually size more, due to less spring back. That’s pretty much why I anneal, so I don’t have to mess with my dies.
 

Shortschaf

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
Jul 29, 2020
Messages
700
Pressure is the same. Its the behavior of the brass that's different. Soft brass behaves more plastic than elastic.

On firing, brass instantly grows to the chamber size, steel chamber grows a tiny bit, and then both the steel chamber and brass relax back to size.

Anealled brass will relax less than hardened/elastic brass.
IE- it is swelled inside the chamber more than your unanealled brass, putting enough pressure on the bolt face to cause ejector marks.

A guess, you are probably overanealling a tish, or using hotter loads, or both.
 
OP
S

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,104
Just saw this as well. If you’re not measuring, annealed cases will usually size more, due to less spring back. That’s pretty much why I anneal, so I don’t have to mess with my dies.
I definitely measure. They were sized the same.
 

BULLBLASTER

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 29, 2014
Messages
162
Location
Spokane WA
Shoulder bump would likely not be the same between annealed and non annealed brass. The annealed should bump more with the same die setting. Also i have noticed that the case necks distort slightly on annealing, so if you anneal after sizing the neck may be distorted.
 

Latest posts

Featured Video

Stats

Threads
349,605
Messages
3,682,787
Members
79,981
Latest member
Codes
Top