Annealing Cases

[CAhunter]

Hey guys! Just wondering what the advantages/disadvantages are of annealing a case. My buddy just bought some lapua brass and i know it comes annealed. I am considering buying new brass and just checking things out! What kinda of brass does everyone use?

 

[jmad_81]

You know, I've often wondered the same thing. I'll be watching to see what the advantages are.

I normally shoot Winchester brass, but have started making the switch to Nosler on most of my guns. I won't use it in my AR cause I don't always recover the brass and it is to spendy to not be recomvered.

 

[DrMike]

Annealing softens the brass, making it more ductile to give a more consistent neck tension. As brass is fired and reloaded, it becomes work hardened. Annealing returns it to its original condition. Serious benchrest shooters often anneal the necks of their brass to extend life and to provide the most consistent neck tension, which translates into consistency in group size.

I use a variety of brass, generally working up loads with Winchester or Remington or Federal (if I have it). Obviously, for some loads, I have no choice but to use Winchester or Remington if I want properly head-stamped brass. For final load development and hunting loads, I prefer to use either Norma or Nosler. Perhaps there is no difference in the brass, but I do find that there is less work on the flash holes and primer pockets with these brass, so I tend to have more confidence in the quality control.

 

[Desert Fox]

Annealing softens the brass, making it more ductile to give a more consistent neck tension. As brass is fired and reloaded, it becomes work hardened. Annealing returns it to its original condition. Serious benchrest shooters often anneal the necks of their brass to extend life and to provide the most consistent neck tension, which translates into consistency in group size.

I couldn't expalin it any better.

As to the brand of brass if price and availability is not the issue. I'll opt for either Lapua, Norma, or Nosler.

 

[CAhunter]

Thanks for the info mike.. I am using federal brass for my 243, 270. 30-06. I have noticed this brass is not the most consistent in weight, neck thickness. etc. The norma brass for my weatherbys is much nicer. I was going to buy nosler brass for all others but was considering the lapua now that i have seen some in person.. Thanks again

 

[Ridge_Runner]

brass is just a mixture of copper and tin. all brass are annealed from the factory, lapua just anneals after polishing, the rest polish after annealing.wouldn't worry much with anealing unless your cases have 3 or more firings on them.
Lapua is the best brass you can get.
RR

 

[C.Smith]

I read some where that you can anneal brass by simply holding it in or above a candle flame slowly rotaing it until the case becomes hot. Any one heard of that?

Corey

 

[jmad_81]

I want to say I saw a pic on here of some brass sitting in a tub of water. the water was about 3/4 the way up the brass and the necks had been annealed while the brass was in the water. Don't know if they used a hand torch, long lighter, or what. Looked good though.

 

[rick smith]

propane torch. A lot of information has been written about annealing on various sites. There is a machine, don't remember the name, made just to anneal rifle cases.Rick.

 

[DrMike]

Here are a couple of sites that speak of the process of annealing.

http://www.6mmbr.com/annealing.html

http://www.lasc.us/CartridgeCaseAnnealing.htm