Annealing water dropped bullets

popper

Well-Known Member
I asked the question a few years back, got a response from Felix - 200F for 1/2 hr and they are annealed. Unfortunately he's no longer with us so can't verify anything.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have heard that boiling will do the same thing. Made sense to me.
 

Ian

Notorious member
If that's all it takes I'd better not leave ammo in my trunk during the summer.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Would be interesting to see what temps it takes and over what time frame.

I believe Veral mentioned in his book that heat was a factor in age softening. If I recall correctly he said storing bullets in the freezer spessentially stopped age softening while temps around 100 accelerated it.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I think if your trying to draw the BHN down you can re-set the number by holding them at a lower temp then re-water dropping them.
if you want them back to air cooled BHN you heat soak them and just let them air cool.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Since I had started this thread I have found that if I put the bullets in my cold oven then preheat to 400 deg then just shut it off until cool it takes my 18 bhn bullets down to about 12 / 13 pretty much every time. It doesn't seem to take much heat or time to reverse the hardening process
 

John

Active Member
IIRC Veral claimed you needed 400 F to heat treat for water dropping and a minimum of 350 to soft anneal. He recommended an hour for full heat penetration. I have oven quenched back in the 90's but never annealed.