ANNEALING CASES

quicksylver

Well-Known Member
HI GUYS ! Not looking for how, but rather how often would you suggest annealing cases when using the Lee collet neck sizer, thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions, Dan
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Depends on pressures of loads. IE how hard is that brass worked... Also what I have needed to do with the brass. IE forming cases. Ill anneal those more often.

Heavier loads. Need it more often. Lighter loads... less. Thats how I do it.
CW
 
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waco

Springfield, Oregon
The only stuff I’m real picky about is my long range rifle stuff. After every firing I anneal, bushing neck size, and bump the shoulder.
I would think every three loadings or so would be fine. FL size when it starts getting a bit hard to close the bolt.
Walter.
 

Walks

Well-Known Member
Wow ! Lots work there.
I used to anneal 7.62 cases and .30-06 cases every 3 loadings, when I was shooting a M1A & Garand hot & heavy. Later .223 cases. These days not so much.

However I do have a Unique box of Norma brass from 60rds of factory ammo that I bought in the late 1970's. By My count I've reloaded them 14 times, annealed twice and reamed once. I've never FL Sized, only neck-sized or Partial sized. And before you think they've been loaded light ?
They've all been loaded with the Jack O'Conner Elk Load of 150gr Partition or Sierra over 4350. It would be beyond MAX these days. The primer pockets are still tight.
But like a lot of things I have. When I shoot the last round, these cases will be retired.
 

harrympope

Active Member
My 222 Remington 788 I used a collet die exclusively.with Remington cases using full loads of 4198 I lost case necks to splits after 15 firings.i then annealed at 10 x fired and got to 20 before I lost cases again and figured that was enough.
 

STIHL

Well-Known Member
I anneal after every firing of its brass in using for accuracy loads, if it’s just run of the mill brass, It just depends 2-3 firings then anneal.
 

Ian

Notorious member
When I got involved with pushing cast bullets to high velocity, one of the first things I learned was to use a conventional full-length sizing die to purposefully work-harden the necks for a uniform "tink" sound when flicked with a fingernail.
 

harrympope

Active Member
The only reasons I ever anneal is too keep case necks from cracking/splitting during case forming. Or extending the life of brass that has become work-hardened due to being sized many times.
That's pretty much my take on it
 

Matt

Active Member
Collet die sized brass every 5 loadings or so. Conventional dies (neck or full length) when any case in a lot “rings” when pulled off the sizer button. .223/5.56 and .300 Blackout never. Pistol/revolver never. Tube fed lever action rifle brass when crimping feels “hard” on any case in a lot. For me I do this annealing for cast or jacketed light or heavy loads. I only do it to extend brass life.
 

rodmkr

Temecula California
I anneal after every range trip.
Almost all of my cases are military and I find it prolongs their life
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I was gifted a large quantity of 7mag "stuff" yesterday. Last night I was able to dig thru the box. I found a hundred or so unmarked hand loads loose in a box i found a large 4x8x8" box stacked full of fired Fed Brass. I had four boxes of Norma brass fired and some loose mixed Norma/Fed brass loose in the box. RCBS Dies and 6 boxes of Hornady bullets.
Not knowing history of brass, I inspected and deprimed all. Run thru tumbler lastly about 9 last night I annealed all brass, some 300+ pieces. I spun them bry in the media separator and set out on a towel on the chest freezer to dry.

348DFF22-D033-4137-9FC9-5AF11DFF8179.jpeg

Later today I should complete. Not knowing what these cases have gone thru and seeing no evidence of past annealing.
I also want to see how the case head expansion is and primer pockets are before re sizing.
 
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todd

Well-Known Member
i was given about 100 of the 7x57 mixed brass. i should have annealed them first, but everything was put into the fl die. there was about 10 cases that were split. oh well, you live, you learn.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
i was given about 100 of the 7x57 mixed brass. i should have annealed them first, but everything was put into the fl die. there was about 10 cases that were split. oh well, you live, you learn.
Live and learn my friend. Most of us have been there. Some times a few visits. Tahts why I annealed these first. I learned from
Past mistakes.


And someone said ol dogs...

CW