Annealing

[Dirtlaw]

Annealing helps prevent the neck from becoming brittle and extends the life of the brass. Do you anneal every reload or every x times a cartridge is reloaded? Which method of annealing is preferred? Is the induction method ultimately the best answer if cost is not considered? Is annealing worth the time and effort?

[baih777]

Annealing is worth the effort.
Try 20 pieces. The drill and socket method with a torch.
Then decide how much you want.to spend..

[jimmykan]

I have this one:

http://www.mikesreloadingbench.com/mrb2018_006.htm

If you are reloading range pick-up brass, don't bother with annealing: you most likely have more than enough brass to lose/discard, and you won't see enough improvement in accuracy to make it worth the investment in money and time.

If you are reloading single-headstamp, weight-sorted or single-lot brass multiple (like 5+ times) for a precision rifle, then it is worth annealing the brass.

Not only does it extend the life of the case neck, it restores a consistent neck tension, assuming the annealing is done correctly and consistently. If you over-anneal some and under-anneal others, it's worse than not annealing at all, accuracy-wise, because you will get inconsistent neck tension.

If a rifle chamber's neck diameter is more than .004" over the loaded cartridge neck diameter, I would anneal after every firing.

[Dirtlaw]

I have this one:

http://www.mikesreloadingbench.com/mrb2018_006.htm

If you are reloading range pick-up brass, don't bother with annealing: you most likely have more than enough brass to lose/discard, and you won't see enough improvement in accuracy to make it worth the investment in money and time.

If you are reloading single-headstamp, weight-sorted or single-lot brass multiple (like 5+ times) for a precision rifle, then it is worth annealing the brass.

Not only does it extend the life of the case neck, it restores a consistent neck tension, assuming the annealing is done correctly and consistently. If you over-anneal some and under-anneal others, it's worse than not annealing at all, accuracy-wise, because you will get inconsistent neck tension.

If a rifle chamber's neck diameter is more than .004" over the loaded cartridge neck diameter, I would anneal after every firing.

Great information. Thanks!

[devster55]

The annealeez is what I have. The price is not bad for what you get. It’s a very nice easy to use unit.

[robodeer]

Any opinions on salt bath annealing?

[Dirtlaw]

Devil on one shoulder; angel on the other

Had a long talk with Brian over at Orange County Reloading. I've got this awful perfectionist bend and a lot of times I wish I didn't. I think I'm going to go that route.

[jimmykan]

Any opinions on salt bath annealing?

Cool concept, but automated feed is the way to go.

[Distinct_Editz]

Annealing helps prevent the neck from becoming brittle and extends the life of the brass. Do you anneal every reload or every x times a cartridge is reloaded? Which method of annealing is preferred? Is the induction method ultimately the best answer if cost is not considered? Is annealing worth the time and effort?

Yes. If you do a more consistent job in your annealing it can also, improve accuracy. I anneal every 5 firings for all rifle brass, and every other time for .50 BMG (Just because the cases cost too must to have them crack on me).

I prefer salt bath annealing because it isn't $1,000 to tool up, and it's just as consistent.

Ultimately, induction is the best to my knowledge.

Annealing is worth the time and effort. I've done the torch method, but you can get into salt bath annealing for as cheap as $100. If you spend ~$240, you can make yourself a PID controller, which will monitor and control you pot's temperature automatically. Very convenient. See here for how to make PID controller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGOqMyx5kv4

[divingin]

Any opinions on salt bath annealing?

If you haven't, go to AMP's website and read their article on salt bath annealing. You'll find it under Media||Articles. Their 3-part series on "Annealing Under the Microscope" has good info as well.