Thread: Annealing

Not scientific but when I started reloading again back in '05 I started in rifle with my old teenage growing up calibre, the mighty 303B. Brass was CAC boxer primed from the 1940s. Using some Walker Cast bullets around 180gn IIRC, and 3031 powder I made about 20 on my brand new Dillon 550B. Expanded the case mouth slightly to seat the bullets, closed them up lightly with crimp die. Sat them on the bench on a reloading block, bullet up, for a few days to admire my handiwork. About 5 days later the necks started splitting. Oner half of them. Just sitting there splitting. Read up everything I could find, discovered annealing, bought a butane torch and proceeded to learn the hard way. Eventually I got it reasonably sussed. Have never had a recurrence. Yes I eventually wear the old brass out but I hand anneal every 3rd shot. 308Win I anneal around every 5th shot. Old brass just keeps on going. Over annealing causes the case to collapse at the shoulder when seating = brass too soft. You figure that out pretty quick.
So I don't have any data on accuracy etc but I can load slow shoulder brass and after a little annealing it at least stays loaded and can be reloaded over again. FWIW