Thread: annealing cases

I am with KS on the annealing front. It has its place yes, but for popular cals it isnt needed so much if you are using good gear and methods.
I dont own a SAAMI spec chamber but use bushing dies. I like a 2 thou clearance and select a bushing for the brass and projectile I am using. Important as different brass projectile combos can all vary on outside neck dia.
I never use the expander so I am not working my brass bugger all and neck size only. If I need to bump the shoulder, I use a body die or FL die without the expander or bushing. I get next to no case or projectile run out with this method, after the first firing on new brass.
This is all done after sorting my brass including neck concerntricity. Sometimes I neck turn but prefer not to.

Im pretty much the same with redding bushing dies run without the expander for the better rifles, the lee collet has the same effect with no expander. But really who gives a toss what we need to do. Some guys just like to tinker and if tinkering gives extened brass life and saves a dollar in the long run its grin win. If you cant be arsed and the cost of new brass fits your budget then you have options.

I anneal my brass, partly to get enough neck tension with my Lee Collet dies and also to dry out the brass after sonic cleaning it.
No fancy gear, just a camping gas cooker, neck and shoulder get heated until I can't hold it, which is when the brass surface gets the blue tint.

I did a batch of mine after the necks started to get noticeable harder to size with the collett die. Nothing fancy, just the old mans method with a gas torch. Use a darkened room for the color change and hold it in your bare hands to make sure it doesn't get too hot then drop it in a bucket of water. I overannealed a couple of junk cases first to get a feel for what the right amount of heat was. Annealing is no more obsessive compulsive than anything else we do in sport of reloading and accurate shooting.

@Gibo

Shot Tobes