Anneal Yes or No > Accuracy

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blauber

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Ok, so I'm guilty - I don't anneal. For fun, I annealed 20 to be loaded cases as they've been fired 5x and I will try them soon.

Overall, does anyone have proof that annealing benefits accuracy? And what about these two things as it pertains to a "Yes" for annealing: 1) more consistent neck tension-does this equate to accuracy? and 2) less blow back (e.g. carbon) on fired case necks = less cleaning? I don't want to hear about brass life - I don't mind discarding brass.

Y or N to "anneal" with respect to accuracy potential for those that have experimented...as well, should longer range hunters anneal like target shooters? Do all target shooters anneal?
 
check this article

http://www.6mmbr.com/annealing.html

For many reloaders, annealing is a "dark science" that defies easy explanation. When done right, annealing extends brass life and makes neck tension more consistent, something very important for accuracy. There is plenty of evidence that annealing works. Just look at your new Lapua brass--those rainbow colors on the necks are artifacts of annealing. And we know annealing can make your brass shoot better and last longer. Score Shooter of the Year Joe Entrekin has 40+ reloads on his regularly-annealed brass. The smallest 1000-yard 5-shot group ever shot in IBS competition was done with brass annealed after every firing. So, learning how to anneal the right way is something that can benefit every precision shooter. For this feature, IHMSA Champion Silhouette shooter Jim Harris and manufacturer Ken Light explain the "dos and don'ts" of annealing, clarify many common misconceptions, and review the best gear for both manual and automated annealing.
 
In the context of your question, you may as well toss your brass after shooting it because you stated you are not interested in case life. You can buy good brass that will give you great consistent neck tension in your first couple of loads. No-one I know anneals brand new brass (although I suspect there are those that do). If you are wanting to extend the life of your brass, annealing is highly recommended but you don't, so don't bother. It is all in the context of your question. For example, you do not have to anneal to get great consistent neck tension, just buy new brass of good quality and throw them away after shooting them a couple of times.
 
Last edited:
manitou210 said:
http://www.6mmbr.com/annealing.html

For many reloaders, annealing is a "dark science" that defies easy explanation. When done right, annealing extends brass life and makes neck tension more consistent, something very important for accuracy. There is plenty of evidence that annealing works. Just look at your new Lapua brass--those rainbow colors on the necks are artifacts of annealing. And we know annealing can make your brass shoot better and last longer. Score Shooter of the Year Joe Entrekin has 40+ reloads on his regularly-annealed brass. The smallest 1000-yard 5-shot group ever shot in IBS competition was done with brass annealed after every firing. So, learning how to anneal the right way is something that can benefit every precision shooter. For this feature, IHMSA Champion Silhouette shooter Jim Harris and manufacturer Ken Light explain the "dos and don'ts" of annealing, clarify many common misconceptions, and review the best gear for both manual and automated annealing.
Click to expand...

I have recently reviewed that article - and some videos on annealing. It sure may be voodoo science in terms of temperature and time - I elected to rotate cases by hand, and drop to a towel (no water quench). I don't think I've ever had a brass life problem other than discarding the odd case for a lose primer pocket.

With no annealing, my experience shows no detectable difference in accuracy (e.g. 1/2 MOA to sub MOA) at 200 yds with factory rifle offerings (accurized). I have not conducted controlled trials with identical environmental conditions (e.g. same day) so the question remains Y or N to annealing and accuracy potential or actual accuracy.
 
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