Annealing - machine types

I Dont Care About You

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I had a Grizzly rotary type annealer but wasn't super happy with it. Loading the rotating disk is slow and annoying. At least the Grizzly machine has no adjustment for annealing time so you get what you get. Also the twin torches consume twice as much gas.

I just got an Annealeez machine and am pretty happy with it so far. This style of machine is extremely adjustable for annealing time. The only fiddly bit is getting the flame in the correct location for the case, but that is quite easy to do and only has to be done at the start of a session.

Loading the machine is so much easier and allows you to do something else at the same time.

The only thing I need to correct is to spend a bit more time monitoring the flame as it slowed down a bit over an hour long session. I didn't notice so a portion of the cases didn't get annealed as much as I wanted. I'll correct that next time.

Lastly, Annealeez is an awesome company to do business with. The first machine arrived damaged. I contacted the owner and without any hassles, he sent me out a replacement machine right away. Colour me impressed.
 
A friend has an AMP annealer, which is a very cool machine but good gawd are they expensive. Aside from the machine itself, you will need a $20usd insert for every caliber. The AMP machine is also kind of slow and is a one piece of brass at a time operation, which is an issue if one has hundreds of cases to process.
 
I have been looking at the Gong Joe Echo unit built in Canada. They are in and out of stock frequently. Price point is slightly less than the Annealeez (with exchange).
 
A friend has an AMP annealer, which is a very cool machine but good gawd are they expensive. Aside from the machine itself, you will need a $20usd insert for every caliber. The AMP machine is also kind of slow and is a one piece of brass at a time operation, which is an issue if one has hundreds of cases to process.

Single feeding the AMP is a lot quicker than you infer.
 
I built one of those induction annealing units found on YouTube earlier this year. Works great so far, and I can easily adjust the anneal time between the different calibers and brass manufacturers.

2 ish second heat time with 10 second cool time, lets me run the 13 brass I load in the 50 pc tray with ease. Only 2 cycles between when I reload the new 13 in the tray and off I go again.

No flame to worry about on my reloading bench, and worry about gas pressure dissipating and heating less as your sessions get longer.

Are they perfect, no, but no system really is and they all have benefits and drawbacks to each system, and all need a bit of tinkering while using to get just right.
 
I have an AGS annealer and it's excellent, but it needs two torches to work properly with big 338 lapua brass.
Once I get close to setting ~20% it has trouble overcoming the strength of the spring detent to advance the case. No issues at all with smaller brass, including 300 PRC, but I need to babysit it when annealing 338lm.

My next annealer will be an AMP. No flame, no tempilac, no tweaking. Just plug it in and crank out however many cases you want. That being said I think a Supertrickler will be in my possession long before I upgrade to an induction annealer.
 
The amp would be great.
I use dual torches, 20lb bottle to keep pressure even, torch heads are fixed in position, and drill with a slide stop and socket. I use a metronome on my phone to keep my timing correct. It works well.
 
I was looking at the Gong Joe but they kept screwing me around with stock updates. “One more week and you will get one”. Months later and many broken promises I gave up.

Ended up getting a Burst Fire. GREAT unit, no issues with it at all. Also has a sweet little case prep center on top with 4 spots for rotating tools.

Would definitely recommend the Burst Fire to anyone who is looking for a propane annealer. When I bought, it was much cheaper to buy straight from the manufacturer in the states rather than any Canadian source with stock.

If you have the money, AMP would be the best option in my opinion.
 
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