When should I anneal?

Before, to soften the brass for working so the worked brass doesn't get as brittle. If done after, the heating can change the stresses in the brass and each case distorts to a small degree different from the others making inconsistent neck tension. When you size, put the brass into the die and pause so the brass 'sets' and doesn't spring back. This is how I understand to do things and has worked for me. YMMV.
 
I do not anneal after each firing. I do it once I have fired 4 times with the same brass, usually before resizing. In my experience, annealing does not change the length of the brass though.
 
I use to anneal after about 3 or 4 firings with a torch and an electric drill. Results I'm sure were iffy at best.

Now that I've got a AMP ll on the way I'll most like anneal every time and looks like before resizing.

So I'm thinking it will be:
1) sonic cleaner
2)brush inside of neck
3)anneal
4)resize
5)another sonic cleaner bath

Then load and repeat.

Can annealing every time harm the brass in any way?
 
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6MT said:
Why would it do that?
Click to expand...

Because one might think that applying high temperature to a brass at the thinnest part which is the neck might stretch it. It does not. So whether one anneals before or after resizing really does not make any difference.
 
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hawk-i said:
I use to anneal after about 3 or 4 firings with a torch and an electric drill. Results I'm sure where iffy at best.

Now that I've got a AMP ll on the way I'll most like anneal every time and looks like before resizing.

So I'm thinking it will be:
1) sonic cleaner
2)brush inside of neck
3)anneal
4)resize
5)another sonic cleaner bath

Then load and repeat.

Can annealing every time harm the brass in any way?
Click to expand...

It is harmful to the brass if you apply high temperature for a long time. You see some gas out of the brass when this happens. I do not feel annealing after each firing is needed. After annealing once and then firing the brass 4 or 5 times, the color of the brass becomes homogeneous again. This is when I anneal because this tells me that the effect of my previous annealing is gone. With that my brass lasts forever.
 
mimile said:
Because one might think that applying high temperature to a brass at the thinnest part which is the neck might stretch it. It does not. So whether one anneals before or after resizing really does not make any difference.
Click to expand...

I have done this once (anneal after sizing) and in my match cut chamber, it caused every case to stick... So I'm personally not doing that again.
 
I anneal after 4 firings, and before I size the brass. There's a noticeable difference in effort required to seat bullets in freshly annealed cases vs those that aren't, so it's definitely being softened.
 
I anneal when the brass requires it. Some loads is every 2-3 firings. Some brass I have fired 20 times and haven't annealed yet.
 
OK, here's the answer straight from Annealing Made Perfect :d
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Should annealing be done before or after resizing? :confused:

Annealing should always be done before resizing. This eliminates spring back, and ensures repeatable and accurate shoulder bumping and neck sizing. Annealing should be done every reload.
We find that the best results are obtained with this sequence:

De-prime - (optional depending on your cleaning sequence)
Clean - tumble or ultrasonic etc. – again optional. Cleaning won’t affect annealing
Anneal
Lube - this is vital even with nitrided dies. (Imperial wax or spray such as Hornady One Shot) – note: Dry media graphite tends not to adhere well to annealed cases. We do not recommend its use.
Resize - after annealing, THE SIZING DIE MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED for both shoulder bump and neck OD to account for zero spring back. See FAQ 3, 5 and 6. De-priming can be done as part of the resizing process.
 
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