Annealing Lapua brass

Get or give advice on equipment, reloading and other technical issues.

Moderator: Mod

macguru
Posts: 1684
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:49 am
Has thanked: 230 times
Been thanked: 164 times

Annealing Lapua brass

Post by macguru »

My 308 lapua brass has been reloaded well over 20 times and the neck tensions seem uniformly pretty light. There are no cracks and i suspect the brass has just thinned a little...... (.336 collet)

Q should i try standing them in water and annealing the necks ? or is it a waste of time ? surely light neck tensions are not a problem... the projectiles are still held securely ....

andrew
Brad Y
Posts: 2181
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:21 pm
Has thanked: 57 times
Been thanked: 142 times

Post by Brad Y »

Is it still shooting well? Dont fix what aint broken.
Malcolm Hill
Posts: 335
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:40 pm
Location: Mid North S.A.
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 107 times

Post by Malcolm Hill »

Andrew
Annealing the cases won't change your neck tension very much,it will however make them more even. If they are are not firm enough try a smaller sizing bush or smaller expander plug. Normally necks thicken up with more firings as the brass usually flows forward which should cause neck tension to increase. Annealing cases by standing in water is probably the worst way of doing it if you want consistent results. Get some old cases and give it a go but its almost impossible to get even heat around the neck or consistent heating on all cases.
Regards Malcolm.
DenisA
Posts: 1544
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2011 7:00 pm
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Has thanked: 167 times
Been thanked: 137 times

Post by DenisA »

Annealing necks will reduce the amount of spring back after neck sizing making those neck tension results more consistant and true to the bushing size.
You can feel the tension difference when seating bullets.

I anneal with a glove on my left hand, cordless screwdriver with a shell holder in my right. I spin the base of the neck (on about a 60degree angle) in the tip of the 1" blue flame from a gas torch on a small BBQ bottle. My .308's were taking about 10 seconds to anneal.
When they're done, drill in reverse, unlock the shell holder with the glove and I drop them into water to soften the fall and stop brass dinging. Water is said to be optional for cooling, I prefer it.

1 cat'n dog, 2 cat'n dog, 3 cat'n dog.............. evenly paced count

20 firings is amazing for non-annealed brass! I suspect your only neck sizing too?
Last edited by DenisA on Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cameron Mc
Posts: 1089
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:55 am
Location: Darling Downs SE Qld
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by Cameron Mc »

Agree with Denis. Annealing does help.

I hold case between finger and thumb, turning backwards and forwards over a needle point flame. I then drop the case on a folded damp towel to draw the heat away.
If I burn my fingers I know I am overheating the case.

Cam
Gadget
Posts: 171
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:40 pm
Location: Nowra
Contact:

Post by Gadget »

I put them through the machine, much more civilized :roll:
macguru
Posts: 1684
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:49 am
Has thanked: 230 times
Been thanked: 164 times

Post by macguru »

Gadget
Posts: 171
Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:40 pm
Location: Nowra
Contact:

Post by Gadget »

Hi Andrew
http://annealingmachines.com/
http://www.annealingmachines.com/model-400.html

This is the one I got sent out the guy was great to deal with and had it made and delivered in 7 weeks, he makes the holes to what you want so I have .308, mag, .308 mag etc.
I got him to send the torches with the kit so all I had to do was go to Bunnings and get the gas, now the great part is 2 bottles of gas have done over 3000 cases and still going.
If you are going to a big banger it is worth it.

Graham P
I just looked at the video one thing that is hard to pick up is that the brass is turning all the time within its hole.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic