Annealing - accuracy and brass longevity -- one guy's view

8654USMCRet

New member
For me, annealing was once something mysterious – that is until I read about it and started annealing brass.

Before I go further, some considerations for this post:

  • These are my experiences and my opinions. Yours may differ and that’s OK.
  • ALWAYS follow the manufacturers’ recommendations for brass usage, pressures, annealing machine setup, and the like.
  • Absolutes are dangerous.
  • I generally shoot mild loads. I’m not one who tries to attain the barrel burning velocities but concentrate on accuracy.
I anneal for two different calibers, as well as annealing for friends. For each of these two personal calibers, I anneal with a slightly different focus – although in the end annealing is annealing.

In support of my 6.5PRC Ruger long range gun, I anneal Hornady 6.5PRC brass for top accuracy. I have found that annealing this brass provides me with much greater brass life while allowing me to maintain the 5-6 FPS SDs when I chronograph my ammo – thus resulting in greater accuracy. For me, “greater brass life” means between 6 and 7 times of usage. Typically, I do not discard my 6.5 PRC brass until the primer pocket loosens or I see signs of over pressure or cracks. I solely shoot the 153gr A-Tip round with RL 22 and Fed 210M primers. This load allows me a very high degree of accuracy to 1528 yds (an informal steel target match here in Virginia).

I also anneal 5.56 / 223 brass. I solely shoot this ammo in my Kimber Long Master Classic bolt action Varmint rifle. I shoot Hornady 52gr ELD, 53gr VMax, and 68gr HPBT match grade rounds and use the gun for varmint / target and plinking. Like my 6.5PRC, I anneal this brass for accuracy and brass longevity. I mainly use Lake City (LC) and Federal (other military brass so) I have to load lesser amounts than what the reloading guides generally depict. Being military brass, I also remove the crimp. This brass is easy to anneal and I generally use this brass until the primer pockets loosen or I see cracks.

I use the Thumler’s Tumbler Model B annealing machine (available at Thumler's Model B Tumbler - $279.99). This model has served me well for the past 10-12 years. About a year ago I sent it into the manufacturer for electronics replacement but aside from this one servicing, its been a great tool in my reloading tool-kit.

If memory serves me correct, it cost me about $300 or so and has annealed close to 30K pieces of brass.

For me,
  • Annealing saves me a fair amount of money by providing me more use of each piece of brass – which as we all know, brass gets more expensive each day.
  • Annealing allows me to get the most accuracy out of my long-range rifles by absolutely having the same EXACT round each time I fire the weapon.
  • Annealing, like the rest of reloading is also therapeutic to me. After all, if I’m concentrating on reloading, all the other worldly problems fade away – at least for a little while.
In closing, these are my thoughts on annealing. I welcome comments or recommendations.
 
Never annealed anything in my life and honestly see no reason too. I get 1/2 MOA from my LR rifles and only toss cases whenever the pockets open up. On 9 firings with the Nosler 300 Win mag brass for my 7-300 and the pockets are still tight as virgin. It shoots 4-6" groups at 1K, and 6-8" groups at 1200 laying prone with a bipod/rear bag anyday of the week and twice on Tuesday. What exactly is annealing going to do for me? Nothing really. Same as tumbling brass. Haven't done that in over 10 years either. Don't care about shiny brass, and it doesn't make the groups any smaller either...They go from the rifle straight to the MTM case after firing. They get wiped down with a rag, a few inside swipes of the neck with a plastic brush and they're good to go for sizing. People spend waaaaaaaay to much time at the bench with all these latest gadgets and forget that the best thing you can do is spend time and rounds down range. That is what makes you a better shooter at the end of the day. Not keeping up with the Jones on all the latest gizmo gadgets Joe Bob from you tube says you have to have to shoot small groups 🤣

And by the way I have been shooting 1K+, while loading and setting up rifles out to 1K for friends and family for close to 25 years now. I participate in local PRS and MOA matches and have never placed below the top 25% and even won a few to boot. At the end of the day, nothing replaces range and trigger time, I don't care what anyone says.

Of course thats my opinion and it's worth exactly what you paid for it 🤣
 
We are more on the same sheet of music than it might first appear. I shoot in many of the same matches you kyotekiller25) mentioned.

I whole heartedly agree that nothing replaces quality trigger time, e.g., one shot repeated a thousand times and not one thousand shots . Applying the basics are key; breathe, relax, aim, squeeze, in addition to the other factor impacting accuracy.....being able to read the wind at the top of the list.

Anyway, have fun shooting and keep them in the black.
 
I will always Anneal Brass, especially if I am necking-up brass . I will neck-up working the brass. do a firing on all, and then Anneal . Then I just run till the Primer Pockets are toast. usually does not take long if running hotter end of pressure and Vel.. 2 or 3 firings and pockets are done, and toss the brass in the recycle trash bucket.

But.. other end of the spectrum . (for example), I have run new lapua and winchester .308 brass with keeping the pressure low-end, keeping 175smk's around the 2600 fps node . I have run them 6 or 8 firings before annealing, with the primer pockets still good shape with just doing neck-size only Die on the re-sizing.

Magnum Cal., like burning (for example), 72+ grains powder in a 300wm using Win. brass . I will anneal every 2 firings. If the necks don't look dirty after the 2nd round of firing.

For me, General ' Rule of Thumb ', I eyeball my brass when I get back to the loading bench , especially when using Boltaction rifle, If I see that the Necks are looking real dirty after a firing. The Necks are obviously NOT giving a good seal on the chamber, Brass Necks Are Hardening .
.
 
Roger all, IndexFinger. I used to shoot a whole lot of .308 and shot 175s almost exclusively. Although I anneal all my 6.5PRC and .223 Rem brass after each firing, I do so for consistencies sake. That being said, I do not weigh brass, nor do I turn brass necks. I know that will make some cringe however, we all have our quirks but as long as we enjoy it and stay safe, then all is good. See ya at the range, brother.
 


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