Annealing Question - Body Anneal for Unformed Brass?

markr6754 · January 17, 2023, 01:15 PM

I need some 6mm ARC brass. My initial source, aside from expensive 6mm ARC ammo, was 6.5 Grendel, which forms easily to 6mm ARC, but that is nearly as rare.

Starline has 6.5 Grendel "Basic" brass, meaning it's the right head size and length, but isn't final 6.5 Grendel brass - and no headstamp which suits me fine.

Here's the note from Starline: This brass has not been annealed, and will require a body anneal prior to forming, and possibly a neck anneal after forming, depending on how far it is necked down.

I do have an annealing center, but it is set for necks. I can't find any reference to performing body annealing on brass and am hoping one of our brass experts can advise on a way to do this. Would one merely heat the brass until it reaches an appropriate temperature measured above the extraction groove? Or is this something for specialized equipment?

Thoughts?

**44 AMP** · January 17, 2023, 01:40 PM

I'd say you need to talk to a tech rep at Starline and have them explain exactly what they mean.

I have an idea what they MIGHT mean, but don't know for sure. Generally, case bodies are "softer" than the case head. Intentionally.

Starline might be calling that process "body annealing" (sounds sensible to me), and I expect it might involve a SLIGHTLY different heat treat process than neck annealing.

Call Starline. A few minutes on the phone might keep you from buying the wrong stuff, or possibly wrecking what you bought because what you thought they meant was different from what they actually meant.

Good Luck!

**Unclenick** · January 17, 2023, 05:18 PM

You never want to let a head anneal. If you do, it can blow out upon firing, causing damage and distress. You probably want to anneal about a quarter inch below where the bottom of the ARC shoulder will be but do follow the advice to talk with Starline about it.

One way to protect heads is to stand the cases up in a pan of water while annealing them. I would more likely opt to spin them in a wrench socket on an electric hand drill that leaves them uncovered only at and above the desired location. As long as your flame is hot enough to get the job done quickly, that should protect the head, and you can drop them straight into water afterward to arrest heat traveling back toward the head.

tangolima · January 17, 2023, 11:09 PM

I would just try a couple without annealing. It may just work.

Sounds like the shoulder needs to be pushed back (ok to say that right?) a little. That's probably where it needs annealing.

Is 6.5 grendel that difficult to find? I remember seeing them for sale recently among members on different forum. I believe its parent brass is 7.62x39. Conversion may be an option.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

jetinteriorguy · January 18, 2023, 06:04 AM

I don’t see 6.5 Grendel basic brass, but I do see 6.8 basic brass.

ernie8 · January 18, 2023, 11:38 AM

Since the 6.5 Grendel case is a different head size than the 6.8 SPC case , that does not help much other than you saw some .

**Unclenick** · January 18, 2023, 12:12 PM

Ernie8,

They have the 6.5 Grendel Basic brass. It just isn't labeled that way. In a confusing move, they simply call it Basic Brass, and it is last on their rifle brass list.

jetinteriorguy · January 19, 2023, 06:01 AM

Aha, I see now they just list it as Grendel. I was looking for it to start with 6.5. My bad, I just didn’t want anyone to make a mistake due to possibly reading the chart wrong.

**Unclenick** · January 19, 2023, 01:54 PM

Yep. Grendel Basic Brass. I left that detail out.

January 17, 2023, 01:15 PM	#1
markr6754 Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2018 Location: Centerville, OH Posts: 347	Annealing Question - Body Anneal for Unformed Brass? I need some 6mm ARC brass. My initial source, aside from expensive 6mm ARC ammo, was 6.5 Grendel, which forms easily to 6mm ARC, but that is nearly as rare. Starline has 6.5 Grendel "Basic" brass, meaning it's the right head size and length, but isn't final 6.5 Grendel brass - and no headstamp which suits me fine. Here's the note from Starline: This brass has not been annealed, and will require a body anneal prior to forming, and possibly a neck anneal after forming, depending on how far it is necked down. I do have an annealing center, but it is set for necks. I can't find any reference to performing body annealing on brass and am hoping one of our brass experts can advise on a way to do this. Would one merely heat the brass until it reaches an appropriate temperature measured above the extraction groove? Or is this something for specialized equipment? Thoughts? __________________ “Draw me not without reason, sheath me not without honor.”

January 17, 2023, 01:40 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,000	I'd say you need to talk to a tech rep at Starline and have them explain exactly what they mean. I have an idea what they MIGHT mean, but don't know for sure. Generally, case bodies are "softer" than the case head. Intentionally. Starline might be calling that process "body annealing" (sounds sensible to me), and I expect it might involve a SLIGHTLY different heat treat process than neck annealing. Call Starline. A few minutes on the phone might keep you from buying the wrong stuff, or possibly wrecking what you bought because what you thought they meant was different from what they actually meant. Good Luck! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 17, 2023, 05:18 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,117	You never want to let a head anneal. If you do, it can blow out upon firing, causing damage and distress. You probably want to anneal about a quarter inch below where the bottom of the ARC shoulder will be but do follow the advice to talk with Starline about it. One way to protect heads is to stand the cases up in a pan of water while annealing them. I would more likely opt to spin them in a wrench socket on an electric hand drill that leaves them uncovered only at and above the desired location. As long as your flame is hot enough to get the job done quickly, that should protect the head, and you can drop them straight into water afterward to arrest heat traveling back toward the head. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 18, 2023, 12:12 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,117	Ernie8, They have the 6.5 Grendel Basic brass. It just isn't labeled that way. In a confusing move, they simply call it Basic Brass, and it is last on their rifle brass list. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 19, 2023, 01:54 PM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,117	Yep. Grendel Basic Brass. I left that detail out. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 17, 2023, 11:09 PM	#4
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,923	I would just try a couple without annealing. It may just work. Sounds like the shoulder needs to be pushed back (ok to say that right?) a little. That's probably where it needs annealing. Is 6.5 grendel that difficult to find? I remember seeing them for sale recently among members on different forum. I believe its parent brass is 7.62x39. Conversion may be an option. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

January 18, 2023, 06:04 AM	#5
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,213	I don’t see 6.5 Grendel basic brass, but I do see 6.8 basic brass.

January 18, 2023, 11:38 AM	#6
ernie8 Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2018 Posts: 217	Since the 6.5 Grendel case is a different head size than the 6.8 SPC case , that does not help much other than you saw some .

January 19, 2023, 06:01 AM	#8
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,213	Aha, I see now they just list it as Grendel. I was looking for it to start with 6.5. My bad, I just didn’t want anyone to make a mistake due to possibly reading the chart wrong.