What is the color change on the case?

flintlock.50 · April 13, 2013, 08:45 PM

I'm new to ARs. I notice that the top ⅓ of the 5.56mm cases I've used are a different color than the lower ⅔. I just found some Speer Lawman 5.56mm ammo and they, too, show the color change. I'm guessing it's a heat treatment of some sort, but I'm no metallurgist. Can someone explain the color difference, please? Why don't .223 shells have the same?

I'm assuming these cases can be reloaded without issue. Yes, I know I'll have to remove the crimped primers.

That will be my next question. There seem to be MANY different opinions and techniques for removing the crimp.

Thanks

Mike38 · April 13, 2013, 08:55 PM

The discoloration you see is called annealing. Yes, it’s heat treating to make the brass softer.

flintlock.50 · April 13, 2013, 09:25 PM

I'm familiar with annealing. So why anneal 5.56 mm but not .223?

madcratebuilder · April 14, 2013, 08:01 AM

Quote:

So why anneal 5.56 mm but not .223?

Mil-spec.

BillyJack3 · April 14, 2013, 09:07 AM

Just depends on the ammo you get. Some polish it up and make it pretty, some don't.

blfuller · April 16, 2013, 02:27 PM

All of it is annealed. It's just the military grade ammo doesn't get that discoloration polished off like the commercial ammo.

flintlock.50 · April 16, 2013, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the replies. That's what I wanted to know.

Palmetto-Pride · April 17, 2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

I'm assuming these cases can be reloaded without issue. Yes, I know I'll have to remove the crimped primers. That will be my next question. There seem to be MANY different opinions and techniques for removing the crimp.

They can be reloaded thats what I use to make 300 BLK brass. This is what I use to remove the primer crimp.......http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/c...ket-reamer.php

stubbicatt · April 18, 2013, 06:34 AM

Dillon Super Swage is another tool you might want to consider. Having tried the other forms of removing primer crimps, I have settled on this one.

Ben Dover · April 18, 2013, 09:26 AM

In my experience, ther Dillon super Swage is a marvelous tool.

A but pricey, perhaps, but well worth every penny.

I conce swaged the pockets of 5,000 9MM cases in two evenings.

James K · April 18, 2013, 11:27 PM

Military spec requires that the annealing color be left on so the inspectors can be sure that the annealing step was not skipped. And also because it speeds production when the polishing is not done.

Jim

April 13, 2013, 08:45 PM	#1
flintlock.50 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 233	What is the color change on the case? I'm new to ARs. I notice that the top ⅓ of the 5.56mm cases I've used are a different color than the lower ⅔. I just found some Speer Lawman 5.56mm ammo and they, too, show the color change. I'm guessing it's a heat treatment of some sort, but I'm no metallurgist. Can someone explain the color difference, please? Why don't .223 shells have the same? I'm assuming these cases can be reloaded without issue. Yes, I know I'll have to remove the crimped primers. That will be my next question. There seem to be MANY different opinions and techniques for removing the crimp. Thanks __________________ NRA Benefactor member; NRA rifle and home firearm safety instructor; NMLRA member; NMLRA instructor for rifle, pistol and shotgun A government that takes from Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote!

April 13, 2013, 09:25 PM	#3
flintlock.50 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 233	I'm familiar with annealing. So why anneal 5.56 mm but not .223? __________________ NRA Benefactor member; NRA rifle and home firearm safety instructor; NMLRA member; NMLRA instructor for rifle, pistol and shotgun A government that takes from Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote!

April 16, 2013, 07:39 PM	#7
flintlock.50 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 233	Thanks for the replies. That's what I wanted to know. __________________ NRA Benefactor member; NRA rifle and home firearm safety instructor; NMLRA member; NMLRA instructor for rifle, pistol and shotgun A government that takes from Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote!

April 18, 2013, 09:26 AM	#10
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	In my experience, ther Dillon super Swage is a marvelous tool. A but pricey, perhaps, but well worth every penny. I conce swaged the pockets of 5,000 9MM cases in two evenings. __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

April 13, 2013, 08:55 PM	#2
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	The discoloration you see is called annealing. Yes, it’s heat treating to make the brass softer.

April 14, 2013, 09:07 AM	#5
BillyJack3 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2012 Posts: 423	Just depends on the ammo you get. Some polish it up and make it pretty, some don't.

April 16, 2013, 02:27 PM	#6
blfuller Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2013 Location: Washington State Posts: 246	All of it is annealed. It's just the military grade ammo doesn't get that discoloration polished off like the commercial ammo.

April 18, 2013, 06:34 AM	#9
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	Dillon Super Swage is another tool you might want to consider. Having tried the other forms of removing primer crimps, I have settled on this one.

April 18, 2013, 11:27 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Military spec requires that the annealing color be left on so the inspectors can be sure that the annealing step was not skipped. And also because it speeds production when the polishing is not done. Jim