Annealing and Case prep questions: Clean/size/Anneal? or Clean/Anneal/size?

helocat · February 27, 2018, 04:43 PM

(Yes I did searches on the board before posting. I am new to the board but not new to forums)

I have almost 20+ yrs experience pistol loading, but very little rifle loading experience.

Annealing questions:

Cleaning first makes common sense, will just assume this is always first.

Next do you Anneal? OR do you deprime and resize, then anneal?

I have seen both discussed and both shown on youtube.

I run a progressive press so I like the idea of resizing and depriming AFTER, annealing. This way I can keep the brass in the press. It also makes since to size after annealing so any deformation from heat is corrected by the neck sizing process. (probably not enough time to deform, but still)

BUT next question.... When do you trim the case? It would seem to trim the case after resizing the case to offset any stretch. So perhaps the case needs to be sized then removed for trimming.

Quality brass probably makes the difference on how often for all of this.

hounddawg · February 27, 2018, 04:46 PM

does not matter

berettaprofessor · February 27, 2018, 05:03 PM

I'm watching this one;

dallasb · February 27, 2018, 05:13 PM

My suggestion is to deprime before anneal. If you accidentally get a live primer mixed in it will make you change your pants.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Tsquared · February 27, 2018, 07:20 PM

I clean, anneal, lube, size/de-prime, corn cob tumble to remove lube and shine up the brass, and then trim if necessary. I do this on my Rockchucker. When I go to load I switch over to the Dillon 550. I also anneal every other time.

You will find that there are many different methods. I have a buddy that sizes/deprimes after the initial cleaning then wet tumbles with SS pins, then anneals, and trims. He likes the nice shiny lower case with the evidence of heat at the top.

RC20 · February 27, 2018, 07:58 PM

I don't think there is any right way or wrong way.

The way I process my cases, I resize, clean, then anneal.

No reason not to clean, anneal and resize.

I would not anneal a dirty case, just based on assumption it would cook stuff on that might not come off reasonably.

JeepHammer · February 27, 2018, 11:51 PM

Annealing before resize so the case resized easier.

As for cleaning, metallic residue can introduce issues.
I clean first, then anneal.
Depending on what customer wants, polishing can be done after annealing and/or resizing.

I actually wash to get grime off, polish somewhat to dry and clean up a little more, case roll, anneal, resize if ordered that way, and high polish/wax if ordered that way.
Some guys actually want annealing to show, so when ordered that way, annealing is done last (no was in annealer! Stinks like crazy.)

USSR · February 28, 2018, 01:45 PM

helocat,

Just so you know, the reason to anneal brass is because the case necks have work hardened and you are getting spring back (neck dimensions are larger than before). So, ideally you would resize after annealing so the necks would not spring back and would be dimensionally correct to give you good neck tension. Hope that helps.

Don

RC20 · February 28, 2018, 06:51 PM

If you anneal often enough, the brass is still fine.

Ergo you can do it in any order.

I am doing mine at 3 to 5.

There is no distortion of the case if the annealing temperature is correct.

That is more difficult that it might seem.

reloader28 · February 28, 2018, 10:35 PM

I like to resize after annealing

February 27, 2018, 04:43 PM	#1
helocat Junior Member Join Date: February 27, 2018 Posts: 2	Annealing and Case prep questions: Clean/size/Anneal? or Clean/Anneal/size? (Yes I did searches on the board before posting. I am new to the board but not new to forums) I have almost 20+ yrs experience pistol loading, but very little rifle loading experience. Annealing questions: Cleaning first makes common sense, will just assume this is always first. Next do you Anneal? OR do you deprime and resize, then anneal? I have seen both discussed and both shown on youtube. I run a progressive press so I like the idea of resizing and depriming AFTER, annealing. This way I can keep the brass in the press. It also makes since to size after annealing so any deformation from heat is corrected by the neck sizing process. (probably not enough time to deform, but still) BUT next question.... When do you trim the case? It would seem to trim the case after resizing the case to offset any stretch. So perhaps the case needs to be sized then removed for trimming. Quality brass probably makes the difference on how often for all of this. __________________ Father of 3 boys that all shoot. Need ammo. Lots of ammo.

February 27, 2018, 04:46 PM	#2
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	does not matter __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

February 27, 2018, 07:58 PM	#6
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	I don't think there is any right way or wrong way. The way I process my cases, I resize, clean, then anneal. No reason not to clean, anneal and resize. I would not anneal a dirty case, just based on assumption it would cook stuff on that might not come off reasonably. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

February 28, 2018, 01:45 PM	#8
USSR Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2017 Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY Posts: 1,442	helocat, Just so you know, the reason to anneal brass is because the case necks have work hardened and you are getting spring back (neck dimensions are larger than before). So, ideally you would resize after annealing so the necks would not spring back and would be dimensionally correct to give you good neck tension. Hope that helps. Don __________________ NRA Life Member NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor

February 28, 2018, 06:51 PM	#9
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,014	If you anneal often enough, the brass is still fine. Ergo you can do it in any order. I am doing mine at 3 to 5. There is no distortion of the case if the annealing temperature is correct. That is more difficult that it might seem. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

February 27, 2018, 05:03 PM	#3
berettaprofessor Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2008 Posts: 1,091	I'm watching this one;

February 27, 2018, 05:13 PM	#4
dallasb Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2011 Posts: 110	My suggestion is to deprime before anneal. If you accidentally get a live primer mixed in it will make you change your pants. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

February 27, 2018, 07:20 PM	#5
Tsquared Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2016 Location: NE Atlanta Posts: 337	I clean, anneal, lube, size/de-prime, corn cob tumble to remove lube and shine up the brass, and then trim if necessary. I do this on my Rockchucker. When I go to load I switch over to the Dillon 550. I also anneal every other time. You will find that there are many different methods. I have a buddy that sizes/deprimes after the initial cleaning then wet tumbles with SS pins, then anneals, and trims. He likes the nice shiny lower case with the evidence of heat at the top.

February 27, 2018, 11:51 PM	#7
JeepHammer Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2015 Posts: 1,768	Annealing before resize so the case resized easier. As for cleaning, metallic residue can introduce issues. I clean first, then anneal. Depending on what customer wants, polishing can be done after annealing and/or resizing. I actually wash to get grime off, polish somewhat to dry and clean up a little more, case roll, anneal, resize if ordered that way, and high polish/wax if ordered that way. Some guys actually want annealing to show, so when ordered that way, annealing is done last (no was in annealer! Stinks like crazy.)

February 28, 2018, 10:35 PM	#10
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I like to resize after annealing