Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Annealing under the microscope

Found this article to be informative and helpful and thought others may enjoy. They make a compressing case to anneal after every firing.

Be sure to read Part 2.

Annealing Under The Microscope

Yes, that is an interesting video, and the machine looks easy to use and quick..but,.

In Canada, the machine sells for almost $1500 and $28 per pilot. This will definitely be sold to a niche market. It would cost approximately $1700 CDN to buy. In the US, it's $1100 for the annealer and $20 per pilot.

For most of us, it's cheaper to buy new cases. And there's also the time savings. Outside of competition, it would be tedious to anneal after every firing. Benchresters would be the largest market, I would think.

I was doing the math in my head. How many new cases could I buy for the cost of the machine? Obviously depends on the brand but let’s take 308 Lapua at 81 cents a piece (Midway). With an $1,100 purchase price of the machine the break even is roughly 1,350 rounds, or two years of shooting for me. Not exactly a precise comparison but gives you an idea of payback period. If nothing else gets the mind thinking about annealing process.

Winchester brass at 44 cents a piece the payback period is 2,500 rounds for comparison. Payback period is less for wildcat cartridges as brass is more expensive.

Curious if any members have this machine and can weigh in.

You also have to take into account the amount of time needed to add to the reloading process. On the video, I believe the owner said he could manage 5 or 6 cases a minute. Not bad, as long as you are not interrupted, but still an extra 20 minutes per 100. This would only be something I'd consider if reloading for competition.

One of the comments about the machine I read was a guy who defrayed the cost by annealing for other shooters. 15 or .20 cents per case, minimum 100 cases would help immensely in clearing the cost.

Consider the time? Pfffft. Keeps me out of the gutter

Others would consider this an unnecessary step, every time you reload your brass. Everyone's needs, time and perceptions are different.

Very interesting!

Also taking Ballistica Minutia to new levels.........

This machine will have a limited market, but it's an advance. More and more annealers are showing up which will drive the prices down. The not so good units will disappear and the prices will be sane. I figure $200 US for something like this would be good. $1100 is crazy.

Think I'll stick with my propane torch and a bottle of Tempilac.

Yea, torch, approx. 7 seconds with neck in flame while turning, then placed on my cement floor in basement to air/cement cool. Done.

Tag

Been using my fingers, propane torch and bucket of water for over 40 years. I did a bunch of tests for accuracy with annealed brass. The best accuracy was consistently with the second reload after annealing. Accuracy dropped off after the fourth and I then adopted the custom of annealing every for reloads and used the second reloads for 'important' shooting, as for hunting.