What is the preferred brass prep sequence when you need to size, trim, and anneal and why?
George

Get ready for all kinds of answers. OP, be sure to ask what kind of accuracy these guys are getting and if they feel their process is working for them.. Tell them to post pics for proof. This should be interesting..

Anneal, size, trim/chamfer for me.

Anneal (after 3rd or 4th firing), clean, size, trim & chamfer

1. Size - because you're going to lengthen brass in a FL sizing operation. That amount of lengthening will vary a little. The purpose of trimming is to get them withing spec and the same length.

2. Trim - just the most logical time to do this operation

3. Anneal - because sizing work hardens the brass. You are re-tempering the brass. If you size after, you are defeating the purpose of annealing.

I'm not at all convinced that annealing first defeats the purpose. I see it's purpose as facilitating uniform sizing, shoulder setback and neck diameters by eliminating brass spring back during the sizing operation. Why anneal cases that may not be dimensionally consistent with each other after sizing? Interesting discussion though.

This is my sequence too.

1. Deprime
2. Body Die
3. Neck Size
4. Anneal
5. Prime
6. fill one at a time with powder chare
7. Seat bullet, then go to step 6 for the next round
8. Crimp if needed.

Annealing before sizing gives me less spring back when sizing, and results in very consistent brass headspace dimension.

I trim after sizing.

I anneal every other firing.

Sounds like you are hijacking this thread ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Save us the drama and bloviate already

I got into brushing the inside of the necks before annealing. The brush is screwed into the Lyman prep station. I can’t look anyone in the face and say that it works, it’s more of a mental thing. The brushing of each one makes me feel like I’m one more step in consistent brass prep. My full routine is this-

Deprime, sonic clean, brush, anneal, size, trim if needed, champher debur, sometimes neck turning, sonic clean to remove lube and whatnot, brush again, prime, powder, seat.

I did see a video on the inter webs of accuracy increases when brushing before seating vs not, and look at it as another consistent step. I can’t say if it works but I can say it doesn’t hurt.

Could you explain how annealing after sizing defeats the purpose?
It seems to me that annealing after you have work hardened by sizing makes more sense.
It really shouldn't make much difference if you anneal before or after sizing as long as you do it the same way every time for consistency.

This should be good. 20 pictures at least.

I’ll just leave this here.

Load, shoot; load, shoot; load, shoot….

You are mis-intepreting what I dsaid, or I wasn't clear. I would do annealing after sizing. I said "if you size AFTER you anneal" you're just working the brass again.

OK MM, that's makes sense. Thanks for explaining.

Not nearly complicated enough for the 'fire

Anneal, resize, trim.

Deprime
Wet tumble and dry
Anneal (if required - at least every 3-4 firings)
Resize
Trim
Wet tumble and dry (15 min to remove resizing lube)
Store until time to load


I see no reason to anneal every firing unless you’re getting neck tension or splitting issues.

Anneal, resize, clean primer pocket, then trim.

This!

Only I anneal every 3rd or 4th firing......

You are, but minimally. If you anneal every time you reload a case, it might make sense to anneal after resizing. If you anneal after a certain number of firings, then annealing first makes the most sense.

This, on the money!