Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Annealing...for those who doubt...

You should anneal your brass.....here is why I started....
Many years ago, I built a 7mm Rem Mag for a customer. I had new Norma brass , various primes, powders, and bullets. I attached a strain gauge to measure pressure, and had a chronograph set up. 7 mag has always shot well for me. I've heard horror stories, but I never had any issue. Until this one. Three shot groups were about 3 inches on my indoor range. Pressure was swinging from about 58000 psi to 65000 psi. Velocity swing was a little over 100 fps. What the hell ? Mounted a different scope. Same thing. But the swings in psi and velocity, I couldn't figure that. So, different primers, then powders, then bullets, same old swings.
So I called John Barsness. John, wtf ? Have you annealed ? I said no. John said try it. So I did. I got a candle and annealed that brand new Norma brass. Cleaned up the brass. Test fired again. Very small groups, pressure had only about 100 psi swings(which is VERY good) and ES on the chrono was less than 10 fps.
Since then, I have solved many a problem with rifles that don't shoot well. Now I anneal brand new brass regardless of brand, and re-anneal (is that a word?) about every fourth or fifth firing. I have tried several methods from the candle, to torches, and now I use the molten salt bath method.
https://ballisticrecreations.ca/shop/
Caution....when using a salt bath anneal method, be DAMMM sure your brass is clean and dry. Any water in molten salt explodes into steam. And grease and oil may burn.
What say the Fire ?
Charlie
Apologies for the photos...its hard to get the light right...

Thanks for starting this thread CS. I've no intent to discredit the salt bath method. Just offer an alternative. My contribution from an old thread.


https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...7040/dna-candle-case-anneal#Post12607040

Toodogs
I have used the method you describe. I think the salt bath is better. But, any method is better than none !
Charlie

I was under the impression that new brass is annealed, is that a bad assumption?

It's supposed to be.

I think this is the best method as well. For me anyway. It's cheap and easy to set up. I echo Charlie's suggestion to keep the brass dry.

Norma brass was also what caused me to start annealing, my groups went to pot fast.. and that stuff is stiff to begin with…

My smith asked me if I annealed right after I told him I used Norma brass .. and sure enough.

If you shoot a lot (competition) you have to get a mass volume solution - I went with the Giraud Annealer and updated it ..

Ole John is pretty smart for a Mule Deer 😁

Re-engineered Skip's design, made it with alunimum scraps.

I upgraded from the candle method, switching to a dedicated Bic lighter.

No more nasty matches to clean up.

Stress relieving brass?

Never heard of it......

Smokepole…that falls under I love you, check is in the mail, you are the only one, etc…

I have some new Prvi Partisan brass that definitely has been annealed. Any some that has not.

This is worth the listen.

Tag

TAG

I can almost walk away from this one after I load her up with brass…. Loving that !

too expensive for me ,i will stay with a candle. my new Lapua brass comes annealed

Pete..some of it is annealed…

well mine is