My 30-30 brass, having been reloaded a few times, is getting work hardened. I'd like to extend the useful life of the cases if possible. I've read a lot about annealing brass, some of it quite contradictory. So yesterday, I took what I think I understand of that and gave it a try. I chucked up the shell holder from my Lee trimming tool in a portable drill and fired up a propane torch. As I understand it, I'm looking for a gold color change at the neck (indicating 700 to 800 degrees?) , but without losing the shine from the rest of the case - as an indication that the case neck has been annealed but not the rest of the case. When the color change happened, I dropped the case in a bowl of water to stop the heat from continuing down the case and head. (Brass doesn't "heat treat" like steel in that respect) Spinning the brass seemed to give an equal treatment all the way around (which should avoid hard spots in the neck area) , but judging by color change alone I wonder about the consistency from one case to the next. I haven't seen an IR thermometer that goes high enough to monitor the process. Keep the case head below 300 degrees (F) The critical temperature is 482 degrees at which the first changes in grain structure can occur. Annealing brass to "dead soft" will ruin the case. It will be dangerous to attempt to shoot shoot cases. Anybody have more info/helpful tips/ etc? (Karl???) BTW, I'm reloading mostly cast lead these days, and pushing those pretty hard (trying to stay right at 2000 fps). That seems to work well and give good accuracy.

Don't they recommend to stand the cases in water anymore, to keep the head-end from overheating? Your best bet for recognizing temperature is Tempilaq, according to the handloading experts I used to read when I was interested in wildcats. I've never used it but I used Tempilsticks all the time when I was doing more metalworking, and they're great.

Metalworking: Annealing brass?

Aug 23, 2013 22 Replies

Rate this thread:

Ed Huntress 12 years ago

It's so damn hard to keep them lit, too...

Vote

pyotr filipivich 12 years ago

Gunner Asch on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 00:38:03 -0700 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

You really don't want to see what an FN-FAL does to brass. We'll I know you saw what mine did. Sigh.

-- pyotr filipivich "With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

Vote

Gunner Asch 12 years ago

The "several" that I owned before they became illegal in California were quite gentle on the brass. But then I did adjust the valve in the recoil systems properly.

Ive seen guys who didnt know what they were doing..or were unaware of the gas valve in the forend..have rims ripped off etc etc because they were set wide open.

Gunner

"There are no leftists in mainstream American politics.

Just two right wing parties, one hard right and one softer." Christopher A. Lee, 8/18/2013

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required