Annealing Revolver Brass?

[GCF]

"I'm anal retentive, not NUTS!!!"

Quote of the week!

As successful as he may have been over the course of his working career, I am of the opinion that the gentleman from Idaho, MAY have missed his true calling...

 

[oldRoger]

I too tend to shake like a dog passing a peach pit...

I am always comforted when someone says that, I have the Army Advanced Pistol Marksman Manuals and from time to time I flip to a very dogeared page where it says no one can hold on target without shaking more than a few seconds. I am still working on getting it up to a second without shaking.

 

[GCF]

"I too tend to shake like a dog passing a peach pit..."

I am always comforted when someone says that, I have the Army Advanced Pistol Marksman Manuals and from time to time I flip to a very dogeared page where it says no one can hold on target without shaking more than a few seconds. I am still working on getting it up to a second without shaking.

Ya' just gots ta' be QUICK, I guess...

As promised, a few "group" pics. Note that the first pic is a different bullet & lube. Brass is nearly new. All groups shown were fired off bags - at just under 20 yards.


Nice group, shot w/ a different bullet shortly after buying this revolver. Shown here to demo that this gun IS capable of good accuracy. Same primers, & same lot of brass still in use.

Current use bullet, shot a while back.

Shot w/ 6X brass & hard Magna Blue lube, before annealing.

Shot w/ 6X brass & LBT Soft Blue lube after annealing.

 

[GCF]

"I too tend to shake like a dog passing a peach pit..."

I am always comforted when someone says that, I have the Army Advanced Pistol Marksman Manuals and from time to time I flip to a very dogeared page where it says no one can hold on target without shaking more than a few seconds. I am still working on getting it up to a second without shaking.

Ya' just gots ta' be QUICK, I guess...

As promised, a few "group" pics. Note that the first pic is a different bullet & lube. Brass is nearly new. All groups shown were fired off bags - at just under 20 yards.


Nice group, shot w/ a different bullet shortly after buying this revolver. Shown here to demo that this gun IS capable of good accuracy. Same primers, & same lot of brass still in use.

Current use bullet, shot a while back. Note WW brass (2X I think), & 12 rounds.

Note powder change (next 4 groups) to VV N-340. Trying to get a reasonable bit more out of it, for possible field use. Shot w/ 6X brass & hard Magna Blue lube, before annealing. No joy in Mudville...

Shot w/ 6X brass & LBT Soft Blue lube after annealing. Those are 12 & 6 round groups, respectively. Something made a difference...

 

[H Richard]

One thing I didn't see mentioned in determining the degrading of your accuracy, was measuring the consistency of the OAL. A few years ago I had been loading a batch of .45 ACP's and noticed the groups opening up. As I tried to determine if it was me or the gun, I noticed the recently made ammo next to some I had loaded previously, (all cast 200 gr SWC's), and the OAL looked different. I measured and sure enough it was. I looked at my seating die, and found a build up of bullet lube, causing the OAL to get less and less, building up the pressure as the internal space got less.

I now inspect my loading die every time I reload, and clean as needed.

 

[GCF]

One thing I didn't see mentioned in determining the degrading of your accuracy, was measuring the consistency of the OAL.

...I looked at my seating die, and found a build up of bullet lube, causing the OAL to get less and less, building up the pressure as the internal space got less.

I now inspect my loading die every time I reload, and clean as needed.

Good observation & practice to get into.

These Keith style revolver bullets, & have distinct crimp grooves, as opposed to the SWC style - as typically used w/ auto pistols. Although not mentioned, crimp die setting & OAL is consistent.

Of course bear in mind that the degree of crimp tension, is a factor that could be affected by work hardening of the brass - which goes back to my original question, as to the actual value of annealing handgun brass...

 

[oldRoger]

GCF;
One serious problem that is hard to design out is that the shooter knows the changes he has made when he shoots unless for example the new/old brass can be hidden from the shooter.. .
To what degree does that influence the results? If it only results in superior relaxation and concentration, it could be significant.
Of course this is where a Ransom Rest would be good.
Roger.

 

[GCF]

GCF;
One serious problem that is hard to design out is that the shooter knows the changes he has made when he shoots unless for example the new/old brass can be hidden from the shooter.. .
To what degree does that influence the results? If it only results in superior relaxation and concentration, it could be significant.
Of course this is where a Ransom Rest would be good.
Roger.

Yeah, pretty hard to minimize that pesky human factor. But I guess THAT is the decipline...

You know, I really enjoy shooting groups, but have little desire to own a Ransom Rest. I mean, if you take the "cowboy" out of handgun shooting, how much fun could really be left?

I suspect that age is "beginning" to be an issue for most of us on this forum. Hand loading (& shooting groups) seems to be a game for old guys - as the young guys seem to stay busy w/ "other" pursuits. Kind of ironic, as it's those young fellas that have the really good eyes & reflexes.

 

[oldRoger]

Well I am not going to join the run and gun guys either.
If we all lived closer together we could have a range/hobby shop. I have no reason to own a Ransom Rest, but once in a while I might shoot a few groups on one if I had the use of it.

I have little or no place to use a chronograph, but equally would like to check a few rounds, then of course if I had access to a 10mm pressure barrel I could settle a 200gr pb bullet question which bothers me.
Otherwise it's groups for me too.