bonza
Member
When annealing cartridge cases is it necessary to water quench, or is air cooling adequate? Any pros or cons to either method?
I'm about ready to start annealing my brass now that replacement brass is getting so hard to find. From what I've been able to learn, after multiple Google searches on the matter, is that how fast brass is cooled does not affect the annealing process as it would for steel. The water quench is more to prevent the heat from migrating down to the case head, which must not be annealed. That said, I've watched videos of the automated annealing machines and all of them air cool the brass.
For me the only con to water quenching is having to dry off the brass afterwards.
yep, of you spot correctly it is no problem; however, if you do it wrong, water can at least keep an over annealed case from being dangerous.2. Normal annealing (neck/shoulder only to 750°) will not heat-creep much of anything to the base