Annealing Question - Body Anneal for Unformed Brass?

[markr6754]

I need some 6mm ARC brass. My initial source, aside from expensive 6mm ARC ammo, was 6.5 Grendel, which forms easily to 6mm ARC, but that is nearly as rare.

Starline has 6.5 Grendel "Basic" brass, meaning it's the right head size and length, but isn't final 6.5 Grendel brass - and no headstamp which suits me fine.

Here's the note from Starline: This brass has not been annealed, and will require a body anneal prior to forming, and possibly a neck anneal after forming, depending on how far it is necked down.

I do have an annealing center, but it is set for necks. I can't find any reference to performing body annealing on brass and am hoping one of our brass experts can advise on a way to do this. Would one merely heat the brass until it reaches an appropriate temperature measured above the extraction groove? Or is this something for specialized equipment?

Thoughts?

 

[Varminterror]

Forming from cylinder brass, the entire length of brass from mouth to the desired length down the body. Failing to soften the entire length can cause buckling as harder brass at the mouth end resists forming and the softened body buckles…

It’s not so complicated with torch based annealers.

Personally, I wouldn’t mess with making 6 ARC brass from Basic Grendel brass. ARC brass isn’t prevalent, but it’s not impossible to find - especially once fired stuff from shooters which bought factory ammo and don’t reload, and are trying to offset some of their costs by passing on their once fired brass.

 

[markr6754]

@Varminterror I appreciate the response. I suppose if one is patient enough...all things come to he who waits...brass will appear.

 

[BushMaster-15]

I need some 6mm ARC brass. My initial source, aside from expensive 6mm ARC ammo, was 6.5 Grendel, which forms easily to 6mm ARC, but that is nearly as rare.

Starline has 6.5 Grendel "Basic" brass, meaning it's the right head size and length, but isn't final 6.5 Grendel brass - and no headstamp which suits me fine.

Here's the note from Starline: This brass has not been annealed, and will require a body anneal prior to forming, and possibly a neck anneal after forming, depending on how far it is necked down.

I do have an annealing center, but it is set for necks. I can't find any reference to performing body annealing on brass and am hoping one of our brass experts can advise on a way to do this. Would one merely heat the brass until it reaches an appropriate temperature measured above the extraction groove? Or is this something for specialized equipment?

Thoughts?

The two cartridges are so similar don't see why a Body anneal is necessary . As a shoulder neck anneal should be sufficient but I Don't do either caliber so it's just an educated guess on My part . IF you do a body anneal ,I suggest keeping the caseheads submerged in a pan filled 0.75"- 1.0" with water ,so as Not to exceed 400-480 Deg. anywhere around the caseheads .

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[243winxb]

Starline forming Brass $.80 cents. Hornady Ammo $1.32 each on Ammoseek.

Annealing would not be easy. Winchester was having case head separations in 5.56 Nato ammo. It was found 1 annealing step was skipped, of the neck/shoulder area.

Seems the case body needed to be stress relieved by the extra anneal. 400 to 480F degrees is enought heat on the case body.

https://discover.dtic.mil/

I don't anneal. To much like Voodoo and witchcraft.

 

[jmorris]

Start this one around 1:25 and note how high the anneal is for forming.



That’s where I would start if I exhausted all other means of acquiring ready to go cases. Including just buying loaded ammunition to get the brass.

The two cartridges are so similar don't see why a Body anneal is necessary .

Probably because they are not formed at all yet, see the same spot in the above video.

Starline has 6.5 Grendel "Basic" brass, meaning it's the right head size and length, but isn't final 6.5 Grendel brass

Rifle brass goes through several annealing processes on the way to becoming a formed case ready to load. Milspec ammuntion can’t have the evidence of the final anneal polished off either.

 

[Varminterror]

The two cartridges are so similar don't see why a Body anneal is necessary . As a shoulder neck anneal should be sufficient but I Don't do either caliber so it's just an educated guess on My part . IF you do a body anneal ,I suggest keeping the caseheads submerged in a pan filled 0.75"- 1.0" with water ,so as Not to exceed 400-480 Deg. anywhere around the caseheads .

View attachment 1128039​

He’s not reforming 6.5 Grendel into 6 ARC as you have pictured.

He’s considering case forming from “cylinder brass” which has never been final formed, and has not been annealed to enable shoulder forming. This brass is made available to us wildcatters to pick our shoulder positions and any neck diameter for any Wildcat up to straightwall cartridges on the casehead size.

 

[BushMaster-15]

He’s not reforming 6.5 Grendel into 6 ARC as you have pictured.

He’s considering case forming from “cylinder brass” which has never been final formed, and has not been annealed to enable shoulder forming. This brass is made available to us wildcatters to pick our shoulder positions and any neck diameter for any Wildcat up to straightwall cartridges on the casehead size.

View attachment 1128086

MY Bad misunderstood his post .