This section is for reloading and ammunition only, all loads found in here are used strictly at your own risk, if in doubt ask again.
All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should treated as suspect and not used.
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All handloading data posted on Full-Bore UK from 23/2/2021 must reference the published pressure tested data it was sourced from, posts without such verification will be removed.
Any existing data without such a reference should be treated as suspect and not used.
Use reloading information posted here at your own risk. This forum (http://www.full-bore.co.uk) is not responsible for any property damage or personal injury as a consequence of using reloading data posted here, the information is individual members findings and observations only. Always verify the load data and be absolutely sure your firearm can handle the load, especially older ones. If in doubt start low and work your way up.
You have stress relived the case bodies but not annealed them. Annealing i.e. the recrystalisation temperature for 70:30 cartridge brass starts at 450C & is best at nearer 650C, stress relieving starts at 250-350C. The hardness of the case will not have changed by much so the base tensile strength of the metal will have reduced but not by much. The crystallographic structure will not have changed.
The tarnishing is heat oxidation of the copper in the brass its superficial.
got a thermocouple? put it on a case & measure the actual temperature where the cases were? I bet it was lower than 240C (gas ovens tend to be lower esp if its a fan oven) but they tend to over heat first so the profile will be warming up to say 280 then cooling back to 220 for most of the duration of the 25 mins.
..........so my advice would be - make 10 cartridges to 2% below your normal load & test them. (if you get any signs of case body separation ditch them) if they eject OK use them but not with high end match rifle or 1200 yd loads.
Phil
HND Metallurgy, BSc (Hons) Materials Science & Tech :-)
Thanks Phil. To be honest, the cases had been used about 5 times previously and my loads are fairly heavy using 46gr of VN140 with a 200gr FMJ bullet. I think ditching them all makes sense. Good info - much appreciated.