The Accurate Reloading Forums
Did I ruin my brass?
16 October 2017, 00:49
D HumbargerDid I ruin my brass?
I washed a batch of once fired 284 brass in Dawn to remove
the lube then put them in the oven to dry them at 350 for 45
minutes. They came out with a bluish tint. Did I destroy them?
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
16 October 2017, 02:30
H47Most likely they are ok. Here is an extensive article on annealing:
http://www.6mmbr.com/annealing.htmlOne main point discussed is that the grain structure of the brass is not changed at temperatures less than 482 degrees F.
A good job is sometimes just a series of expertly fixed fark-ups.
Let's see.... is it 20 years experience or is it 1 years experience 20 times?
And I will have you know that I am not an old fart. I am a curmudgeon. A curmudgeon is an old fart with an extensive vocabulary and a really bad attitude.
16 October 2017, 02:41
GeorgeS350 degrees won't warm your brass.
What you are seeing is most likely residue from the soap. Next time rinse them with hot water before dry them.
George
16 October 2017, 03:20
D HumbargerI thank you for your insight. 284 brass isn't easy to come by.
I didn't want to lose it. I guess I thought I was baking brownies
or somthing. More than likely a senior moment!
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
16 October 2017, 14:22
GhubertNope, should be fine.
I cooked a batch of Norma 3006 cases at 200C overnight once and the cases were tinted blue.
That was ten years ago and those cases are on their 7th reload.

17 October 2017, 02:42
lee440Water boils at 212*, so there is really no need to go higher on the oven temp, might be a bit faster, but not much!
DRSS(We Band of Bubba's Div.)
N.R.A (Life)
T.S.R.A (Life)
D.S.C.
18 October 2017, 09:28
NormanConquestYou're O.K. while on the subject of case annealing,I have bought temperature responsive markers available at your welding supply.I've done it by eye for many years but this gets it a bit more precise.
Never mistake motion for action.
24 October 2017, 22:48
Kevin RohrerThe brass is fine and not annealed. I dry my brass at 325F for a half hour or so.
Member:
Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, Varmint Hunters' Assn., ARTCA, and American Legion.
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25 December 2017, 08:18
Garth BakerI put my brass in the dish washer. Comes out clean and no lube and the heat from drying works great.
Relive your memories take a kid hunting and fishing
30 December 2017, 04:56
AtkinsonI temper soften knife at about that, I watch it until it turns a darkish sky blue, its hardening. Seems strange but clean my brass in a viberator cleaner..With loaded rounds I wipe them off with a paper towel after I resize them. I use very little lube and I use Imperial case wax. It wipes right off and is the best..
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
31 December 2017, 03:32
D HumbargerThanks for all the responses.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.