Do you have to anneal when reformong 30-06 to 8x57? I am using a form and trim die before the regular 8x57 resizing die. This seems to work very well with the LC69 ’06 brass but I am worried that not annealing could be a problem. In truth I would very much like to avoid annealing if possible.

When I form 30-06 cases to 8X57, I just lube the 06 case and put in 8X57 sizing die . Ofcourse trimming afterwards.

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Originally posted by jocamp64:
Do you have to anneal when reformong 30-06 to 8x57? I am using a trim and die before the regular 8x57 resizing die. This seems to work very well with the LC69 ’06 brass but I am worried that not annealing could be a problem. In truth I would very much like to avoid annealing if possible.

You don;t have to anneal but your hard work will last longer if you do anneal. Annealing is easy, forming the case and cutting it off is the hard part.

It is possible to avoid the annealing and not run into any problems. Back in the 50s I made a lot of 8mmx57 cases out of WWII 06 brass which had corrosive primers that were suppose to cause embrittlement and probably did.

I was young and dumb and knew nothing about annealing and got away with it.

However not knowing the condition of that 40 year old brass you're useing I think SR4759's advice is sound and it wouldn't hurt you to get the experience and file it in your memory bank. Have fun roger

Like Kennedy, I lube, shove them into the 8x57 full length sizer, then trim off the extra quarter-inch or so of neck. I've never needed to anneal, but then I shoot so little 8x57 that case life is not an issue. If I were to anneal, it would be after the initial resizing.

The brass is unfired but de-primed. So I guess if the primers were corrosive they could have hardened the brass. Is it too late to anneal when I start getting split cases?

I really appreciate the opportunity to benefit from the experiences and lessons leaned from experienced reloaders.

The corrosive priming only affects the brass after firing, so no problem there. Also those removed primers weren't corrosive anyway LC69. I still shoot 8x57 that is formed from mil 06 brass, mostly RA and WCC 54-55, they will last a lot longer if you anneal the necks. I have no form dies, just 8mm FL sizer and trim.