17 hornet anealing

[leadchucker62]

Good day everyone:
Do to the shortage of all things hornet up here in canada, I have to make my 17 hh brass last a very long time.
when I bought my 527 american I got a set of hornady dies and 150 rnds of ammo.
I just opened my second last box of factory ammo.
how many reloads do you think I can get out of the brass?
How often should I aneal the brass for max case life?

All input is greatly appreciated
Z

[GLWenzl]

IDK... Are you doing a complete fl size? To make brass really long a nk sizing die will really help (or it has for me)

[ab_bentley]

If you are running max PSI/FPS anneal every other firing. I ran my 20VT cases this way and didn't loose a case in over 30 firings. If you are duplicating the 3600fps with the 20gr bullet probably every fifth.


Adam

[wally bennett]

I am 17A/H but same case and velocity i am at the present annealing every fireing i neck size only by adjustment of the full length die i use WW.RWS,R&P cases all are ok.
I only loose cases when i drop them in the grass when having a quick second shot. I used to anneal after 5 fireings and stoped counting after 10+ fireings i must be up to 20+ now on some cases.
Wally

[leadchucker62]

Good day all:
Thanks for your quick replies.
I am neck sizing with the full length hornady dies.
I have been reloading with 1680, to match factory speed and accuracy.

This is my first 17 cal rifle and really like it.

Thanks again
Z

[Jeremy(WI)]

Originally Posted by leadchucker62

Good day all:
Thanks for your quick replies.
I am neck sizing with the full length hornady dies.
I have been reloading with 1680, to match factory speed and accuracy.

This is my first 17 cal rifle and really like it.

Thanks again
Z

How many grains of 1680 are you using?

[Daryl]

I had to anneal my RP brass after 17 or 18 firings (14 as hornets - 40gr. @ 3,340fps - then .17AH - FF and started neck cracking on the 2nd reload - lost 4 cases in about 400). I found the new WW brass I turned into .17AH's needed annealing after 2 reloads the FF + 1- lost 2 in 200.

Annealing this round is quite easy- I hold them (primerless) in my fingers, twirl the case in the flame of the propane torch (dark room) when colour change, drop it into a pail of water to stop the heat run into the case. A 3 count is all that is needed to get the right heat - 1,2,3-plop - 1,2,3-plop - 1,2,3-plop. You can do several hundred in no time at all. Much faster than any other method I've seen or heard about - other than auto fed commercial machines.

[wally bennett]

I stick a bradawl up the flash hole hold it in the flame of a propain/butain torch turn it slowly till any colour change put it down on a metal plate i once used water and loaded up 30 and 13 would not fire cause i had not dryed them enough now i dont use water its the heating that anneales not the cooling with brass its not like copper when its the cooling that anneals.
Wally

[leadchucker62]

I worked up to 12.2gr from 11 in .2gr increments.
So far no pressure signs, that's where the i got the best groups so I stopped.
I just finished loading up a bunch at 12.2gr and will run them over the crony on the weekend.
My oal is 1.725 " and im using fed 205 primers.

Thanks again
Z

[Jeremy(WI)]

Originally Posted by leadchucker62

I worked up to 12.2gr from 11 in .2gr increments.
So far no pressure signs, that's where the i got the best groups so I stopped.
I just finished loading up a bunch at 12.2gr and will run them over the crony on the weekend.
My oal is 1.725 " and im using fed 205 primers.

Thanks again
Z

11.2 gr is listed as max in the Accurate Powder data and 12.4 gr is max according to the Hornady Manual. You might not see pressure signs until the second or third firing, like I did with signs of head separation on a couple of my PPU fireformed brass at 12.4 gr at the third firing(including fireforming with Trail Boss)