Brass Prep

Ronnie the simple answer is yes to annealing brass. Over the years I have tried many methods of annealing my match brass with a torch with very mixed results. The other year when the AMP induction anneal machine came to market I bought one It is the only proven scientifically control brass annealer on the market with a lot of data to back it up.

Its expensive $1.100.00 but it was a investment I made only because I shoot 1,000 yard competition and you need the best stuff you can make or buy. After using the AMP machine with new brass my groups immediately shrank in size and it has helped put me in the winner circle since buying it.

I would not run out and buy one if your only shooting several hundred yards and doing informal shooting. If your shooting tactical matches what I would do is fire your new brass 5 times and then start thinking about going to new brass 10 times would be the max. Just because the brass has been properly taken care of with annealing properly and your primer pockets are still tight the brass is tired and it will not group as small at long distances as new brass.

All my 1,000 yard bench guns will shoot tighter groups with brand new sorted and prepped brass on the first firing a lot of our top shooters will do that in a match. This coming weekend we have our biggest match of the year its called the World Open 1,000 yard benchrest match held outside of Williamsport, Pa. the best shooters in the country will be there I plan on using new brass in both my guns for this match.

As far as neck turning goes unless you have a custom chamber that requires you to turn the necks to a certain diameter I would stay away from neck turning. My 6mm Dashers have .266nks which require me to turn the necks down to .010 neck wall. my 300WSM have .336 nks I need to turn them down to 12.5 But I have two 6.5/284 Norma that are no turn at .297 a new Lapua case will fit that chamber and have about .003 clearance I have shot them both ways and they sho0t the same with and without neck turned brass. But you need to use good brass and Lapua is very good.

I have competed with a 260 for many years in high power Silhouette and have used 308 win brass but now that Lapua makes 260 Rem brass buy Lapua and life will be easier. It all depends how much your bumping your shoulder back to make your fired brass go back in your chamber will make the cases stretch more and require more trimming a lot of 260 guys went to the Ackley shoulder because of the stretching problem with the standard 260 the shoulder angle is not sharp enough to prevent the brass from flowing forward when fired. The cheapest and quickest trimming tool I have found and use is made by Lee reloading Its the case prep tool I think they make it for a 260 rem you get a shell holder and driver for you drill and the pilot and trimmer for you case all for around $10.00