Been reading up on annealing 45-70 brass, specifically Starline Brass. A new subject for me, though I knew what the process was. I resize, trim and crimp every time and though I have a couple hundred cases (in a move, we lost a few hundred more years ago. Yes, it kills me. This is when getting them was easy). I guess I should count myself lucky that so far I'll only have the odd case out, usually from cases bent from one thing or another - no split necks or head case separation signs.
First - how many of you simply don't anneal your 45-70 Starline - especially if you full-length size, trim and crimp every time?
Through searching and reading, I know the processes, including the purchase of annealers, has been covered, but I'm not sure this has specifically been asked. To sink $550+ into a machine at this point is untenable, though if it's significant per below I'll think of a cost-benefit appraisal.
The DIY ones I've seen here and on youtube (linked from here as well), are awesome but I'm afraid my abilities here are very limited, so I'd need actual plans to build one.
I am interested in annealing both for case longevity, and for aiding in accuracy, if applicable.
Which brings me to hand-annealing, via something like Starline itself recommends - hand firing the neck and tilting into water. I know there are others, including using a socket and drill, or sand, or salt, or lead. But the basic premise is the same - fire to some variance on "dull red color," or Tempilaq, or some combination thereof.
To my question: I'm very concerned about ruining brass via overheating or getting too much into the head area. I'm also concerned about reaching a consistent annealing - otherwise, my suspicion is, that with inconsistent anneals that pretty much negates the value with respect to consistency and therefore accuracy.
So: How many of you find hand-annealing unsatisfactory, and have bit the bullet to buy a good machine (I've read mixed things on the Annealese; I'm thinking of the Giraud or Mike's Reloading Bench Annealer)?
https://www.giraudtool.com/giraud-ca...-annealer.html
https://www.mikesreloadingbench.com/mrb2018_006.htm