Desk of Contents:– Introduction– Unboxing,Look, and Really feel– The case prep station– BurstFire primer crimp remover– Annealing – Abstract and Conclusion
Introduction:
I had been contemplating for fairly a while attempting out annealing. I’ve been reloading now for greater than 20 years, however, like most different reloaders, I had by no means given annealing a strive. I had been having some points with velocity consistency in considered one of my hundreds that I anticipated to do higher and I believed annealing would possibly assist. I figured it was price a strive – and who doesn’t need considerably higher brass life as well? Who is aware of, I would even get some elevated accuracy. Consistency is essential to that and having your case necks get more durable and more durable after each firing is just not constant, resetting their hardness to baseline is. Lastly, we’re not speaking about an enormous reloading time dedication right here. Any auto-feed annealing machine is a fairly fast step relative to most of the different reloading steps I am going by way of on precision rifle ammo. Weighing every powder cost, as an example, is far more time consuming.
So, I began researching and purchasing. I spent a great deal of time on YouTube listening to much more educated of us then myself and studying about annealing. I extremely suggest Erik Cortina’s movies on the subject by the best way. Erik is worlds past me (and most others) in data base and expertise, and he actually breaks down what issues and what doesn’t in annealing – and the way massive your margin for error is. Fairly rapidly, I decided I used to be not seeking to spend a mint on an annealer as we’re not speaking about precision floor toolmaking right here. Moreover, the margin for error is fairly broad on the subject of getting a great hardness reset along with your anneal. I settled on the BurstFire attributable to a mix of the associated fee, auto-feed, the added case prep heart on the highest, and I preferred the design of the torch holder. I then purchased the annealer and their primer crimp remover as effectively. I additionally hit them up for an business low cost as I often do and acquired 10% or so, if I keep in mind accurately.
Through the ordering and overview course of, I’ve spoken to the proprietor of BurstFire various instances. He began the corporate in 2019 as a result of he mainly wasn’t pleased with the ratio of high quality to value in annealing machines accessible. He had manufactured merchandise earlier than and knew the prices of the supplies within the units he noticed regarded a bit low for the retail costs being requested and alternative existed to do higher. Along with BurstFire, he additionally makes the peerlessly named Muffpot, a tool for cooking or warming meals utilizing the warmth from a snowmobile or ATV’s exhaust pipe. He’s a tinker and an innovator. He has already up to date his first 2019 case annealer design to the second era I’m reviewing right here. These updates included the toolless alter torch holder I preferred a lot, an analog velocity management knob, higher display, and improved feed chute angle. Because the launch of the second-generation unit, he has additionally added a magnetic quick case feed ramp that simply slides into place. Through the course of this overview, he additionally introduced a brand new – and really quick – induction heating based mostly annealer mannequin I count on to be reviewing sooner or later, in addition to a smaller, extra transportable, and barely inexpensive, comp edge professional flame mannequin. Issues have to be going fairly effectively for BurstFire, as I noticed one on the market yesterday at Cabelas.
Unboxing, Look, and Really feel
Within the field, you get the annealer, torch, energy cable, adapter line for 16oz propane cylinders, quick case feed ramp, each customary and magnum feed wheels, and a single web page handbook that factors you to BurstFire’s web site that incorporates PDF manuals and YouTube video tutorials. The annealer is manufactured in Taiwan.
The match and end of the BurstFire annealer are fairly good. There have been no defects within the paint or meeting. The machined feed wheels look good and are evenly anodized. The silicone wanting bands on the feed wheel are fantastically grippy and, I count on, will put on effectively. I unscrewed the again panel on the annealer and it appears fairly repairable with a screwdriver and soldering iron, and I perceive it’s simple to get alternative components from BurstFire if in case you have a case prep heart motor put on out or one thing. General, the unit appears effectively designed and manufactured in addition to fairly serviceable. It additionally comes with a restricted lifetime guarantee.
The Case Prep Station
The primary characteristic I used on thegen 2 BurstFire 2-in-1 flame annealer was truly the case prep station so I’ll begin right here with that. I’ve wished a pleasant case prep heart for some time now. That is principally as a result of I reduce lots of crimps out of primer pockets and I believed a strong platform would possibly actually assist maintain issues regular relative to attempting to carry down a case with one hand and line up a drill with the crimp remover in it within the different. It seems the BurstFire is especially effectively designed for this. The carry deal with on the again of the unit is meant to behave as a cease, to maintain the unit from sliding round when it’s oriented horizontally on a tabletop. This makes for a strong platform and has simply sufficient overhang from the desk to permit no matter shavings your producing or gunk you might be cleansing out of casings to fall right into a garbage can under. This labored fairly effectively. One other good design characteristic is that the rotation velocity of the far left motor is about half that of the opposite three in case you desire a increased torque / decrease rpm choice for one of many instruments you’re utilizing. My solely grievance with the case prep heart is that there isn’t any place for a wrench the place the instruments thread within the motor, so in the event that they work themselves tight, you form of should jerk them unfastened by torquing them tremendous quick. General, I used to be actually happy with the case prep heart and think about it a giant added worth within the unit.
BurstFire Primer Crimp Remover
Along with making annealers, BurstFire has a small, however very attention-grabbing, line of instruments and gauges. These embrace neck rigidity gauges, primer pocket gauges, chamfer and deburr instruments, primer pocket uniformers and cleaners, and the “final primer pocket reamer / navy crimp remover set”. Loads of these look helpful and effectively designed, however having by no means been completely glad with any primer crimp remover, that’s what I picked up. Man do I hate crimped primer pockets! All of them are a ache to take care of however they’ll’t even agree on how a lot of a ache to be. A number of the little staked crimps are simple to take away with only a couple twists of a chamfer instrument. A number of the roll crimps although, particularly the tremendous tight Hornady ones, require primarily re-cutting or considerably swaging the primer pocket. The BurstFire primer crimp remover is a reamer kind crimp remover primarily designed to re-cut these crimped primer pockets. BurstFire’s claims are that theirs will keep sharp longer because it makes use of higher metal, that it is a little more aggressive in its reduce radius at depth than most others, and that it doesn’t open the pocket up as a lot towards the again finish: Basically, that it’s producing a cone formed reduce that’s much less tapered than most others.
With the pile of Hornady 350L crimped instances I wanted to course of I used to be giving the BurstFire crimp remover a considerable problem. These are very tight. Simply opening up the again finish a bit with one thing like a chamfer instrument or my previous RCBS crimp remover gained’t get you wherever. The primer would simply crush in case you tried to place it in (fairly a harmful factor BTW) as the entire size of the primer pocket is simply too slender. My first set of instances with the BurstFire crimp remover was a little bit of a combined bag. I adopted the directions and didn’t insert the reamer all the best way in however simply till I felt it reducing. I additionally didn’t use any lube. This resulted in some instances that weren’t reamed sufficient to get a primer began and needed to be re-reamed. I additionally had some instances that ended up over-reamed. This was probably from the case torquing in my hand throughout reducing because the cutter grabbed whereas biting in, as this was a problem. It might even have probably been that the instances that wanted to be re-reamed ended up with the angle being barely totally different the second time than the primary time, opening them up. General, there have been various misplaced instances on this lot from over-reaming, case-to-case really feel when seating primers was extremely variable, and getting the primer began within the case was generally difficult because it needed to be lined up simply completely to get began straight.
With a second lot of Hornady 350L instances in a while, I made a decision to deviate my method from the directions based mostly on my experiences and a few concepts I had to enhance the outcomes. I made a decision to lube the cutter each few instances with motor oil (make sure you tumble afterward in case you do that as oil kills primers). The oil made for a easy simple reduce with no grabbing and not one of the instances torqued in my hand throughout reducing. I additionally made positive to totally insert the reamer on each case in order that I might not have to redo any and so the altered dimensions of the primer pocket can be far more uniform. This lot of brass got here out significantly better. The primers have seated with a fair primer seating drive that can be the right amount of drive and I haven’t had any misplaced instances. The opening on the case head remains to be a bit exhausting to get the primer began in, although. I sometimes have to rotate the case within the holder as I begin the primer in to ensure an fringe of it doesn’t catch the flat the place the crimp was. This can be unavoidable as I’m undecided how a lot variation exists in primer pocket depth and the positioning of the flare in the back of the reducing head that aids within the primer alignment is extremely effected by that dimension. It might be that some shallow pocketed brass is at all times simply going to should be hit with a bit little bit of chamfering instrument after utilizing any primer crimp eradicating instrument. Nonetheless, my pockets didn’t find yourself excellent so I’m not satisfied that the BurstFire crimp remover is “the” answer, or a minimum of not a common answer, to the ache within the ass that’s crimped primers. I’ve not tried all, and even the bulk, of choices available on the market. The BurstFire cutter is working now on these instances with the particular methods I discussed although, and it simply has a minimum of has my previous RCBS beat on that entrance. I plan to proceed to make use of the BurstFire crimp remover, it’s the greatest I’ve tried, however I additionally plan to proceed attempting others, in case there’s a higher answer.
Annealing
Boy, I’ll inform you, flame annealing is a visceral expertise. I’ve carried out loads of brazing copper pipes with the identical propane torch, however there’s something totally different concerning the flame not being instantly in your hand and as an alternative being connected to a machine in entrance of you. Don’t EVER depart your flame annealer working with out your supervision. It might be routinely feeding and working simply high quality, however we’re speaking about lots of warmth fireplace potential right here. You wouldn’t need to home to go up like within the “wildfires” so prevalent in any space rich builders develop into involved in. Additionally, I shouldn’t should inform you, however don’t have your powder or primers out wherever close to your annealer and don’t attempt to anneal primed instances. You recognize someone has carried out it, as a result of if it’s a reloading mistake, somebody has carried out it. It’s just like the rule 34 of reloading.
Most likely probably the most distinctive characteristic of the BurstFire annealer is its torch holding and positioning mechanism. This mechanism makes use of two thumb screws and two ball joints to permit for a very extremely articulated positioning of the torch. I very very similar to diploma of freedom this enables within the torch’s positioning. For example, you’ll be able to angle the flame barely away from the machine in order that the case rotation wheel is topic to much less warmth from the torch. This mechanism additionally permits for fast changes between totally different calibers, although I might have preferred for the adjustment thumbscrews to be all metallic, bigger, and extra finely threaded for larger mechanical benefit. It takes an quantity of drive to tighten them sufficient to carry the torch in place that could be a little uncomfortable to use and which the plastic thumbscrews could have problem inside a couple of years as plastic ages rapidly. I could strive lubing the threads to extend the quantity of drive utilized to the ball joints relative the quantity of torque on the thumbscrews.
Simply as with the torch positioning, the adjustment for case dwell time could be very easy and efficient. It’s an analog model knob on the highest with a segmented led show of the relative velocity on the entrance. The temperature the brass reaches shall be decided by a mix of torch place, precisely how open the torch gasoline valve is, and the dwell time setting. As such, most customers will most likely not have the identical quantity on the LED readout correspond to the identical brass temperature when annealing the identical brass on totally different days as torch place will seemingly be modified in addition to the torch valve setting. This can definitely be the case for customers annealing a number of calibers. On this case you can be readjusting the elements for every run of brass to realize the specified temperature as measured by Tempilaq, brass glow with the lights dim, flame colour, or another methodology. I might counsel, when making such changes, to begin along with your dwell time low (wheel velocity quick) and gradual it down till you hit your required temp in order that not one of the instances get an excessive amount of warmth. Once more, I’m not an annealing skilled, see Cortina’s movies for larger depth and much more educated explanations on the science and logistics of annealing. In my novice expertise, it usually takes ten or so instances to get all elements according to one another. After all the things is about and also you’re completely satisfied, you’ll be able to put these 10 instances again on the stack (being cautious to not burn your self) to run although a second time. Simply make sure they’re on prime of the stack so that they have time to totally cool earlier than they run although once more. It might be doable to reuse your annealing settings in case you activate and off the torch on the secondary gasoline valve in order to not change the torch setting, solely anneal one caliber, are cautious that nothing on the rig ever will get bumped, and at all times function the machine with the gasoline cylinder on the similar temp. I didn’t run experiments on the repeatability of this and my expertise with subsequent tons run although with vital meantime and all of the variables readjusted was that the velocity quantity ended up very totally different every run. Basically, count on to calibrate for 10 or so instances at first of every run.
Through the previous two years I annealed extra 350L than the rest however did a check run with nearly all the things I’ve mendacity about. Notably, this didn’t embrace any lengthy belted magnum stuff. I don’t have any rifles that large and neither did anyone else on the variety of vary journeys the place I picked up something I might discover left behind to check out. I’ve run although 30-06, .308, 6.5cm, .223, 350L, 300 blackout, 6ARC, .357, 38sp, 6GT, 30-30, and doubtless some others I’ve forgotten. Every thing fed nice aside from a pair mixtures involving the quick case feed ramp and cartridges that don’t really want to make use of it. The quick case feed ramp is a bit brass wedge with a neodymium magnet taped to the again of it designed to make quick instances stand out from the wheels additional so you’ll be able to hit them with the flame. A phrase to the smart on that taped on magnet: Don’t strive pulling the feed ramp on and off the machine a bunch. It would come unfastened from its magnet and should be re-taped. Simply slide it into and out of place whereas leaving it on the machine’s floor. One other phrase to the smart on that ramp positioning – it’s a little finicky. Be certain to run a considerable variety of cartridges although earlier than you mess with turning on the torch to be sure to have it excellent. Simply because the primary 3 rounds went although okay is absolutely not sufficient. Run 20. The feed ramp works rather well with the quick 6mm BR, 6ARC, 300 blackout, 38sp, and .357 magazine. That’s most likely 90% of what folks plan to run it on as these are some fairly in style cartridges and troublesome to anneal with out scorching the feed ramp in case you’re not utilizing the ramp. The ramp doesn’t work so effectively with the lengthy skinny .223 rem and 350L. These are lengthy and thin sufficient they’re fairly unfastened within the feed wheel. They don’t like to slip into place over the feed ramp reliably. These calibers are lengthy sufficient they work with out the ramp, although, and are greatest run that means.
I’ll add that there are definitely cartridge limitations to this machine in addition to seemingly cartridge limitations to flame annealing in any machine. I feel working a cartridge shorter than a 38sp within the BurstFire can be a problem on the subject of positioning the flame to do its job and never get the wheels as effectively. There may be additionally some theoretical absolute restrict to how quick a cartridge can get and you continue to be capable to warmth its neck and mouth sizzling sufficient with a torch with out heating up the case head, which might lead to a case head that’s too smooth to be safely used. Brass is sort of conductive and the shorter the space between the world you are attempting to get sizzling and the world you and attempting to not get sizzling, the more difficult the equation. Lastly, BurstFire sells aftermarket feed wheels for additional small (suppose 17 hornet and FN 5.7×28) and further massive (Cheytack / 50BMG). Little question you’d need these if working stated cartridges, as brass is tremendous costly. FN 5.7×28 can be well-known for blowing out brass shoulders worse than the rest I do know of and the lifespan enhance you’d get from annealing would seemingly be significantly glorious on that cartridge with annealing.
Abstract and Conclusion
At a time when persons are paying near $2k for fancy induction annealing machines and near $200 for easy plastic case prep stations, Burstfire definitely appears to have met their worth purpose with the two in 1 brass case torch annealer & case prep heart priced simply shy of $300 on the time of this writing. I discover myself fairly glad with the acquisition. The standard of development is superb and it’s effectively designed as evidenced by its dependable feeding of all kinds of various cartridges and the convenience with which it may be adjusted and tuned to correctly anneal these cartridges. If all I can provide you with is that I would love a bit extra spectacular thumbscrews and possibly some flats to place a wrench on the instrument holders, that’s fairly darn good. The case prep heart particularly struck me as an enormous added worth and was its greatest promoting level to me. I particularly preferred the intelligent desk cease / carry deal with that does an awesome job of holding the prep heart in simply the correct place barely prolonged over a desk floor to drop brass shavings conveniently right into a waste basket. The BurstFire designer has chosen a superb rpm settings for the prep heart instrument heads as effectively and I discovered this very handy to make use of. Having a case prep heart is a giant win over doing all of it by hand or with an influence drill.
Along with the road of annealers, BurstFire has a pleasant wanting line of reloading fiddly bits and gauges. Of those, I attempted simply the “final” primer pocked crimp remover. This was an enchancment over the couple crimp removers I’ve used earlier than and allowed me to make the most of brass beforehand shelved for lack of a ok crimp removing answer in addition to the troublesome, tight-pocketed, and crimped Hornady 350L I’m utilizing for my ongoing 350L mission. Whereas I nonetheless sometimes had a bit problem with getting the primer completely aligned with the case after crimp removing because it didn’t reduce a lot of a flare on the entrance to the primer pocket, I did get primer seating drive that was constant and proper as soon as I tailored my method to utilizing oil lubrication on the cutter and absolutely inserting it in every case. General, I acquired higher outcomes with the BurstFire primer pocket crimp remover than with different crimp removers, although I’ve not tried very many and plan to proceed attempting accessible choices.
How about my brass although? The bullet seating drive after annealing with the BurstFire feels each noticeably decreased and extra uniform. As for consistency of velocity and improved accuracy, I don’t have a great reply. If there’s distinction, you want lots greater knowledge units than I’ve produced to see it. I did resolve, although not repair, that velocity drawback I used to be having although. It simply boiled right down to a powder merely not being nearly as good a match as I anticipated it could be with that cartridge. Having a radar chrono the final two years and subsequently firing a ton extra photographs over the chrono than I ever did earlier than has been an eye fixed opening expertise. After all, the largest profit to annealing is case life and I count on my case life shall be a lot improved. We must wait and see on that entrance although, as I don’t suppose I’m close to the top on any of the tons I’ve been annealing.
