hardening the boolits

[quiknot]

i have heard some of you harden your boolits by dropping them on a cloth which has a slit in it and then they fall into cool water....i to have done that on my last batch of boolits....i cast for a SS 45 colt replica for just shooting at the range...

my question is what are the advanages to harden boolits...if there is any....for my application is it necessary?

[GP100man]

harden the boolit for more pressure!!
GP

[Treeman]

Hardening can be advantageous for higher pressure/higher velocity loadings. On the other hand softer can be better if you have a Revolver with oversize throats. Most anything USUALLY works for light target and plinking loads.

[leftiye]

Whatever you do about bullet hardness- if the gasses get past the bullet as ignition occurs and they enter the rifling, they will melt part of the bullet and deposit it on the barrel thus leading the barrel, and deforming the bullet. Accuracy GONE! Harder lead deforms less under pressure. Absent fire cutting, soft lead does fairly well if pressures at ignition are kept low.