Aging Boolits?

[ShooterAZ]

I read a couple of snippets in the tips stickies about aging boolits for a while before loading them. Could some please explain the wisdom of this to me? Thanks!

[GRUMPA]

After casting I checked the hardness which came out at 18bhn, 24hrs later it checked out at 21bhn, after 48hrs it stabilized at 23-25bhn. That was with iron molds with ww and 1% tin. When I use aluminum molds the final product is harder yet at 48hrs, but I water drop all of mine.

Others have more detailed explainations than I but this is what I've observed with whaat I do.

[ShooterAZ]

Can't you just age them in the case after you load them?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Here is a good thread to read,
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=127875&highlight=age+hardening

the short answer is about 2 weeks for WW alloy.

PS. it's better to let the boolits harden before loading,
the seating operation can swage a boolit alittle smaller,
maybe as much a 0.002" if it's a soft alloy and the case is tight.
Jon

[BOOM BOOM]

HI.
Nicely summed up Jon. :Fire::Fire:

[ShooterAZ]

I don't cast ww...i need to study this some more. My alloy is hardball and it does not appear to swage when seating per my calipers. Thanks for the link and replies...If it swells a "little" I don't think i care too much.