hardening??

[NSP64]

So, we anneal to soften the lr cases. Should we harden them after they are done?
Maybe tumble them with steel shot to 'peen harden'? might keep them together at higher velocities.

[elk hunter]

I would think that anything that would work them hard enough to work harden them would distort them, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, give it a try.

You don't have to anneal them, but they do form up a lot better if you do. I've shot thousands of them both ways and the results were pretty much the same.

[DukeInFlorida]

Think about bullets:

1) Cast lead bullets. These are normally softer (pistol bullets anyway) than jacketed bullets, and perhaps even copper plated (like Berry's or Rainier). And, they still do their job well.
2) Jacketed bullets. These are covered with a shell or a coating of copper or gilding metal (brass alloy), and the shell or coating is certainly softer than any annealed jacket we would use for swaging. Jacketed bullets are formed into shape from raw shells. Copper plated bullets are not (they are plated over formed cores).

There would be no need to make them "harder". However, keep in mind that all metals "work harden" as you form them under pressure.

So, comparing our swaged bullets from cases to other types of bullets, there's no need to make the cases harder, except that you do work harden them a bit. They are fine the way they are.

JUst take a look at Brian's images for proof!

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=126184

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu87/BTSniper/P1060065.jpg