Hardness of factory ammo?

[blackbike]

Anybody ever check the hardness, or any other testing, of factory loaded cast boolits?
Thanks, BB

[Ickisrulz]

I have read Buffalo Bore bullets are 19 BHN.

Those that supply lead bullets for reloaders make them pretty hard also. I've read 20-22 BHN.

I've never measured anything myself though.

[runfiverun]

it's all over the place.
win and fed/rem uses soft alloys [@ 40-1] in thier 45 colt and 38 stuff.
some of it is swaged from 5% antimony and lead
lead 22's are about 1.5% antimony,
fmj stuff is usually about pure, some is 3% antimony.

[JohnFM]

I've checked the MBC bullets I shoot a lot of in 357.
They're advertised as 18 and most seem to run about 21.
Pretty hard cast.

[Larry Gibson]

Most commercial cast run 16 to 23 BHN depending on make.

Factory Handgun Ammunition BHN

Ammunition BHN
R-P 32 S&W 98 RN 5
Western 32 S&W 98 Lubaloy 5.5
Federal 32 S&WL 98 WC 6
Federal 32 H&R 98 SWC 6.5
W-W 38 S&W 150 RN 5
REM-UMC 38 S&W 150 RN 5.3
Western 38 LC Lubaloy 6
R_P 38 SPL Match 148 WC 5.3
Winchester 38 SPL CBA 158 FN 19.3
Speer 38 SPL 158 LSWC 5/3
Western 38 SPL 158 RN Lubaloy 6
WRA 38 spl 158 RN 5.5
R-P 38 SPL 158 RN 5
R-P 357 Mag 158 LSWC 7.5
R-P 41 Mag 210 LSWC 7.8
R-P 41 Mag 210 JSP 5.3
HSM 41 Mag 210 SWC cast 18
Magtech 44 SPL CBA 200 LFN 5.5
HSM 44 SPL CBA 200 LFN cast 19.3
Magtech 44 Mag 240 JSP 6.7
Ten-X 45 Shcofield 200 RNFP 16.6
Ultramax 45 Shcofield 180 RNFP 16.6
Magtech 45 Colt 200 CBA LFN 6.5
Hornady 45 Colt 255 CBA LFN 7.5

Note; above BHN is the average of 8 bullets with most having a +/- 1.5 BHN

Larry Gibson

[blackbike]

Wow thats quite a run down there Larry. thanks for that info.
I notice most are pretty soft with the thumb nail test.
Thanks,BB