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Thread: Which hardness tester is better, Saeco or Lee??

  1. 01-12-2009, 09:10 AM #1
    mikenbarb
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    Which hardness tester is better, Saeco or Lee??

    Im looking to buy a new hardness tester and wondering which one is better and why. Im looking for ease of use and best accuracy. I am highly thinking the Saeco but have heard some good about the Lee. Im currently using one that I made and it gets me within 2-3BHN accuracy but its not doing well lately and figured I would take the plunge next month for a new one if I can swing it. Thanks in advance, Mike
    ** Please bear with me for a day or two if I dont reply quickly.**
    Mike B.
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  2. 01-12-2009, 09:21 AM #2
    dromia
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    I'd go for Gussy's Cabine Tree tester, its the best of the bunch.

    Follow the Casting Stuff link at the bottom of the page.


    For fine firearms and shooting requisites visit my Web Site by clicking the link below:

    Pukka Bundhooks
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  3. 01-12-2009, 11:14 AM #3
    Jon K
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    Mike,

    They are all different in the way that they are used and read, but, all are the same in that none read bhn, but are conversions, so take your pick, whether you want to read a dial or read a venier scale.

    Just like Ford & Chevy.

    Jon
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  4. 01-12-2009, 01:42 PM #4
    largom
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    Mike, I have a Saeco, Lee, and a LBT. The Lee and the LBT are the most accurate. The LBT is the easiest to use but costs twice as much as the Lee. Holding the microscope on the Lee is difficult unless you have a VERY steady hand. I posted a thread on this forum showing modifications I made to my Lee which makes it very easy to use. I test my Lee and LBT against each other constantly and they agree very close with their reading.
    LARRY
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  5. 01-12-2009, 01:48 PM #5
    largom
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    Talking

    Mike,
    If you decide you REALLY want a Saeco tester I would sell you mine at 1/2 price.
    LARRY
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  6. 01-12-2009, 02:33 PM #6
    pdawg_shooter
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    I drop my Lee microscope down a 45ACP size die and run the bullet up to it with the ram. Makes it right easy!
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  7. 01-12-2009, 09:51 PM #7
    GP100man
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    i`m happy with the lee i have , took the scope & mounted in a clear 2 liter soda bottle cut off then drilled the cap to hold the scope ,
    not fancy but i don`t go blind anymore LOL!!!!

    GP100man
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  8. 01-13-2009, 12:10 AM #8
    kodiak1
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    Carbine Tree Hands down.
    They are money invested not money spent.

    That;s all I got to say about that..........

    Ken.
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    Be nice if it was better, but it could be worse
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  9. 01-13-2009, 08:45 AM #9
    Lloyd Smale
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    what he said
    Quote Originally Posted by kodiak1 View Post
    Carbine Tree Hands down.
    They are money invested not money spent.

    That;s all I got to say about that..........

    Ken.
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  10. 01-13-2009, 09:04 AM #10
    Pat I.
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    I have a Saeco and a LBT. The LBT is easier to use but they compare pretty well on results. If you could get the Saeco for half price I'd go with that one.
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  11. 01-13-2009, 09:17 AM #11
    Bret4207
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    Cabine Tree.
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  12. 01-13-2009, 10:15 AM #12
    Calamity Jake
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    Cabine Tree, ENOUGH SAID!!!
    Calamity Jake

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  13. 01-13-2009, 11:13 AM #13
    mtgrs737
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    Cabine Tree, you won't be sorry!
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  14. 01-13-2009, 11:52 AM #14
    Bullshop
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    I vote Cabin Tree. Its the only one that can test ingots.
    I have had an LBT for 25 years and it works good but sometimes you need to test samples before you cast boolits from it.
    BIC/BS
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  15. 01-13-2009, 12:39 PM #15
    montana_charlie
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bullshop View Post
    I vote Cabin Tree. Its the only one that can test ingots.
    The Lee will test any object you can fit within the framework of a reloading press. In my (old style) Lee Turret Press, that would easily include objects as big as a brick of 1000 primers.
    CM
    Retired...TWICE. Now just raisin' cows and livin' on borrowed time.
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  16. 01-13-2009, 01:32 PM #16
    870TC
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    I really like the LBT, easy to use and accurate. If I didn't have that one, I would look at the cabine tree.
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  17. 01-13-2009, 08:06 PM #17
    Chunky Monkey
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    Where does one get the cabine tree.
    "A gun in the hands of a bad man is a very dangerous thing. A gun in the hands of a good person is no danger to anyone except the bad guys." ~ Charlton Heston, 1997
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  18. 01-14-2009, 08:38 AM #18
    Bret4207
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    Scroll down to the bottom of this page. Right below "Shootin' Links" you'll see "CastinStuff". Click on that and it'll take you there.
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BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
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GC Gas Check