lbt bhn tester

[skimmerhead]

lbt bhn tester, is it worth the 100 bucks? is it as good as i've heard it is? anyone have used this tester? looking to buy but only the best. thanks skimmerhead

[sargenv]

Yes, yes it is.. it is the Simplest of the testers to use.. there are some cheaper, and some more expensive, and personally If I had to buy one again, this is the one I'd get. It's worth every penny I paid for it.

[Springfield]

I use mine all the time. If you follow the instructions it is very accurate, and extremely easy to use with a direct BHN readout, no guessing or converting.

[.30/30 Guy]

I have only had mine a short time. Very impressed about how easy it is to use.

[bobthenailer]

ive had mine for well over 10 years ! works excellent ! a fried had a saeco hardness tester that i used for awhile and i prefer the lbt

[skimmerhead]

thanks guys! i wanted to be sure before i bought it, i don't mind spending the bucks, i wanted what you guys just described, accurate and ease of use. i'll be ordering one shortly, thanks for the input.

skimmerhead

[Firebricker]

I'm happy with mine definately worth the $ IMO. I like because it's fast and accurate with direct bhn reading. FB

[LAH]

The only BHN tester I've used is the LBT so I can't compare but I will say it works & is simple.


Dry Creek Bullet Works
Dry Creek Firewood

[dicko]

lbt bhn tester, is it worth the 100 bucks? is it as good as i've heard it is? anyone have used this tester? looking to buy but only the best. thanks skimmerhead

It seems I'm the only dissenting voice. I tried the LBT tester, and got widely disparate readings on bullets from the same alloy. Not just one batch but several. Using it wrongly ? Maybe, but I'm a commercial caster, respectably skilled machinist and ex gunsmith, so I don't think so.

But my main point is why bother with hardness testers when the reliable way to get any hardness you want is to get the antimony % right. To paraphrase Jeff Cooper "hardness testers are the answer to a non existent problem."

$100 ?? Crazy !!

[skimmerhead]

i have been trying out my tester on various known bhn. lyman #2 tested 15 on several samples, lyman#2 that i mixed useing lead boolit calculator, useing ww lino and tin. bhn 15 all samples. mixed a batch useing lasc formula for a harder alloy, i wanted 17 bhn. all samples tested 17. tested boolits i bought on gun broker, 7. emailed guy asked what bhn boolits were 12 -to-14 bhn. when i told him about the test he said he'd refund my money. i think i have a better chance of winning the lottery. i tested some boolits i got in nov. from going ballistic spec's were 16 bhn, when i tested every random sample was 16. now having said that this is the first bhn tester i ever used, i followed instructions and could not be happier, now i don't know how accurate it is compared to any other but i don't care! it is balls on accurate and repeatable, easy to use, now i know what i'm shooting! hats off to you VERAL SMITH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

skimmerhead it's worth every penny i paid! I MUST BE KRAZY

[skimmerhead]

THANK'S to all who have and use this tester your feedback helped me make the right choice. does that make ya'll crazy too?


skimmerhead

[canyon-ghost]

That's good to hear. How'd that 41 magnum load come out? I saw it on Willy's side, Gunloads.com, and wondered if you'd had to chance to get a definitive load. It's been rainy all sping and summer here, so my load development has been spotty.
Bought a .413 WFN mold from Veral, haven't tested it yet. By the looks of it, that mold may be just the thing in my Blackhawk.
Good Luck,
Ron

[skimmerhead]

you ain't gonna believe this but i haven't shot it yet! nor my new ruger .44 flattop! i was working in my barn i was loading some boolits, my old lab laying on the floor next to me just loading some 9mm. well i dropped a boolit and it fell next to ole blue, now ole blue is blind and his hips are bad, kinda sounds like me well not wanting to disturb him i leaned over kinda backwards and flipped over and my knee landed on the cement first. i would have laughed but it hurt too much. but i didn't disturb blue. so thats how i been spending my summer, x ray's mri ortopedic surgeon man this been the most fun iv'e had with all my clothes on that i can remember! but i did not disturb blue. i'll let you know how that load works as soon as i'm finished having fun.

skimmerhead

[Tom Krein]

Thanks for the input everyone! Looks like I'll be ordering one too...

Tom

[skimmerhead]

you must be crazy to buy one!


skimmerhead

[Lloyd Smale]

I had a seaco then bought an lbt and liked it better. then i bought a cabin tree tester and it was cheaper and better then the lbt so i sold both of the other two.

[LAH]

I had a seaco then bought an lbt and liked it better. then i bought a cabin tree tester and it was cheaper and better then the lbt so i sold both of the other two.

If I didn't already have a LBT I'd go with the Cabin Tree...............Creeker

[damron g]

If I didn't already have a LBT I'd go with the Cabin Tree...............Creeker

i agree.I originally preferred the LBT because of it read direct in BHN,then i made a ring deal i stick on my Cabine Tree dial indicator marked to read BHN and it like them equally now.I get very repeatable results with both testers though they don't always agree with each other by a small percent.


I had the Lee and it was very accurate and seems to read closer to actual BHN when compared to a known sample. The SAECO was OK except sample size is limited by its design.

"But my main point is why bother with hardness testers when the reliable way to get any hardness you want is to get the antimony % right. "

Still its nice know where you are at and it's useful to see how much water quenching and stuff does.It also helps to see how soft or hard scrap alloy may be.



George

[damron g]

[QUOTE= To paraphrase Jeff Cooper "hardness testers are the answer to a non existent problem."


Whats the problem to knowing hardness?Some of aren't trying to get bullets harder,we just want to know what the BHN is.With plain base 30 caliber loads i learned a lot by being able to monitor bullet hardness.And harder wasn't always better.I don't NEED a chronograph either but i learn a lot from it at times

George

[canyon-ghost]

Not disturbing old Blue, priceless!