Cast bullits

[sig .357]

These bullits

[coblake]

Depends on how hard you hit em I guess.

[bhn22]

I couldn't have said it better myself!

[DavZee]

I kinda like the pattern you've got them arraigned in.

[bangerjim]

Your test with a hammer is what we use to test the powder coating, not to test lead hardness.

Pounding with a hammer means nothing because there are way too many variables:
hammer weight
hammer height
anvil size boolit was setting on
your height
your strength
speed at which you hit it

As you can see, we cannot offer any usable info with just "whacking them with a hammer".

That is why we all spend from $80 to $200 on a real Brinell Hardness Tester. I have both the Lee thing and a Cabine tester. Those are the ONLY to really tell what you have.

You can get buy "on the cheeeep" using artist pencils. Search for a thread on here for the chart and method. It is basically a SWAG, but will give you an idea of where you are.

Sorry we cannot be clairvoyant, but we sure try!

banger

[snuffy]

whats your opinion?

They're now too fat to load!

[Wolfer]

I've never tested quite like that. I have took boolits of known hardness and put them nose to nose in a vise. Then I knew wheather they were harder to softer. I have the Lee tester now.

[bhn22]

I don't know how hard they were hit, but since I don't see any cracks in them, I assume they're not too hard to work with. :grin:

[Hard_Cast]

Looks like you need a bigger hammer!

[blikseme300]

A harness tester will only tell you how hard an alloy is. There is much more to good alloy, especially when hunting, than hardness itself.

[sig .357]

Well i

[Bullshop]

That is getting the most from one mold, adjusting 44s to 45 cal.
Stop worrying and start shooting. Your guns opinion is the only one that matters.

[bhn22]

Jim, it's not possible to tell the hardness of a sample by hitting it freehand with a hammer. In the olden days, some guys would take a sample of known hardness and an identical sized sample up unknown hardness, and try squashing both samples at the same time in a vice. Then they would measure the diameter of the resulting samples for comparison. I've personally never seen anything definitive proven by this test either.