Hardness Tester

[WFO2]

New here and gathering together tools for casting . So this question is about a hardness testing tool . Which one ? I see the Lee about 86 bucks and the Saeco for about 169 . Are there others whats the best one . I like to buy tools that last a lifetime and that work . The more I read and absorb knowledge from people here I add tools I will need. I dont want to cast soft lead and foul my pistol . I do plan to sue Roto metal for my fist few casting so that I know that I have the proper hardness . But as I progress to using scrap that I scrounge or by then I will need to know the hardness .Any input will be appreciated .

[Bonz]

Cabine Tree

https://youtu.be/jJPE1E8LQ6c

[Pee Wee]

159507 159508

This is the one I use. It's from LBT. I can test most anything, bars, bullets, muffins, as long as it fits under the adjustable pin. It reads true BHN. No conversion charts.

[Eddie17]

I've used the Lee tester with repeatable results.
Just came across this this on the net. Good read!

http://www.lasc.us/Shay-BHN-Tester-Experiment.htm

[mold maker]

If you're young with great vision and really steady hands, you may get by with the LEE. If you're older, or plan on getting that way, go ahead and get the cabin tree. It'll outlast your kids and measure any shape.

[Walter Laich]

+1 cabine tree

you can do ingots as well as bullets and it just makes sense on how it works

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

After some research, I went with the LBT one as it reads out directly in BHN. It is easy to use.

[Guesser]

Cabin Tree; Cabin Tree; Cabin Tree. So fast, so easy, so smooth..........

[WFO2]

Thank you gentlemen and thanks for the PM's just trying to get it right and really appriciate the wealth of knowledge here . And yes I'm getting old .

[lightman]

The Cabine Tree is the only one that I have used. With very little practice you can get repeatable results.

[hermans]

+1 Cabine Tree. It was a little expensive...but as with so many things related to boolit casting, you get what you pay for.

[6bg6ga]

+1 for the cabine tree. Easy to use and can be had at a good price. With respect to hardness..... soft bullets don't necessarily equal fouling. Proper fit is necessary to help prevent fouling. Straight lead can be shot up to 1000fps. Have personally run straight lead at this speed with no problems. So, size bullets correctly before you start to worry about bullet hardness.

[bleukahuna]

I've been using the LBT tester since the eighties. It's easy to use and accurate, we compared it with the brinnell tester in the lab at work, the techs were impressed. Veral is genius at times.

[flyingrhino]

Cabine Tree.

[ukrifleman]

165711I have used the Lee BHN for a while and am quite happy with the results.

The biggest gripe I had with the Lee was to hold the 20x magnifier steady enough to get a reading.

This is my no cost solution.

ukrifleman.

[Naphtali]

The only tester I have seen in use is that of my hunting-shooting partner, the guy who casts and reloads more than 15,000 BPCR cartridges per year - for his personal use - is Cabin Tree's. He is the most anal, precise human being I've experienced. And I'm hyper anal myself.

He uses it for precision and for the time he does not waste using lesser testers. Others may be comparably precise; none is more convenient or quick to use precisely.

Hope this helps.