Got a an email on my technique so I thought I'd post a pic. I don't care about pistol, just rifle.
Attachment 81392
i use a screw driver to preload the scale a few oz., takes the slack out. Use a business card like a feeler gauge to tell when the 'divit' is complete. I was going by feel previously and the numbers came out a little different. Very repeatable and after a calculation gives me the yield strength of the alloy. The H-T coating really softens the alloy where the PC heat treated works fine.