1. Cast Bullet Hardness: Measuring with the Lee Hardness Tester

This is the start of a series of videos regarding alloy hardness. I'd like to share my technique with you regarding how I use the Lee Hardness Tester. If you have a simple smart phone you may be suprised how easy it is to get a clear view of your results.
Stay tuned in for the next videos where I will discuss concepts of obturation and gas cutting. Like, Subscribe and leave me a comment in the comment section!

[@Krymsyn_Rydyr]

Your setup for holding microscope works great…. But consider this for even easier application.
Obviously you haz 1911 . If you cast for that, you prolly haz .452 Lee sizer ? I fortunately haz Lee push thru. Leave boolit in cradle on ram. Remove Lee test punch, install .452 sizer, bring ram up so boolit is up against bottom of sizer. Slide microscope down thru sizer, to rest on bullet. Shine your little bore light in.

[@leadsmith5873]

I will have to give your idea some thought. Thanks for stopping by!

[@flash053069]

Great video. I wonder if you did the flat spot test and then turned right around and did the end of the boolit you would get the same readings? That could verify if Mr. LEE's recommended side test was even necessary???

[@leadsmith5873]

Sounds like an exercise worth trying at some point for curiosity sake. I just never gave it that much thought. Thanks for stopping by and chiming in. Lord bless you my friend.

[@JustAGuy93-G]

AFAIK Lyman #2 alloy is BHN 16 which would be much lower than 45k psi. That is the alloy stated in the loading manual at 7:40. So lyman beleives their alloy is capable of higher pressures.

[@madewithscraps]

Thanks for this video! A great help for my castings. That chart makes it real quick, easy and simple, for starting points. Anybody that has ever experienced a "leaded barrel" will never make that mistake again! Fast speeds do not always equal the best performance or accuracy.

[@snoman003]

An expensive hardness tester, or the "fingernail" test are not required to determine lead hardness. All you need to do is research pencil testing lead and an inexpensive staedtler pencil set.
Write the numbers inside the front cover of the pencil set case and carry on testing.

[@pareloader5989]

If you hold a metal ruler knife edge across the top of the die, it will stop the pin from protruding past the top of the die.

[@leadsmith5873]

There is some slight tolerance below and above flush that Lee states in his instructions. There is a possibility that adding an item to the top of the die will affect the pressure and give a false reading. I don't know how much it would take to cause a false reading. It may be worth doing some testing just for kicks. Thanks for watching!

[@sahmadi1000]

THANKS for the best explanation. I am new to casting and won't put a bullet in my gun without some idea of it's hardness.

[@leadsmith5873]

I wouldn't stress over it. But it is a great tool to help dial in what works best for you. Thanks for watching and commenting. Check me out on Rumble.com as LeadSmith45. I've got several more videos there.

[@T.A.B.Videos]

Jesse B sent me over. Subbed

[@leadsmith5873]

Thanks for coming by and subscribing!

[@bigrod0069]

good video, great idea, thanks

[@leadsmith5873]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by

[@T.A.B.Videos]

Enjoyed the demo

[@leadsmith5873]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!