Guns, Dogs and Blades QnA

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So I need a bit of help from those of you that cast lead. I have aprox 300 pounds of raw lead, hardness unknown. When I was younger I would use wheel weights then cold water quench for hardness. At that point having zero knowledge of Brinell. Barrel didn’t lead I was good to go. Back then just a budding pistol guy competing against folks like Bill Wilson etc. No real idea what I was doing, lots of raw talent with no real thought behind it. Forward thirty or forty years. I want to test for hardness and modify my raw lead accordingly to achieve brinell as required. Note to self, antimony and tin are pricey, but required to make raw lead more suitable for shooting. Clearly rifle rounds need to be a bit harder but I am casting primarily for pistol. This is my very long winded way of asking do any of you guys use a brinell tester and if so what brand and model, and do you like it? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 
Sublime one said:
So I need a bit of help from those of you that cast lead. I have aprox 300 pounds of raw lead, hardness unknown. When I was younger I would use wheel weights then cold water quench for hardness. At that point having zero knowledge of Brinell. Barrel didn’t lead I was good to go. Back then just a budding pistol guy competing against folks like Bill Wilson etc. No real idea what I was doing, lots of raw talent with no real thought behind it. Forward thirty or forty years. I want to test for hardness and modify my raw lead accordingly to achieve brinell as required. Note to self, antimony and tin are pricey, but required to make raw lead more suitable for shooting. Clearly rifle rounds need to be a bit harder but I am casting primarily for pistol. This is my very long winded way of asking do any of you guys use a brinell tester and if so what brand and model, and do you like it? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
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At the desert Chevron Station that employed me as a youth, the beat up wheel weights went to a special hiding place. A local CHPie used to stop by and visit and the wheel weights found their way to his target ammo :elmer: Got my first reloading lesson from Officer Dave. He did a lot of reloading for their entire precinct.
 
Sublime one said:
So I need a bit of help from those of you that cast lead. I have aprox 300 pounds of raw lead, hardness unknown. When I was younger I would use wheel weights then cold water quench for hardness. At that point having zero knowledge of Brinell. Barrel didn’t lead I was good to go. Back then just a budding pistol guy competing against folks like Bill Wilson etc. No real idea what I was doing, lots of raw talent with no real thought behind it. Forward thirty or forty years. I want to test for hardness and modify my raw lead accordingly to achieve brinell as required. Note to self, antimony and tin are pricey, but required to make raw lead more suitable for shooting. Clearly rifle rounds need to be a bit harder but I am casting primarily for pistol. This is my very long winded way of asking do any of you guys use a brinell tester and if so what brand and model, and do you like it? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Click to expand...
LEE makes a pretty accurate and affordable hardness tester. I have one and use it regularly. There are other more expensive ones but they all push a pointer into the bullet under a known spring pressure and you either measure the indentation or the spring loaded arm gives you an indication. The LEE requires a flat spot to measure using the provided loupe so on end of bullet or file a small flat and sacrifice one. The use of this has helped me avoid mistakes with unknown alloy. For accuracy, bullets don't need to be real hard to shoot well, especially plain base. I usually aim for 11-13 bhn for lower pressure or velocity around 1000fps. Don't shoot a lot of rifle stuff like .308 yet, but they need to be harder and usually want a gas check. I have also started powder coating and it is easy and the results are great. No fouling at higher velocity up to 2500fps easy. I use the shake and bake method. Look it up on google or ping me.

www.midwayusa.com

Lee Lead Hardness Testing Kit

The Lee Lead Hardness Testing Kit will determine the exact Brinnell Hardness Number of an alloy in a simple six step process. The process involves...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
gzig5 said:
LEE makes a pretty accurate and affordable hardness tester. I have one and use it regularly. There are other more expensive ones but they all push a pointer into the bullet under a known spring pressure and you either measure the indentation or the spring loaded arm gives you an indication. The LEE requires a flat spot to measure using the provided loupe so on end of bullet or file a small flat and sacrifice one. The use of this has helped me avoid mistakes with unknown alloy. For accuracy, bullets don't need to be real hard to shoot well, especially plain base. I usually aim for 11-13 bhn for lower pressure or velocity around 1000fps. Don't shoot a lot of rifle stuff like .308 yet, but they need to be harder and usually want a gas check. I have also started powder coating and it is easy and the results are great. No fouling at higher velocity up to 2500fps easy. I use the shake and bake method. Look it up on google or ping me.

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Just a super sincere thanks! That is exactly the info I was looking for. I am loading for pistol so I don’t care about rifle specs. I will snag a Lee tester! I am seeing more and more guys doing their own powder coating. To a man they all say exact same as you have. Super easy and great results.
 
Sublime one said:
Well I don’t have to be on the lookout for Drones down here but my German Shepard pup has just now grown enough her snout can explore the top of the counter, she can’t see over it yet but she can darn sure get her snout up there!

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That should learn her. What's with the legs being carved? Fodder for gravy?
 
andysauto1 said:
Anybody like collies

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I personally do not know anything at all about them. I have never been exposed to one or known anybody with one? You do not see many long hair dogs down here in the South because of the heat. I have always heard they are a very intelligent breed, but you have to be careful of the genetics due to popularity, much like golden retrievers. Fill us in guy, what is it like living with collies? My two hounds just went straight from our pond where they were cooling off then jumped on our bed, wife unit is less than pleased with them at the moment! And not happy with me for not toweling them off prior to letting them in! I am in the proverbial doghouse yet again!
 
Sublime one said:
I personally do not know anything at all about them. I have never been exposed to one or known anybody with one? You do not see many long hair dogs down here in the South because of the heat. I have always heard they are a very intelligent breed, but you have to be careful of the genetics due to popularity, much like golden retrievers. Fill us in guy, what is it like living with collies? My two hounds just went straight from our pond where they were cooling off then jumped on our bed, wife unit is less than pleased with them at the moment! And not happy with me for not toweling them off prior to letting them in! I am in the proverbial doghouse yet again!
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These pups are the most kid friendly dogs you can have. They bark like crazy when a stranger pulls in, like they are guarding the home, but at the same time they would walk them to the door and let them in. You can not pet them enough; they ware me out some days. How does the saying go? Wouldn't take a million dollars for any of them, but wouldn't give a nickel for another one. Talk about man's best friend
 
andysauto1 said:
And yes I do have a hunting dog. Beautiful Irish Setter. I will post a picture of him later
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Now Irish Setters (hunting side) I am familiar with. I don’t know much about the show breed but I have bird hunted over a couple of darn good Irish Setter bird dogs. They were beautiful and a tad squirrelly in morning but once shotguns came out they were all business and knew what they were about. Great dogs
 
Sublime one said:
Now Irish Setters (hunting side) I am familiar with. I don’t know much about the show breed but I have bird hunted over a couple of darn good Irish Setter bird dogs. They were beautiful and a tad squirrelly in morning but once shotguns came out they were all business and knew what they were about. Great dogs
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You got that right
 
Closest I’ve been to a collie were the two shelties (damn autocorrect) my parents had.
 
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