Idaholewis
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- Jun 30, 2017
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Something i found interesting a few years back. Pure SOFT lead is Just that Right? Is it possible to Alter it’s Hardness Reading by Working it? I know Water Quenching will. But i am Talking Sizing, a Smack with a Hammer, etc.?
I did a test with my Cabin Tree lead hardness tester to find out? I took Several Pure Lead Bullets that Didn’t meet my Quality Control from the SAME Batch, These were Cast from Stamped, Certified PURE LEAD. I tested a Few Bullets and got a Dial Reading of .028-.029, Which indicates Pure lead (Cabin Tree Testers use a Machinest Dial, then Matched with a Chart) Pure Lead is .015 to .035 on one of my Charts, and .020 to .030 on Another (slight deviation, But Very Close) Pure Lead has a BHN of 5
I stood a Bullet up on my Anvil, Dropped a Hammer to the Nose/Meplat, I have no way of knowing just How hard i hit the Bullet? But i would Guess 3-4 Pounds of Force, there close abouts? Enough to Just Set the Bullet back a Little (Shorten it slightly) I then Tested that Bullet in my Cabin Tree Hardness Tester, The Reading jumped WAY up, It went from .028-.029 to .048 Which indicates 1-40 Alloy on my Charts. I ran a Few more Tests, the Harder i hit the Bullet, The Harder The Reading. It was impossible to get 2 identical Readings as i was unable to Hit the Lead with Exact Force each time, But i can tell you that PURE Soft Lead Can be Worked to Alter it’s Reading.
I found the Above interesting when i tested it, I stil need to Test this When Sizing .457-.458 Bullets Down to .450-.451, I need to Test Straight from the Mold, and again After Sizing, See if it Changes? If so, how much?
I did a test with my Cabin Tree lead hardness tester to find out? I took Several Pure Lead Bullets that Didn’t meet my Quality Control from the SAME Batch, These were Cast from Stamped, Certified PURE LEAD. I tested a Few Bullets and got a Dial Reading of .028-.029, Which indicates Pure lead (Cabin Tree Testers use a Machinest Dial, then Matched with a Chart) Pure Lead is .015 to .035 on one of my Charts, and .020 to .030 on Another (slight deviation, But Very Close) Pure Lead has a BHN of 5
I stood a Bullet up on my Anvil, Dropped a Hammer to the Nose/Meplat, I have no way of knowing just How hard i hit the Bullet? But i would Guess 3-4 Pounds of Force, there close abouts? Enough to Just Set the Bullet back a Little (Shorten it slightly) I then Tested that Bullet in my Cabin Tree Hardness Tester, The Reading jumped WAY up, It went from .028-.029 to .048 Which indicates 1-40 Alloy on my Charts. I ran a Few more Tests, the Harder i hit the Bullet, The Harder The Reading. It was impossible to get 2 identical Readings as i was unable to Hit the Lead with Exact Force each time, But i can tell you that PURE Soft Lead Can be Worked to Alter it’s Reading.
I found the Above interesting when i tested it, I stil need to Test this When Sizing .457-.458 Bullets Down to .450-.451, I need to Test Straight from the Mold, and again After Sizing, See if it Changes? If so, how much?