Has anyone with a BHN tester tried testing the hardness of jacketed bullet cores? Im curious as to wether or not a guy could make tougher jacketed bullets by simply heat treating/water quenching them. The apparent lack of 8mm bullet selection got me wondering about a simple way to build a better bullet.

Core hardness varies depending on how much tin and antimony it contains, and some is pure unalloyed lead. For example, Sierra uses a lot harder core material in their 300 grain .375 Magnum bullet than they do in varmint bullets!

Thanks Eldeguello,

Let me be more specific, I have some 175 grn 8mm Sierra Pro hunters, could they be made tougher by heat treating followed by water quenching?

Only if the core contains antomoy (it probably does) and a little arsenic. Ask Sierra what the alloy comp is!!

Just out of curiousity, what super maggie are you shooting this in, to need a hjarder core? I'm curious because I also use, and like, this particular 8mm bullet!

[ 07-21-2003, 19:53: Message edited by: eldeguello ]