Have never pursued the pencil test, but do have a Lee hardness tester. It is quiet simple and accurate. Bought mine when they were $30-35, but I see these days they are $70 from Amazon and $100 from Lee.

Simple test? Shoot it and if it works move on down the road.

Might find some insights that simplify thing on this website. http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm

Looking at notes you will see hardness values for various alloys, to include monotype. Hardness is reasonably linear as an alloy ratio.

Alloy BHN
Lead 5
WW (stick on) 6
Tin 7
1 to 40 tin lead 8
1 to 30 tin lead 9
1 to 20 tin lead 10
1 to 10 tin lead 11
WW (clip on) 12
Lead Shot* 13
Lyman # 2 15
Water quenched WW 18
Linotype 18 - 19
Monotype 25 - 27
Oven heat treated WW 30 - 32
Antimony 50

Last edited by DigitalDan; 03/31/22.
I am..........disturbed.

Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain