first time post to this forum, my question is ive been casting for approx. 2 years and haven't invested much time in research of the proper process rather just local gun shop talk with others and trial and error (with safety first priority). My question today comes down to I use to purchase lead that I believe had already been processed and made into well large crude looking lead bars. I took the time to break these bars down into more manageable chunks that I could fit in my 20lb production pot which is a bottom pour. I noticed when loading these (.309 180gr lee mold) that during my seating stage of the bullet the bullet seating die inside the die would place a small cosmetic deformation (ring) around the first 1/8th in of the face of the bullet. I did call lee and told them my troubles and they said for 14$ I can send in a bullet so they can make me a seating die fit rather then using something that is more to be used for a spitzer type bullet. now my question is: is my lead just too soft? I did purchase it from the "dead man's" table at the local gun shop. should I invest in a lead hardness tester from lee and if I do find its too soft what's the next step in hardening it?
Also good to know I hooked up with the local indoor range and for 300lbs of range scrap cost me just 10$. would it just be advised that I start melting this range scrap on my propane burner, flux and skim the lead to form ingots and then place those in the production pot and just ditch the other lead? does anyone test range lead for harness?