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See https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?465089-The-Old-Argument-Actual-Brinell-Measurement-Hardness&p=5709226&viewfull=1#post5709226

There are likely other testing options/suggestions...

With the (Lee) die super-clean, no issues w/ bare lead
(within reasonable 2-3 thou)

Just make sure to regularly clean out the cylinders after a lot of 38 brass -- prevent
carbon buildup at the mouth of the shorter case leading to 357 chambering problems.

$2.69
https://www.rotometals.com/lead-mini-ingot-pure-99-9-1-pound-mix-sizes/
:holysheep

Pictures 1 & 2 look perfectomundo:bigsmyl2:, pic 3 a little cold yet
(but certainly just as perfectly shootable no problemmo at all.)
[smilie=p:

CONGRATS !

^^^^ :killingpc ^^^^
^^:groner: ^^

(That said....)

Given that "burn rates" as usually listed in the various rainbow charts are only the start-point rates...
... and those rates change with...

See above belief that (true 90/5/5) Lyman #2 is not affected by quenching.
...and that I would re-check.

I recast both air cooled and fast-quench (direct from hot mold into ice water) RotoMetals...

Bottom Line:
No Problems

Binary Lead/Tin alloys aren't affected by either quenching or aging.
They are effectively what they are, near immediately, and stay that way.

Ditto actual Lyman#2 at 90/5/5 Lead/Tin/Antimony....

--- :killingpc ---
---:drinks:---

I see the (less-than-1/10th-of 1%) silicon to be residual from the gross ore smelting process.

Pure lead (RotoMetal) comes out at 4.5-4.6 BHN.
Reactor Grade lead just a decimal point lower

5.7 - 5.9 BHN (Rotometals * )
Not only the Lee tester/scanner reading the impression -- same readings over multiple samples, multiple years, three different testers. **
....but the Materials...

Forget the Scope (for now).
Just put it on your printer/scanner at 9600 px/in and reading the indent diameter becomes a no-brainer.

325278
(Certified RotoMetals 30-1)
;-)

When you say "low," what is it apparently reading for the alloy(s?) you've tested with it ?

https://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340C
It's what I use in the 450 Bushmaster (Casull's big brother)
Cast w/ #2 Lyman

Some "4831" history here;
https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=62930.0

If (now) close to 60 years ago that Speer#5 would have been talking about IMR4831 -- as it existed then

See https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?425807-50-Beowulf&p=5268624&viewfull=1#post5268624

Cast a dozen plain-base ACC 35-147B's this morning
Pure Lead
325029
(Believe it or not pure lead is lower than BHN 5)

PC'd with Eastwood Ford Light Blue/Lee-sized .357"
Sport Pistol...

I usually think of "swaging" as force-fit of somewhat oversized gross lead wire into a projectile shape.
"Sizing" meaning projectile already formed/cast, and you're just refining the final diameter....

Powder-coated pure lead can be pushed into the 25-35,000 psi regime with Ballard-rifled barrels...

Same question here: Why would 'sulfering' a lead alloy make it harder ?
'Tis a puzzlement.



postscript:
As noted above the Gentle Readers want pure lead for patched roundball

For what it's worth, I'm running several 147gr bullet moulds, plain-based, Lyman#2
SIG, Walther, S&W, Glock
Powder coat, size to .357, and you'd be fine.

I run three lead pots (three different alloys)
I have a Lyman thermometer in each of them (never taken out :razz: )

They are an excellent/relatively low-cost solution to known/consistent temp.

If you want consistency, you want a number.
BHN does give you that number.

But for plinking/low-moderate loads, you want moderately soft
and thumbnail-scratch test will do -- especially PC'd.

First . . Please... just get a lead thermometer.
Don't try to do anything by eyeball, by guess-and-by-golly, or by number on the dial.
You'll drive yourself nuts -- no matter what others might say....