Do this first, take one bullet before you load it, ( the bullet, not a load round just the lead) and stand it on the ground and then hit it hard with a good sized maul or sledge hammer. If it rivets a lot, its too soft, if it just starts to rivet and the shank does not swell, its good, If you hit it and it comes apart at all, its too fragile and you need something else.
Got this tip from a old guy who hunted all over maine, killed lots of moose and bear, using a 348 Win and hand loads, this was his method for knowing if your bullet was cast right, I have used it to this day and I have had very good luck with it as a simple but effectiveness to test hardness.
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