New to casting here. How can I tell when the barrel is leaded from too soft a boolitt.

If you are at the range, you will notice that the bullets are no longer striking paper.

I generally use wipe-out as a bore cleaner. It really makes the lead stand out with a lead color in the barrel if there is a problem. If there is lead in the bore, you will probably be able to tell fairly quickly if the gun starts shooting like a shotgun at 50 yards.

What is your source of lead in Australia? I use wheel weights and some lead taken off of old house roofs. I think casting is more fun than shooting.

I am useing wheel weights and add some plumbers 50/50 to harden it.

I'm just starting and am finding it hard to get some loads to even group. I won't give up though.

C4
you may have a few issues you need to work through

if you want PM me and i might be able to give you a few pointers.....
Are you loading for pistol or rifle
Are you useing GC or PB bullets
what velocities are you running them at
What hardness are your bullets, are they heat treated or not
Daniel

Try looking inside the barrel from behind a "led" light. It is supposed to make any lead in the barrel shine like silver. I came across this tip somewhere but have not tried it so-----

using a red patch will show up the silver slivers of lead better.

if you have accuracy that bad you need to give much more information to have it remedied.
your problem may be leading.

and don't be blaming that on a soft alloy.
it may also be pressure.
plain ol speed.
but i'd bet fit is the culprit.
combined with something else like lube.

Lamar gives good advice. If the leading is much at all you can see it in the barrel. Shoot the rifle, put a piece of clean white paper under the muzzle, DRY brush it with a bronze brush, examine what falls out, your looking for silver slivers and flecks. You can also use a solvent soaked patch to scrub the bore and unfold the patch and look at it, lead will be silver.