My dad and I used to do the tummb nail test.
Cast them, run your thumbnail across the base. if you could dig in, it was too soft.
Sounds cheesy, but worked for us for a lot of years.
There is a BB test you can do, but it takes some getting used to without a pressure meter
What was your exact technic for clean barrels of lead fowling again.
A copper bore brush in the proper caliber.
Then get some Chore Boy Scrubber pads, cut a 2"x2" square, wrap it over the top of your bore brush.
10 passes and all the lead is gone!!