Sure. Rotate the crank as you prime (see RapidRobert post: On preoiling go to #8 on TDC & preoil then go forward 3/4 of a turn to #6 with the dampener slit on zero (TDC) & preoil again (Big block) . Also keep in mind that not all lifter oil holes will be exposed to the oil galley each rotation as there will be some at max lift. Therefore, you want to rotate the engine enough times to fill all lifters. I would rotate the crank 8 revolutions. This may be the reason you had some hard and some soft lifters - not all were filled.

There are some comments here about lifter "bleed down". My opinion: once the system is primed the lifters should NOT bleed down BECAUSE there is no pressure on them until you adjust your preload. The only thing to cause a lifter to bleed down is the valve spring pressure.

Is this a big block or small block ??