9MM BHN TOO HARD??

[AJC1]

You’ll get a lot better advice than this but, when I was in the same spot about a thousand years ago I melted a pound of the too hard stuff and started adding pure soft until I dropped a bullet that was where I wanted it. It took a long time but nothing was wasted - except a bunch of time and electricity.

You traded time and electricity for experience, I don't consider that waste.

 

[conan32120]

also test some other source of lead to verify your tester accuracy

 

[usmc0811]

You’ll get a lot better advice than this but, when I was in the same spot about a thousand years ago I melted a pound of the too hard stuff and started adding pure soft until I dropped a bullet that was where I wanted it. It took a long time but nothing was wasted - except a bunch of time and electricity.

I don't mind slow. Slow and steady wins the race

 

[usmc0811]

also test some other source of lead to verify your tester accuracy

I will good idea man

 

[AJC1]

also test some other source of lead to verify your tester accuracy

There comes the use a standard answer again. We will remember some day...

 

[usmc0811]

There are two big indicators. Weight compared to specification. Higher weight less antimony. Bullet diameter. If your bullets are larger than listed. Example. My .310 mold will drop .312 bullets at bhn 18 due to high antimony. Tin is also a factor and in WW arsenic. You are testing the bare bullet right. Before pc.

They were all weighed after powder coating

 

[AJC1]

They were all weighed after powder coating

That will introduce an unknown variable I don't know how to address. I don't use your exact mold so I can't give you the inside information like with my noe molds. I expect my drop to match mold weight and mold quoted diameter, unless I'm doing something and I know why not.

 

[243winxb]

They were water quenched

This makes bullets harder. Your BHM would seem to be correct.

2% antimony may take 2 weeks to fully harden.

A higher % like 6% antimony, fully hardens in 30 minutes.