Some years ago i purchased Brass & Nickel Silver pins from a manufacturer in the states .. Running low on nickel silver i thought i would get ahead of the game and buy a batch ,again from the states because i use 1/16ths, i was determined not to touch the new batch until i'd used all of the previous .
The time came , only to realise that they are soft & mushy.
My next attempt was to buy a load from a razor supply company , they arrived today and to my dismay they were soft too..

Now i realise that most ppl pin with soft pins, hence the saying about using a spoon to peen, which sounded stupid to me but now i understand.

After speaking to an expert today i know that whether pins are hard or soft it is just down to luck... (Alloy-360/cZ121)

Apparently my options are:
1. Anneal them . Heat to dull red then into water ,however this could and i think it did make them softer. Heating then a slow cool is my next attempt.
2. Work Hardening.. Just use them and they will harden. i didnt see that happening whilst i was tapping away..
3. Maybe a dummy move but i've stuck some in the fridge overnight..

I wont give up :/