Hydralic Dies

[grry10]

I've been interested in trying a hydralic die verses fire forming, and when I looked into it Whidden had stop production. I now see that Hornady is offering custom hydralic dies and they have a video out there. They are a little spendy at $200+, but primers, powder, and bullets aren't getting any cheaper.

 

[JD338]

I've read about them but never used them.
It would definitely add a new dimension to reloading.

JD338

 

[Slimfinn]

A buddy uses one for making 6 dasher brass, i think it gets it close but still needs a final forming, if I recall.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

I've been interested in trying a hydralic die verses fire forming, and when I looked into it Whidden had stop production. I now see that Hornady is offering custom hydralic dies and they have a video out there. They are a little spendy at $200+, but primers, powder, and bullets aren't getting any cheaper.

What case are you forming?

 

[TackDriver284]

I never tried hydro forming, I have read that hydroforming brass leaves a more rounder edge on the body / shoulder junction compared to a sharper edge when fired in a rifle chamber. After hydroforming, you would need to final fireform in a rifle chamber to sharpen the edges of the body / shoulder. I still have 200 pieces of Lapua 6 BR brass, fired 1X and i like to convert them into 6 Dasher but I had bought 300 pieces of 6 Dasher Alpha brass and fireforming them at the 600 yard match soon.
If you could buy the brass, it would be better than hydroforming IMO. Curious on what brass you wishing to fireform.

 

[Yoteklr]

That's the thing, the brass has to be shot again to fe fully formed.
I've made my own hydro dies for 270ai, used cream of wheat and Bullseye. Both only get 75 to 80% on the shoulder corners. After all that I had to fire them again to be fully formed.

Now days I just form brass while I'm breaking in the barrel. I can always find a suitable powder and seating depth while practicing shooting form.

A new barrel needs anywhere from 100 to 150 rounds down the barrel to "speed up" ( settle in) to find a stable and reliable load. Might as well form brass in this break in period.

 

[Hunter26]

Those Hornady hydraulic form dies seem very interesting. I only have one wildcat that requires any brass forming, a 6.5-270 JDJ in a 15" Encore. I had to learn to anneal brass to not lose so many. Even fireform loads were/are very accurate. I've hunted with and shot deer and hogs with the fireform loads. Though it would be nice to have brass ready to go after running it through a die like the Hornady.