Hydroforming questions

[thatguyshm]

Hello there,

I've got a 22-250 AI in the works and ordered a Whidden hydroforming die to help save on barrel wear. I'm using Sig brass, I've found it's extremely consistent. Currently cleaning up the necks of my brass while I wait on the forming die.

Barrel is a X Caliber stainless for a Savage small shank, 26" 1:8" 3 groove. The 22-250 barrel currently on the Savage is going to be shot out early next year at the latest, so I'm just no longer going to baby it.

I've watched Whiddens video on how to use it I'm wondering about setting it up. I set all my barrels to minimum head space, could I set the die in the press and gently screw it in until it just kisses the head space gauge or should I wait until I have the rifle together and go with trial and error until it closes in my rifle?

I do most of my loading on a Forster Co-Ax, should I use a different press for the hydroforming so I don't beat to much on the Co-Ax? I have other a few other presses I could use.

Any tidbits of information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone

SHM

 

[Wooten]

Hello there,


I do most of my loading on a Forster Co-Ax, should I use a different press for the hydroforming so I don't beat to much on the Co-Ax? I have other a few other presses I could use.

Any tidbits of information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone

SHM

I use a separate press for hydroforming, I use a cheap $25 Lee, and it works just fine.

 

[KenOath]

I also use an old lee, water tends to go everywhere and you give them a fairly decent hit so wouldn’t want to be doing that to a press im reloading match ammo on. I’d wait till I had the rifle just to be on the safe side, Hydroforming brass doesn’t take long to do..

 

[Mastershot]

I use a lee press, also buy a box of o-rings from harbor freight. I hydro form all my dasher brass.

 

[thatguyshm]

Sounds good, I'll probably do it in the garage then rather then the loading room. Certain size o ring I should be looking for? I'm pretty sure I already have the variety pack from HF.

I've seen ball peen and rubber mallets used, what's the preference here?

I'm excited to learn a new technique, maybe more so then putting the new barrel on! Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated.

 

[KenOath]

Hammer- As John Whidden does in his instructional video..Medium ball peen.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You can hydroform them then bump them with your ack die once you get the barrel on