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TheFlip · July 20, 2014, 08:33 PM

I recently purchased a check making die from Pat Marlin's and I have had nothing but trouble. Though it is overkill on acp, I decided to go for plain-base .452 and, depending on how it worked out, buying more from there.

The process of actually making the checks works flawlessly, and I end up with perfect looking little specimens. I use 98% copper alloy (the remainder being trace amounts of zinc, silicon and tellurium) at a thickness of 0.0100", which I found out later is too thick, and 0.0065", which is near the middle of the company's recommended thickness range.

The cast bullets are Lee's TL452-230-2R, cast in an approximately 95% : 5% lead : tin ratio (with a small percentage antimony, copper, silver and unknown alloys from solder and other various sources I've collected over the years) and quenched in an ice water bath out of the mold. The first batch was about a month old when I tried my first applications on my Lee sizing die and the results were less than stellar.

Instead of crimping onto the base and sizing along with the bullet through the die, the check is forced backwards and I end up with a shredded, reverse facing check, and a bullet with a mangled base.

I contacted West Coast Engineering with my problem, and they suggested that my alloy was too hard, pointing out that the instructions recommended application of the checks the same day as casting.

This prompted me to perform my experiment today. Same mold, pure sinker lead, and bullets cast and dropped onto a soft towel to air cool on a hot day. With the research I've done on the subject along with my limited experience, I surmised that this should produce one hell of a soft bullet.

As soon as they were cool enough to touch, it was straight to the bench and. . .

Same results.

It's even more vexing to watch the multitude of Youtube videos demonstrating the smooth, easy and trouble free use of these check makers.

My question is, judging by what I've recounted here (feel free to ask in case I've neglected to mention anything important), am I doing something wrong or what?

July 20, 2014, 08:33 PM	#1
TheFlip Junior Member Join Date: June 17, 2014 Location: Western New York Posts: 5	Pat Marlin Checkmaker problems I recently purchased a check making die from Pat Marlin's and I have had nothing but trouble. Though it is overkill on acp, I decided to go for plain-base .452 and, depending on how it worked out, buying more from there. The process of actually making the checks works flawlessly, and I end up with perfect looking little specimens. I use 98% copper alloy (the remainder being trace amounts of zinc, silicon and tellurium) at a thickness of 0.0100", which I found out later is too thick, and 0.0065", which is near the middle of the company's recommended thickness range. The cast bullets are Lee's TL452-230-2R, cast in an approximately 95% : 5% lead : tin ratio (with a small percentage antimony, copper, silver and unknown alloys from solder and other various sources I've collected over the years) and quenched in an ice water bath out of the mold. The first batch was about a month old when I tried my first applications on my Lee sizing die and the results were less than stellar. Instead of crimping onto the base and sizing along with the bullet through the die, the check is forced backwards and I end up with a shredded, reverse facing check, and a bullet with a mangled base. I contacted West Coast Engineering with my problem, and they suggested that my alloy was too hard, pointing out that the instructions recommended application of the checks the same day as casting. This prompted me to perform my experiment today. Same mold, pure sinker lead, and bullets cast and dropped onto a soft towel to air cool on a hot day. With the research I've done on the subject along with my limited experience, I surmised that this should produce one hell of a soft bullet. As soon as they were cool enough to touch, it was straight to the bench and. . . Same results. It's even more vexing to watch the multitude of Youtube videos demonstrating the smooth, easy and trouble free use of these check makers. My question is, judging by what I've recounted here (feel free to ask in case I've neglected to mention anything important), am I doing something wrong or what?