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July 17, 2013, 12:37 PM | #1 |
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Use of gas checks on cast handgun bullets
I am posting as a sanity check. I gather from my cursory research that gas checks are only needed at velocities (and levels of heat) which cause lead alloys to deform. In handguns, that would include the serious loads for the magnums and .45 Colt +p or "Ruger only" range. In semi-autos, the 10mm is the prime candidate other than the Hollywood guns.
So, in my attempt to equip myself to make my own bullets, and having a .357 Magnum (or 2), a .45 Colt Redhawk, and a S&W 629 5" .44 Magnum, I believe I need to order gas checks in 35, 44, and 45 calibers. I have picked Hornady, because none of my molds provide crimp grooves for gas checks, and theirs are designed to crimp into the body of the bullet during sizing. If use of gas checks is marginal or the subject of some difference of opinion, let's say I would want to use them and skip the debate. If the gas checks SHOULD NOT be used on some technical grounds, or there is some case why they are a waste, I would be interested in comments. Make of it what you will, but I'm just being clear about what I hope to gain as the OP. |
July 17, 2013, 01:43 PM | #2 | |
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I suggest that you not buy a mold intended for gas checks at this time. Buy plain base first and get some experience with shooting cast, casting, hand loading cast. A well-known cast lead bullet shooter, Elmer Keith, was of the opinion that gas checks were not needed for handgun loads and proceeded to shoot loads that would scare the heck out of a normal person, without ill effects. I have used gas checks for hot hunting loads but I have fired a lot of hot loads that worked just fine without them. Down sides of gas checks is that the price of them has sky-rocketed over the years with the price of copper, and applying them to be sized is annoyingly slow. |
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July 17, 2013, 03:36 PM | #3 |
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Hornady shows illustrations with their gas checks, that indicate use without a provided groove in the bullet.
Hornady gas checks |
July 17, 2013, 03:49 PM | #4 |
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Those are very specifically-designed crimp on versions (which I've never known about/much less
known I've actually used). Interesting concept -- except when used on a real gas-check bullet casting. (Might explain a couple of things.....) |
July 17, 2013, 04:19 PM | #5 | ||
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Quote:
I found this "testimonial" that refers to that procedure: Quote:
So, buying crimp-on Hornady gas checks and expecting to just crimp them on a plain base bullet, is going to leave you disappointed. The reason why Hornady went to crimp on gas checks years ago, was most likely an adapatation to the complaints that Lyman gas checks (sans any crimp feature), were known to come off the bullets in flight. |
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July 17, 2013, 04:48 PM | #6 |
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I just tried my (#7140) Hornady 45cal gas checks on some unsized/plain-based 45 (pistola) bullets I cast some time ago.
Not a prayer..... so I don't really understand what they are showing in the illustration. |
July 18, 2013, 04:44 AM | #7 |
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Real Gun,
In my limited experience with using GC's, I can say the following, The bullets Hornady builds their checks to fit, DO indeed have to have a rebated base, otherwise a caliber specific check will not fit period. Even when pouring said bullets some molds, or alloys will vary enough in the base diameter that they are difficult to install. You CAN find GC's for sale that are built for plain based bullets. That said they are usually made from aluminum, and those who are making them use a designed tool for the job. It's called the Checkmaker or Easy Check. These are halfway decent to put on very soft alloy, but much harder than a 10-12 they are a pain. I only use GC's on a couple of bullets in a couple of calibers. As you mentioned these are for the 41,44, and 454. They are designed for a GC and I run these particular ones pretty hard form these calibers. I ALSO shoot plenty of bullets in the 10-15bhn range that are plain based and I run them into the 1250'ish fps range using slower powders. Like has been mentioned, I would personally try out loading non GC'ed bullets to start with, and I would bet that 98% of your loads will shoot just fine. The fit and pressures you run them at will contribute to more than the gas check will. I started out pouring the Lee .452-300 RF for my 454 and it sports a GC. I have had plenty of great results with it, but I have also leaded the barrel to the extreme. It is all a balancing act to be honest. Matching the alloy with the pressure of your loads, combine that with a good fit and a good lube, and the rest will take care of it's self. Hope this helps.
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July 18, 2013, 06:04 AM | #8 | |
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July 18, 2013, 06:16 AM | #9 | |
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July 18, 2013, 06:24 AM | #10 |
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Re: Using gas checks on bullets without a gas-check heel.
It seems that there are some shooters who have taken plain based cast bullets and used a Hornady collet bullet puller to squeeze down the base of the bullet to a size that would allow a gas check to fit. This practice begs the questions: Why not just buy a bullet mold designed for use with gas checks. And, is can do something a justification for the extra effort? |
July 18, 2013, 07:11 AM | #11 | |
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July 18, 2013, 10:00 PM | #12 |
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To the OP. You can find good Lee moulds that are made for gas checks. They have them for all popular calibers.
It's a lot more work and a pain in the butt so you won't make a lot of them if you're like me. A hard alloy water quenched will do most of what you need without a gas check. |
July 19, 2013, 12:23 AM | #13 | |
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July 19, 2013, 05:38 AM | #14 |
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OP G/C bullets have always worked well for me. And all the calibers you've mentioned would be excellent candidates. Since you have the ability to cast. It appears all you need is the proper mold and a Check Installer for each caliber. There is a fellow over on the Cast Boolit's thread that you could contact for the Check Installers. (if wanting too?) His name or site monicker is Buckshot. He would walk you thru the buying experience as to what he needs to know about your molds {specific cast measurements.} To give those specific measurements you would have a need for a dial caliper. Last time I check on Buckshots price. The tool cost around 25-30.00 dollars.{depending on which of the two models He offers} As they are custom lathe made to match your molds cast perfectly. (excellent workmanship is always seen in any of Buckshot's products) But to accomplish what I've mention here. You need to borrow or buy a check'able cast mold first. If you already have a way to G/check your bullets. Then the only need you have is to buy the proper mold for the job.
S/S |
July 19, 2013, 06:27 AM | #15 | |
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If you wish to know/learn something relative to cast lead bullets, I suggest accessing the CBA site...the information available there is more extensive and current inasmuch as cast lead bullets is their singular concern. |
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July 19, 2013, 09:28 PM | #16 |
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Rangefinder, I don't remember saying fit wasn't important, or that hardness was more important than fit.
My water quenched bullets work great, so do my air cooled soft hollow points. |
July 20, 2013, 11:06 PM | #17 |
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I've cast pistol bullets for a number of guns over the years. Some of these with gas checks. My personal experience is that a properly sized bullet, with the right lube, is going to do more than a gas check. I've cast bullets for 9mm, .40, .41 mag, .44 mag, .45 acp and 45/70. The overall accuracy has been using a moderately hard cast bullet, sized correctly to the individual gun and lubed with home made lube. I've never seen best results with most commercial stick lubes. Also like someone said: gas checks are a pain in the butt to install. And expensive.
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July 21, 2013, 07:45 AM | #18 | |
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You can have either high velocity or high pressure present in a given load and with proper bullet fit,lube and BHN a GC is not necessary but lead alloy bullets can only handles things up to a certain point and that's where the GC comes into play. GC's not only protect the base of the bullet especially if you shooting a much softer alloy for expansion purposes but they help seal the bore agents any velocity induced defect. As velocity increases so does the abrasive induced defects from the rifling and high pressure loads take advantage of these defects,leak around the base of the bullet burn off the lube and is one of the causes of leading. Basically I use a GC for any load that will exceed 1400 fps. and 35K PSI. Cast loads used in rapid fire secession that I can't touch the barrel after firing. Any handgun that hasn't had a sufficient number of J bullets fired through it to smooth out the bore or has misaligned cylinder throats. And in any rifle with Microgroove rifling,the GC gives the bullet extra grip on the shallow lands and grooves and prevents slippage. I use Hornady,Gator and Aluminum checks in both handguns and rifle loads,all checks are applied with various Lee push through sizers. There are some GC's being made for various calibers of plain base bullets. http://www.sagesoutdoors.com/index.p...controller=cms Last edited by res45; July 21, 2013 at 08:04 AM. |
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July 22, 2013, 04:25 PM | #19 |
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Their picture is misleading. The bullet has to be designed for the gas check. I found that I had rather use llino to cast the regular bullets, didn't need gas checks. The only GC mold I have is a Lee and I never came up with an accurate load for it. Once I found how good the bullets made of lino were I didn't bother to test the Lee bullet. Used them in .357 and .44 mag.
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July 23, 2013, 08:11 AM | #20 |
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Just to acknowledge the advice and helpful discussion, , I have ordered gas check molds. I should see the .38, 158g and .44, 240g today. I held off on the one for .45 Colt/Ruger only, because Lee only offers a 300g in GC for that caliber. I'll find another option for that later, perhaps the Lyman RT style, #452490 in 255g.
I don't believe I am yet equipped to install the GC, if I need a special tool. Last edited by Real Gun; July 23, 2013 at 08:34 AM. |
July 23, 2013, 06:39 PM | #21 |
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Real Gun,
If you have Lee sizing dies that and a good table top is all you will need. Some of the ones I have issues with, I simply use the top of my bench to seat them on the bottom of the shank and look them over real well before I run them through the sizing die to make sure they are straight. Once they are square on the bottom of the bullets just run them through your sizer and your done, well other than another tumble lube if that is what your using.
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July 26, 2013, 11:59 AM | #22 |
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Real Gun, I'm still not quite sure why you believe you need gas checks in the first place.
Before I started casting my own, I shot thousands of non-gas checked commercial cast bullets in all my handguns with no leading or accuracy problems. This includes 1300+ fps loads in .357 mag, .44 mag and .45 Colt (Ruger Redhawk). The one and only application where I use gas checks is in my rifle loads (.30-06 for many different rifles including M1 Garand, and .375 H&H). I do know that some handguns perform better with gas checked bullets, but I've not found it to be the case with any of mine. If you simply want to use them then that's perfectly fine, but you'd asked for comments from those who think it may be a waste, and I think it probably is unless you find you have a specific need for them. Mike |
July 26, 2013, 03:42 PM | #23 |
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Other than Lyman, the reloading books I have (Lee, Hornady, Speer, Lyman Bullet Casting Handbook, Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th) make it appear that use of lead, at least of the purer or softer kind, ends at 1100fps or less. The knowledge that lead bullets can be used at much higher velocities and the reasons why is a subculture that I didn't find in these or any common books.
I was curious what these gas check thingies were that I noticed under bullets on Midway's site. My plan of using cast bullets in substantial loads for .44 Magnum and .45 Colt Redhawk led me to conclude that I should get some of them and learn how to use them. I was ahead of myself, because I hadn't studied it yet. I believe I was correct though and now have the proper dies for 240g .44 and 255g .45. It has not been a big investment with two-bullet molds and two boxes of gas checks. I know that I don't need gas checks for everything and have already loaded and tried some purchased bullets at pretty good velocity. I estimate the load I shot yesterday at 1250fps. That was 20.7g PowerPro 300-MP, which I thought had real authority compared to purchased 240g SJSP. I will bump it up a step, but wouldn't mind staying right at 20.7g. That powder required that I guessimate the load, extrapolating from A2400 loads. These bullets were 240g LSWC by Hunters Supply, bought through Midway, I think. My barrel was in very nice shape after a couple passes with a bore snake and some cleaner gel. |
July 26, 2013, 07:52 PM | #24 |
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I use gas checks on my 9MM and .38 Super bullets as a matter of course. The 9MM having a reputation for being cranky with cast lead, I just assumed that using gas checks would avoid problems with leading. Nowhere near a scientific approach, but they work without problems and shoot as clean as jacketed with good accuracy. Being old, I just do not have the interest in experimenting with bullets for the two calibers without checks to see if the checks are not needed. I will just keep using gas checked loads in those two guns. If someone wants to do testing on both or one of those 9MM's to see if checks are needed, go ahead...I would be interested in the results.
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July 29, 2013, 11:38 PM | #25 |
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Casted up some Lyman 429244 bullets yesterday with a mold I just bought. Today I sized and added some donated gas checks. Never done this before, but I thought it turned out cool. Never shot gas checks before, but really looking forward to it.
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