Crimp on gas checks with Lee sizer

High Velocity · February 23, 2002, 07:27 PM

How do you crimp gas checks onto cast bullets when you use a Lee bullet sizer?

dick w. holliday · February 23, 2002, 10:53 PM

i haven't done it yet because i'm too busy shooting bullets with no gas checks---but--i wouldn't say that any of the gas checks that i know of are crimped on--unless you mean the shape of the edge of the top of the cup area......when i ever get around to doing some--i would try some the regular way through the Lee or i may even try to run some through upside down which would send the gas check through first---that may have some advantage........Dick

jjmorgan64 · February 23, 2002, 11:06 PM

you simply place the gas check on the base of the bullet and run it through, sounds simple enough, but i've never tried it, i'm pushing quenched wheel weights through an 30 carbine blackhawk at 1500 fps without them and not leading, so i'm not gonna worry about it right now

Contender · February 24, 2002, 01:16 PM

Place a check on the ram tip and place a bullet on top of it. Make sure the base of the check shank seats in it correctly and run it up into the die. Works perfectly and is easier done than explained.

You can even put the check on the bullet base by hand in most cases and then set it on the ram and then run it up into the die.

In either case, run it into the die nose first.

Don't run unlubed bullets through this die either or it will "lead" after a while.

Regards

sebago · February 24, 2002, 05:09 PM

In my own experience, as the bullet is being pushed through the die, the excess bullet lube pushes the gas check off the bullet's shank before it can be crimped. I got around this by not adding lube to the gas check shank until after it was sized. Inconvenient but it seems to work.
With a flat nosed bullet you could just send them through base first. As long as they're not being sized down a great deal I don't think it'll do any harm to the nose portion.
I hope this helps, sebago.

High Velocity · February 24, 2002, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the information. I have been casting bullets since 1966 and always used a 450 Lyman sizer/lubricator for both plain and gas checked bullets, except recently I started using the Lee sizer.

I lost my .452" Lyman G, H & I die & top punch and when I went to the gunshop to buy a replacement they were out, so I bought a Lee .452" Lube & Sizer kit. The Lee sizer is cheap, fast and easy to use but a little messy with the liquid alox bullet lube and you have to apply the lube twice and let it dry both times on a sheet of waxed paper.

Soon I am getting a .45-70 and will be casting bullets and sizing with a Lee kit. I will probably use both plain base and gas checked bullets. It was not obvious to me how the gas checks would be seated into place with the Lee sizer.

The next time I size bullets with the Lee sizer I plan on doing an experiment where I spray 'Pam' vegetable spray on un-lubricated bullets before I size them. Then apply the Lee Luquid Alox after they are sized. I am hoping that the Pam will provide enough lubrication to prevent leading of the die. If this works I only have to apply the liquid alox lube once.

Thanx,
HV

Steve Smith · February 25, 2002, 10:59 PM

LEADING OF THE DIE???

You must be pushing some dead soft lead!

High Velocity · February 25, 2002, 11:18 PM

Yes, leading of the die. In the instructions with the Lee Bullet Lubricateing and Sizing Kit it actually states,

"Do not size unlubed bullets; they will lead the die."

It also states you can apply gas checks but some of the folks that have experience with the Lee sizer have trouble.

High Velocity · February 25, 2002, 11:27 PM

Yes, 'leading of the die'. The instructions included with the Lee Bullet Lubricating and Sizing Kit actually offers the admonishment,

"Do not size unlubed bullets; they will lead the die."

The instructions also state 'gas checks can be installed with this tool' but some of the folks that have experience with the Lee sizer have trouble installing gas checks.

Thanx,
HV

LONGRIFLE30 · February 26, 2002, 01:15 AM

Heck, I never lube my bullets before running them through the Lee sizer. and I have seen no evidence of leading, though my bullets are very hard.

zot · February 27, 2002, 04:29 AM

the gas checks fit tight with the Lee sizer, I use tumble lube bullets with gas checks, never had leading in dies with lube, never tried without lube, unless I push a .311 bullet thru a .309
sizer, it reduces the bullet fine.

riflemanZ · February 27, 2002, 10:18 PM

High Velocity, you will love the 45-70 with cast bullets and jacketed bullets.I shoot stoner 350gr gc hardcast thru my 45-70gg Marlin 1895.I loadem with 51.8gr RE-7 W-W cases Fed 210gm lee fac crimp
2000fps.You will love the 45-70!Put a pachmayr recoil pad on the 45-70 to tame the recoil.

High Velocity · February 28, 2002, 10:15 PM

RZ,

Thank you, for the load info. Received all the .45-70 loading dies & such today from www.midwayusa.com. I expect that my Marlin Model 1895 CB .45-70 will be in tomorrow or Monday.

I suspected that a recoil pad like a triple magnum or decelerator may be in order. I will don my big bore jacket until I have a recoil pad installed.

I think that RL7 will be the first powder I try.

I am not familiar with Stoner cast bullets. My 405 grain cast lead plain base bullets will be from a Lee mould. I also bought 500 of the Remingtion 405 grain jacketed bullets.

Thanx,
HV

riflemanZ · March 1, 2002, 07:51 AM

High Velocity, Stoner hardcast bullets are made by a guy in Alaska.He sends them to me COD.Try working up to 49gr of RE-7 with REM 405.The rem 405 is a great bullet and is cheap to buy.Other good powders are H-4198,H-322,IMR-3031

jsr5 · March 3, 2002, 12:12 AM

i use the lee sizer that goes on the load press for my 357 bullets, I Allox them then set each one with a firm press on the gas checks. I have had best results by sizing them bottom up. I don't re-lube after sizing they seem to have plenty of allox still on them after all pre lubed bullets only have lube in a groove or two. If the Allox is so thick as to prevent proper seating then you may want to thin it with mineral spirits it doesn't have to be to thick to perform especially with a gas check.

February 23, 2002, 07:27 PM	#1
High Velocity Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 14	Crimp on gas checks with Lee sizer How do you crimp gas checks onto cast bullets when you use a Lee bullet sizer?

February 23, 2002, 11:06 PM	#3
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	according to their directions? you simply place the gas check on the base of the bullet and run it through, sounds simple enough, but i've never tried it, i'm pushing quenched wheel weights through an 30 carbine blackhawk at 1500 fps without them and not leading, so i'm not gonna worry about it right now

February 23, 2002, 10:53 PM	#2
dick w. holliday Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2001 Location: NC Posts: 589	i haven't done it yet because i'm too busy shooting bullets with no gas checks---but--i wouldn't say that any of the gas checks that i know of are crimped on--unless you mean the shape of the edge of the top of the cup area......when i ever get around to doing some--i would try some the regular way through the Lee or i may even try to run some through upside down which would send the gas check through first---that may have some advantage........Dick

February 24, 2002, 01:16 PM	#4
Contender Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1998 Location: NY Posts: 680	Place a check on the ram tip and place a bullet on top of it. Make sure the base of the check shank seats in it correctly and run it up into the die. Works perfectly and is easier done than explained. You can even put the check on the bullet base by hand in most cases and then set it on the ram and then run it up into the die. In either case, run it into the die nose first. Don't run unlubed bullets through this die either or it will "lead" after a while. Regards

February 24, 2002, 05:09 PM	#5
sebago Member Join Date: February 2, 2002 Location: Scottow's Fort, Maine Posts: 28	In my own experience, as the bullet is being pushed through the die, the excess bullet lube pushes the gas check off the bullet's shank before it can be crimped. I got around this by not adding lube to the gas check shank until after it was sized. Inconvenient but it seems to work. With a flat nosed bullet you could just send them through base first. As long as they're not being sized down a great deal I don't think it'll do any harm to the nose portion. I hope this helps, sebago.

February 24, 2002, 10:36 PM	#6
High Velocity Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 14	Thanks for the information. I have been casting bullets since 1966 and always used a 450 Lyman sizer/lubricator for both plain and gas checked bullets, except recently I started using the Lee sizer. I lost my .452" Lyman G, H & I die & top punch and when I went to the gunshop to buy a replacement they were out, so I bought a Lee .452" Lube & Sizer kit. The Lee sizer is cheap, fast and easy to use but a little messy with the liquid alox bullet lube and you have to apply the lube twice and let it dry both times on a sheet of waxed paper. Soon I am getting a .45-70 and will be casting bullets and sizing with a Lee kit. I will probably use both plain base and gas checked bullets. It was not obvious to me how the gas checks would be seated into place with the Lee sizer. The next time I size bullets with the Lee sizer I plan on doing an experiment where I spray 'Pam' vegetable spray on un-lubricated bullets before I size them. Then apply the Lee Luquid Alox after they are sized. I am hoping that the Pam will provide enough lubrication to prevent leading of the die. If this works I only have to apply the liquid alox lube once. Thanx, HV

February 25, 2002, 10:59 PM	#7
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	LEADING OF THE DIE??? You must be pushing some dead soft lead!

February 25, 2002, 11:18 PM	#8
High Velocity Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 14	Yes, leading of the die. In the instructions with the Lee Bullet Lubricateing and Sizing Kit it actually states, "Do not size unlubed bullets; they will lead the die." It also states you can apply gas checks but some of the folks that have experience with the Lee sizer have trouble.

February 25, 2002, 11:27 PM	#9
High Velocity Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 14	Yes, 'leading of the die'. The instructions included with the Lee Bullet Lubricating and Sizing Kit actually offers the admonishment, "Do not size unlubed bullets; they will lead the die." The instructions also state 'gas checks can be installed with this tool' but some of the folks that have experience with the Lee sizer have trouble installing gas checks. Thanx, HV

February 26, 2002, 01:15 AM	#10
LONGRIFLE30 Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Location: Wichita Falls,TX. Posts: 49	Heck, I never lube my bullets before running them through the Lee sizer. and I have seen no evidence of leading, though my bullets are very hard.

February 27, 2002, 04:29 AM	#11
zot Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 1999 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 566	the gas checks fit tight with the Lee sizer, I use tumble lube bullets with gas checks, never had leading in dies with lube, never tried without lube, unless I push a .311 bullet thru a .309 sizer, it reduces the bullet fine.

February 27, 2002, 10:18 PM	#12
riflemanZ Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Location: milwaukee wi Posts: 20	High Velocity, you will love the 45-70 with cast bullets and jacketed bullets.I shoot stoner 350gr gc hardcast thru my 45-70gg Marlin 1895.I loadem with 51.8gr RE-7 W-W cases Fed 210gm lee fac crimp 2000fps.You will love the 45-70!Put a pachmayr recoil pad on the 45-70 to tame the recoil.

February 28, 2002, 10:15 PM	#13
High Velocity Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 14	RZ, Thank you, for the load info. Received all the .45-70 loading dies & such today from www.midwayusa.com. I expect that my Marlin Model 1895 CB .45-70 will be in tomorrow or Monday. I suspected that a recoil pad like a triple magnum or decelerator may be in order. I will don my big bore jacket until I have a recoil pad installed. I think that RL7 will be the first powder I try. I am not familiar with Stoner cast bullets. My 405 grain cast lead plain base bullets will be from a Lee mould. I also bought 500 of the Remingtion 405 grain jacketed bullets. Thanx, HV

March 1, 2002, 07:51 AM	#14
riflemanZ Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Location: milwaukee wi Posts: 20	High Velocity, Stoner hardcast bullets are made by a guy in Alaska.He sends them to me COD.Try working up to 49gr of RE-7 with REM 405.The rem 405 is a great bullet and is cheap to buy.Other good powders are H-4198,H-322,IMR-3031

March 3, 2002, 12:12 AM	#15
jsr5 Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Location: mid-west Posts: 25	i use the lee sizer that goes on the load press for my 357 bullets, I Allox them then set each one with a firm press on the gas checks. I have had best results by sizing them bottom up. I don't re-lube after sizing they seem to have plenty of allox still on them after all pre lubed bullets only have lube in a groove or two. If the Allox is so thick as to prevent proper seating then you may want to thin it with mineral spirits it doesn't have to be to thick to perform especially with a gas check.