Bullet making...lead..copper jacketed...questions...questions..

[quinnbrian]

Hello all,
I've been looking at making my own bullets, handgun (9mm) and rifle (308). Anyways after looking at all the bullet #### in another posting......its got me thinking, sooner , then later!!
But I have some questions...if I cast my own bullet...Let say, for 9mm @ 124 grams do I need gas checks...do I need to wax them....question, and what are they for??( gas checks and wax)
Also I've been looking at copper plating ( not jacketing, just plating ) if I copper plate , do I need gas checks or wax.
I cast shotgun slug 7/8 and 1 oz , using Lee molds, and would probably buy a Lee or similar mold in 9mm round nose @ 124-125 grams.
I've reloaded for awhile now and love it!! I have a Lee cast iron turret press and an old single stage RCBS Jr.
I find myself buying component's....primer..brass..powder..bullet...and leave the box ammo on the shelf, buying it by the box gets too expensive for me anyways.
Thanks for looking and looking forward to any help.
Cheers
Brian

 

[yomomma]

Gas checks are there to stop gas leaking around the bullet. This helps in reducing leading. If you keep bullets below a certain fps, you don't need gas checks. Wax is a lubricant. again there to stop leading of the barrel

No idea about copper plate. I mainly shoot rifle and I gas check everything, whether it needs it nor not. At $0.003 or so per bullet, why not?