Gas Checks Cast Bullets
- Thread starter hemidart
- Start date
Most of the lead pistol bullets sold are not gas checked, nor do they need to be. Gas checks are a nice idea when you will be running hundreds of bullets through your chambers and barrels at fairly hot velocity.
You can't simply crimp on a gas check onto any old cast lead bullet. The mold for that bullet has to be cut with a rebated base. You seat and crimp the gas check on the bullet while you are sizing it.
The gas check being harder than the lead base, resists the high temperature and pressure of the propellant gases, in theory keeping the base cleaner for better accuracy and the throat and forcing cone cleaner for longer sessions.
If your idea of fun is running 500 max load 240gr swc on top of a small mountain of 2400, maybe you should invest in the equipment.
For any lighter use, you can probably get by with plain old hard cast lead.
You can't simply crimp on a gas check onto any old cast lead bullet. The mold for that bullet has to be cut with a rebated base. You seat and crimp the gas check on the bullet while you are sizing it.
The gas check being harder than the lead base, resists the high temperature and pressure of the propellant gases, in theory keeping the base cleaner for better accuracy and the throat and forcing cone cleaner for longer sessions.
If your idea of fun is running 500 max load 240gr swc on top of a small mountain of 2400, maybe you should invest in the equipment.
For any lighter use, you can probably get by with plain old hard cast lead.
That was a good explanation.
I might add, however, that I have shot a few thousand flat base (without gas check) cast bullets in 44 magnum revolvers, and for the most part, leading was not too bad. I still have to prove whether gas check, or flat base, is most accurate in the Marlin, as I have both bullet designs.
Here is a picture of a piece of cardboard target I cut out and saved, from beneath my aiming mark. The story is told by the pencil notations on it, made at the time of shooting, except to say that it was a flat base bullet.
Also, I was resting the gun over a sand bag, sighting it in.
I might add, however, that I have shot a few thousand flat base (without gas check) cast bullets in 44 magnum revolvers, and for the most part, leading was not too bad. I still have to prove whether gas check, or flat base, is most accurate in the Marlin, as I have both bullet designs.
Here is a picture of a piece of cardboard target I cut out and saved, from beneath my aiming mark. The story is told by the pencil notations on it, made at the time of shooting, except to say that it was a flat base bullet.
Also, I was resting the gun over a sand bag, sighting it in.
