Liquid Gas Checking?

handofzeus

handofzeus

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So, I was looking at ordering some .303 bullets and realized they were gas checked. Now, I get the reason for gas checking even though I've never actually put one of those little suckers on. I don't even know if the ones from Bullet Barn come WITH them on or not. What got me thinking (usually dangerous) was how about a liquid gas check system instead of having to stick a little metal disc on the base of each bullet. What I had in mind was a method of 'painting' each bullet base with a substance that would stand up to that split second of intense heat from combustion. Perhaps a liquid aluminum or epoxy. I know that bore fouling could be an issue but surely there is a method to protect bullet bases and stop blow-by, other that the little discs. Ideas? Let's hear'em!
 
Paper patching will fill your needs if you're to cheap to buy gas checks. But you would likely have to get different diameter bullets then what you ordered or size them down.

Your best bet is to stop reinventing the wheel and try some gas checks.
 
I'll bet there were as many nay sayers when some guy looked at his cast bullets many years ago and figured that maybe little brass discs would stop the gases from melting them. Why settle for the 'wheel' when jet packs are viable.....with some tweeking! If we stop thinking outside the box then we just accept what we have as the best.There's always room for improvement.
 
You need to focus on learning some basics first, if you've never tried a gas check then you have no real experience or anthing to base your new ideas on if its an improvement or worse then the standard. As Ganderite says, you dont need em unless you're using heavy loads.

There is a site dedicated to smokeless paper patching on the cast boolits site, these guys really cater to the 303. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?62-Smokeless-Paper-Patching If you cannot bring yourself to purchase gas checks there is a tool call the Free chex where you are able to punch out gas checks from materials like pop cans and other stuff. http://www.patmarlins.com/

In the end, its all been tried before.
 
Ganderite said:
Stop thinking. Use or buy gas checks. They install during the sizing/lubing process.

Checks are only needed on hot loads.
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hickstick_10 said:
You need to focus on learning some basics first, if you've never tried a gas check then you have no real experience or anthing to base your new ideas on if its an improvement or worse then the standard. As Ganderite says, you dont need em unless you're using heavy loads.
*snip*
In the end, its all been tried before.
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The OP asks a question on the board
The funny bit, where I almost blew snot all over the keyboard; one of the responders has probably been in on the R&D of powder & bullet manufacturers....... & then the OP tells him to "think outside the box".....

Ganderite is who Hickstick is talking about "In the end it's all been tried before"...... Who do you think tried it?

When Ganderite starts talking, I usually shut up and listen. He LITERALLY has been there and done that...... & he got paid to be there......
 
The bullets you buy from Bullet Barn will have gas checks installed.

It's really simple to install gas checks on a cast bullet - you pick up the check and slip it onto the shank. That's it. When you size the bullets the check is crimped on. I can't see how using a liquid product like epoxy that needs mixing, application, and curing is going to be less hassle; in fact it sounds like a lot more work to me, and I'd be sceptical that expoxy is going to be a suitable material for gas checks in the first place. I would expect it to make a mess in your barrel.
 
notsorichguy said:
The OP asks a question on the board
The funny bit, where I almost blew snot all over the keyboard; one of the responders has probably been in on the R&D of powder & bullet manufacturers....... & then the OP tells him to "think outside the box".....

Ganderite is who Hickstick is talking about "In the end it's all been tried before"...... Who do you think tried it?

When Ganderite starts talking, I usually shut up and listen. He LITERALLY has been there and done that...... & he got paid to be there......
Click to expand...

I guess that everything is invented. No point wasting anymore time looking for improvements on anything.....close the patent office we're finished. Enjoy life as it is because nothing needs to be changed. (okay, sarcasm off)
 
jethunter said:
The bullets you buy from Bullet Barn will have gas checks installed.

It's really simple to install gas checks on a cast bullet - you pick up the check and slip it onto the shank. That's it. When you size the bullets the check is crimped on. I can't see how using a liquid product like epoxy that needs mixing, application, and curing is going to be less hassle; in fact it sounds like a lot more work to me, and I'd be sceptical that epoxy is going to be a suitable material for gas checks in the first place. I would expect it to make a mess in your barrel.
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Thanks for some useful input. I was thinking of adding the 'painting' with whatever substance, to the whole bullet prep regimen. Stick them upside down in a tray and simply dab the substance on the bottoms. I like the paper patching idea too. I think I'll try a drop of liquid alox on the bottom and stick a patch to it. I've found a quick method of making felt patches using a drillpress and sharpened hole punch. (saved me a fortune on pre-cut felt patches for the .44 BP and the muzzleloaders!)
 
It's nice to see someone share an original idea, even if unbeknownst to him it had been tried and failed. Most folks here haven't had an original idea in their life, or if they did, they lacked the courage to try it, much less share it.

Lead bullets do not need to be protected from melting - they're not in the bore in contact with hot gasses long enough to be melted. It's pressure that's the culprit, and that requires something harder than any compound that can be painted on - but not a bad idea.
 
Gas check basically serve a couple purposes,protecting the bullets base from heat isn't one of them since you can cast plain base bullets from harder alloys and not use a gas check as long as you have a good fit and proper lube. Gas check come into play when both high pressure usually over 35K PSI and velocity 1400 fps.+ are present at the same time in a given load.

The gas check not only helps seal the bore and provide extra grip in rifles like the Marlin with micro-groove bores but the little copper cup protects the base of the bullet form rifling induced defects which those high pressure gases mentioned above will take full advantage of. A gas check also allows you to shoot a much softer alloy bullet at higher velocity and pressure for expansion purposes than a non-gas check bullet cast from the same soft alloy.

A gas check is also useful in ported handgun and rifle barrels,when a plain base cast bullet fired at high velocity and pressure passes through the ports hot gases escape through the ports and erode the bullets base. This erosion causes defects on the bullets base which can lead the end of barrel and the defect can affect the bullet as it leaves the muzzle causing instability and inaccuracy.

There are other options used in place of gas checks such as cream of wheat which works as both a filler and protects the base of a bullet,NECO P wads and a few others. I don't try and get to fancy with the wads or fillers I just use a gas check when the loads warrants it or leave it off or use a plain base bullet when the load doesn't.

http://www.neconos.com/category/Reloading-Aids-16
 
Since I haven't started casting yet myself I found this whole thread very useful, thanks to all who participated!

PS: Ganderite is one on a small handful around here I listen to very closely as well. Along with Boomer, Eagleye, tiriaq, and a few others....
 
Aren't gas checks there as a gas seal? I did a lot of reading into casting + gas checks two years back or so on cast boolits and it seemed like the unanimous opinion was that they were there to ensure a gas seal and that the micro seconds that the hot gasses are pressing against the lead would not be enough to melt it.
 
Colt .45 said:
Aren't gas checks there as a gas seal? I did a lot of reading into casting + gas checks two years back or so on cast boolits and it seemed like the unanimous opinion was that they were there to ensure a gas seal and that the micro seconds that the hot gasses are pressing against the lead would not be enough to melt it.
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They do that but they do other things as well.
http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Chapter_10_GCkorPB.htm
 
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