Just got my 22 cal check making dies from Pat Marlins and am having trouble seating the checks on my 22 Bator cast bullets. Problem is the checks are being sheared as they're pushed up into the Lee push through sizer and the sheared off rings are actually getting pushed onto the ram. Not sure what I'm doing wrong if anything. Wonder if it's possible that if I were to use a 225 sizer instead of the 224 it would solve my problem? Any insight would be very much appreciated.
Problem seating gas checks
- Thread starter jongun
- Start date
haven't used a non commercial gas check for my .223; ( use Hornady) but I always anneal checks before using.
I'm having a similar problem now, jongun ( Lee push through sizer ) as I'm powder coating boolits and the base is too big to accept checks; so I'm abandoning the powder coating process and reverting back to 45- 45 -10.
I'm having a similar problem now, jongun ( Lee push through sizer ) as I'm powder coating boolits and the base is too big to accept checks; so I'm abandoning the powder coating process and reverting back to 45- 45 -10.
just having some fun
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
if your Alum is too hard it might sheer/mess up the check and .225 is a better size
if the edge on the die has no taper they will also sheer
good news if your sizer die is steel or hardened steel you can polish it larger
400grit / 600 grit wet dry sandpaper
if the edge on the die has no taper they will also sheer
good news if your sizer die is steel or hardened steel you can polish it larger
400grit / 600 grit wet dry sandpaper
With the different mould makers and gas check makers, it's often hard to put the two together. The little tool on the left, breaks the edge of the gas check shank, so the checks will mate properly. It's made by NOE. Sometimes, that isn't enough and it's hard to get the checks on squarely with just your thumb, especially elderly thumbs with arthritis. I made up a few of the "dies" as shown. Used in the sizer/luber, all they do is push the check on squarely to the base. They do not crimp the check in place. One just does .45/70 bullets and the others do .45 and .30 cals. By sitting in the recess, they are centred with the top punch of the sizer. I made these out of brass. It's a simple job and a semi-skilled lathe operator could do one in about twenty minutes. The last one I did took just under two hours.
Can certainly appreciate the craftsmanship Slug. Would really like to keep away from any extra efforts as making the tiny bullets is work enough then there's the two step process of forming checks. Did try passing the bullets check first through the sizer and had no real luck. Most of the bullets were simply folded and sheared from the force taken to size the check down. The bullets that did make it through are noticeably deflected with unsquare checks. Think I'll try a thinner gauge aluminum before I get into reaming the sizer. Did smooth out the taper where bullet feeds into the die which seemed to alleviate some pressure. Anyways will try out the thinner stock and hopefully that will give me the proper results without having to do any extra work on the die.
Sounds good.
