Gas Check vs. No Gas Check

[Huckelberry75]

So I am getting ready to start reloading for my .40 and .45LC. I was looking to use the J&K bullets, but didn't know when & where to use a gas check, and how to add them to the bullets. I have always in the past reloaded with jacketed bullets, and wanted to make sure that I am not missing something. Thanks for any info.

 

[Shadowrider]

The mold that the bullets come out of have to be machined specifically for a gas check. They press on to a recess on the base of the bullet and crimp on when sized.

And J&K's alloy doesn't require a gas check in those calibers. Unless you are pumping that .45LC up to .454 Casull levels that is. You should be good up to around 1200 FPS easily with Mitch's bullets.

 

[Huckelberry75]

Excellent, that's all I needed to know. To answer your question, no, the .45 will not be hot rodding those alloy pills, just the 185 & 250 GDHP's.

Thanks for the info.

-Drew

 

[RustyW]

I cast my own bullets and never bother using a gas check for a pistol cartridge. Mainly because I shoot the pistols at a moderate pressure & velocity. A lot of people go by the velocity as a rule instead of pressure. I use pressure as the rule and if I get the velocity I want, that's great. Pressure and bullet fit is the key in working with lead bullets.

Here is a pic from a 45cal bullet I cast for my 45/70. The one on the left is a flat base no check can be applied. The one in the middle is a gas check design w/o the check and the one on the right is the same bullet with the check applied.

 

[Roadking Larry]

I've pushed plain base bullets to well over 1700 fps in my Marlin 1894C (.357 mag) carbine with no leading.
They were cast of straight WW alloy, sized to .360 and lubed with Lyman's Super Moly.
Gas checked bullets have their place but motly you can live without them.