Sage gas checks help

[Maximumbob54]

I had read plenty of good reviews of Sage Outdoors gas checks so I dove in and have made a few purchases and finally got around to starting to use them.

SNAFU...

As is usually my luck these days, I'm having nothing but trouble. The 8mm checks are the aluminum checks made for gas check bullets. I'm using the Lee C329-205-1R mold and the check doesn't begin to fit. I also bought some of the plain base checks as once again I've read some great reviews on those. So I bought some for .40/10mm and .38/357. I have some .401 bullets from a Mihec mold (180gr HP / 200gr solid) and If I size them first and then put on the gas check and size them again then I can sort of get some of them to fit. The .38/.357 don't even begin to fit my Mihec 9mm mold and they were already run through my .358 sizing die.

I keep assuming I'm doing something wrong as that is usually the case. I've used scores of Lyman and Hornady copper gas checks and they always just fit the base and they run right through the Lee sizing dies. I tried to size the .401 bullets first and then run them through with the plain base check to crimp them and it tore the check apart. So I assumed they would only seat shoved into the Lyman 450 and I had to deform the bullet's nose to get the check on it tight.

I've contacted the seller and he would like me to ship some bullets with the checks to see them himself but I would really appreciate a dummy check on myself first.

A few pics:

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x333/Maximumbob54/IMG_20130630_193038_443_zps18b6c83e.jpg (http://s1176.photobucket.com/user/Maximumbob54/media/IMG_20130630_193038_443_zps18b6c83e.jpg.html)

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x333/Maximumbob54/IMG_20130630_193103_319_zpsf6d57eef.jpg (http://s1176.photobucket.com/user/Maximumbob54/media/IMG_20130630_193103_319_zpsf6d57eef.jpg.html)

That's the bullet setting on the edge of the check and then the check caught on the bottom of the side of the base of the bullet but won't fit.


I'm at a loss. Any help?

[leadman]

Posting the dimensions of the gas check shank on the boolit and the inside of the gas check will help determine what is out of spec. Also what size sizer are you using in the 450?

[Maximumbob54]

.325" Lyman sizer. I did find there is a Lyman Gas Check tool. I'm going to order that and try it.

I will have to measure the shank and checks again as I emailed the measurements already.

[Pilgrim]

The Lyman GC tool is a total waste of money. Don't buy it. I did and now I'm trying to figure out what it was supposed to do. It operates just like an H&I die except it doesn't size or lube. It's a simple piece of steel with a recessed area where you drop the GC and then push the boolit down on the check. FWIW...Pilgrim

[Maximumbob54]

The tool I bought props up the piston in the die body. You can "easier" seat the check on the base. It was at least cheap and I wanted another set of mold handles and some other gear so it was thrown in with the same order. My hope is to help add a little direct pressure and they will squeeze fit.

[aspangler]

I have had a lot of trouble out of aluminum checks. they don't want to stay on when shot so I get a lot of fliers. They seem to be on tight but I find them about ten feet in front of the muzzle. I now stick ti the Hornady, Lyman, or Gator checks. They at least don't come off and I get good accuracy.

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/ShawnVT/Guns/GasCheck2.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/ShawnVT/media/Guns/GasCheck2.jpg.html)