GAS CHECKS or NOT?

[357mags]

:Fire:Hello. I'm going to start reloading cast bullets as soon as my dies arrive. I shoot 357 mags. I plan to load them hot. Will I need gas checks? I'm going to load 180gr & 200gr cast bullets. Until I get casting on my own, I'll be buying my cast bullets. Any help would be great, Thanks

[archmaker]

I have found that my best accuracy with hot loads were the ones with Gas Checks.

But nowdays I do not load hot anymore, rarely needed.

[Bret4207]

357, check the stickies on the plain base vs gas check issue. In short, if you're loading hot gas checks make good grouping easier.

[Down South]

I haven’t bought very many cast boolits and all I’ve ever seen were plain base, many were bevel base but not GC. I don’t know if GC commercial boolits avail out there. What boolits were you thinking of buying?

[MtGun44]

I have gotten superb accy with 358429, Keith's design with a plain base and
AC WWt over 16.3 H110, which is a hot load. This leaves the bore leadfree
and groups about 1.5" at 25 yds. from my 586+1

I think that with proper bullet diameter and a design with enough lube capacity,
and a good lube, gas checks are unnecessary for pistol loads.

Bill

[Bret4207]

I missed the part about you buying them. Based on my experience, I'd stick with medium loads with the commercial stuff.

[fecmech]

I would add a +1 to Mtgun44's post. The Lyman "Keith" carry's a lot of lube and over max charges of H110, 296, wc820,AA9 will give you an honest 1300 fps out of a 6" handgun with very good accuracy and no leading if sized for the gun.