noob questions

[garbear]

I am going to buy a lee mold in .358 diamter. I am using trail boss. I may change to a different pistol powder but will more then likely stay with cast bullets. I am wondering if I need to worry about using gas checks. Oh the load is will be close to max.

[462]

garbear,
More information would be helpful. Handgun or rifle? Have you slugged the cylinder throats or bore? Etc.

[chris in va]

It's my understanding having read numerous posts that you won't need gas checks for 357 magnum if you water drop the boolits.

[Greenhorn44]

You should be fine. They say alittle tin goes along way

[lwknight]

Gas checks are oversold. 357 and 44 magnums do jst fine without them.

[garbear]

Sorry I am casting for a 357 revolver. I am using wheel weights. I just wanted to make sure i didn't need a mold with the gas checks. The mold I am looking at is a 158 grain 1 ogive round nose. Also one other question my buddy is going to be casting for a 45 long colt lever action do we need gas checks for his gun? We are both going to learn together.

[462]

garbear,
No gas check needed for your revolver. Higher velocity from the rifle may require one. Shoot some plain base boolits, first, then get a gas checked mould, in needed.

No need to water quench, just drop them on an old, folded cotton towel.

[camaro1st]

at what velocity are checks needed?

[HORNET]

Gas checks usually come into play around 1500-1600 fps. There are lots of variables involved as to alloy and hardness, which powder, barrel smoothness and dimensions, etc. You can get by without them in a lot of pistol calibers. Designs that were intended to use gas checks can SOMETIMES be used without the checks but frequently accuracy will suffer as a result. See some of the discussions in the Gas Check forum for more details.