CF Ventures Soft Gas Check Instructions
I am reading about individuals who have tried the wax gas checks in the past with variable success. Some are still finding old packages of the product, but seldom are the instructions with the sheets of wax. Perhaps it is time to post the original instructions from the maker. The sheets are made of red wax, about 3" by 6" by .062" thick. The sheets are often separated by a thin sheet of paper which is folded accordion style. Stored correctly, they will still be flexible and clean and suitable for use.
"MODERN WAX FORMULAS REVIVE "SOFT GAS CHECK" CONCEPT
New materials have revived an old and effective approach to protecting cast bullets from hot powder gasses. The result is a sheet-wax product being sold as "Soft Gas Checks."
Long ago, shooters either made or purchased various blends of waxes in the form of thin sheets, and "cookie-cuttered" the mouths of charged cases through the sheets, to produce a wax gas-check that was seated as the bullet was seated. Depending on the wax formula, results were either good or indifferent. Now, some wax formulas exist that work exceptionally well.
"Soft Gas Checks" use modern wax formulas. They are inserted in the old manner, which is very easy to do. Results so far show a uniform and sharp improvement in the performance of most cast bullet reloads when the "Soft Gas Checks" are used: groups tighten, leading is sharply reduced (although,with poorly compounded lead alloys, not always eliminated), and with some loads, point of impact changes to coincide more closely with point of aim, depending on sight-setting.
Why all these benefits should occur with the use of a thin sheet of special wax under a bullet is not yet known. The theory so far, however, is this: the wax does act as a gas-check. Being more flexible than metal, the wax expands and maintains great ontact with the various parts of the bore than does metal. At the same time, the wax is expanded, vaporized, as jets of hot gas seek to blow past the bullet. In theory, the added burden of the vaporized wax would cool and slow the blowby, and in some loads, possibly eliminate it.
Bullets must be libricated normally when "Soft Gas Checks" are used-the wax is not a substitute lubricant. Metal gas checks can be used in conjunction with "Soft Gas Checks." Handgun loads using heavily compressed powder charges must be reduced slightly, in order to assure a normal crimp and seating depth. However, use of "Soft Gas Checks" does not seem to increase pressures in such loads.
"Soft Gas Checks" should not be used in any load in which the wax gas check does not adhere to the walls of the case, firmly against the base of the bullet. At no time should "Soft Gas Checks"ever be used as a wad leaving a gap between the wax gas check and the bullet. No cold weather test data currently exist for the use of "Soft Gas Checks." No velocity ceiling has been determined, The wax melts at 125 degrees F.
A single sheet of "Soft Gas Checks" will accommodate 112 .38/.357 cartridges. Obviously, many more .30 caliber cartridges could be accommodated.
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED OR SOLD.
HOW TO USE "SOFT GAS CHECKS" AND GET RESULTS:
Resize, prime, and charge your case with powder in your usual way. The case mouth should be chamfered and slightly belled (do not bell heavily). Do not use powder charges that normally, without the wax, would be heavily compressed: cut such charges enough to allow room for the wax.
While you are preparing your cases, put a sheet or two of the wax in your shirt pocket(be sure to leave paper between the sheets) to become warm and slightly flexible. When you have put powder in the case(s), take a sheet of the wax and using your thumb, lay the sheet over the case mouth and "cookie-cutter" a disk from the sheet just into the mouth of the case. (DO NOT EVER PUSH THAT DISK DOWN WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BASE OF THE BULLET WHEN THE BULLET IS BEING SEATED.*) When this step is done correctly, you will see a disk of wax sitting just a bit,, about 1/32 of an inch or less, inside the mouth of the case. Now, seat and crimp your bullet the way you prefer.
A correctly prepared cartridge will have the wax disk in full 360-degree contact with the case-walls, and in full contact with the base of the bullet.
Don't ever permit an air space to occur between the wax and the base of the bullet: cases, even chambers, might possibly be ringed or damaged. Granted, we've not had that happen, or even heard of it happening with wax gas-checks, but why find out by a screwup? Loaders of bottle necked and tapered cases, you particularly must plan your load displacement carefully, to be sure your wax gas check(s) meet these loading specifications.
NOTE:
1. Wax gas checks never substitute for bullet lubricant, which must be properly applied to the bullet in the normal way.
2. Wax gas checks so far never have redeemed a bad load: they improve average loads and make good loads shoot great.
3. Bullets cast from cruddy alloy are going to lead, even if wax gas checks are used. Sorry: every product has its limits.
4. Sometimes, moderately leaded bores can be cleaned out quite a lot by firing average (not "hot") loads made with good-quality bullets backed by Soft Gas Checks. Try 5 or 6 rounds.
5. We'd like to hear of your experiences with this product: please write. We can't always respond, but your experience may help someone else.
Now that this product is no longer sold, I will attach a link to one of the other threads already active discussing the CF Ventures Soft Gas Checks for your comments, both successes or not. Dusty
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...-Wax-Gas-Check
