Titan ReloadingInline FabricationReloading EverythingLoad Data
Lee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackboxRotoMetals2
Wideners
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Aluminum gas checks vs copper or (gilding metal)

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Spokane, Wa.
    Posts
    2,636

    Aluminum gas checks vs copper or (gilding metal)

    Do aluminum gas checks work as well as copper gas checks? Is one harder on bbl life than the other?
    It's all chicken, even the beak!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    SE MISSOURI
    Posts
    969
    I would like to know the answer also. I have tried both and to me it seems they work the same. But I haven’t tested for accuracy between the two. Just shot and never compared them side by side

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Tom W.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Phenix City, Alabama
    Posts
    3,855
    My check maker is for .45 caliber rifle or pistol, depending on the punch, and a doubled over Pepsi can makes great checks. I haven't found any difference between the copper or aluminum checks. I have found that I can use the aluminum checks in my .44 if I'm careful about centering the boolit when I lube and size them.
    Tom
    μολὼν λαβέ


    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    2,705
    When I make checks I usually use aluminum. If the check in installed parallel, completely flat and won't come off I haven't found any difference. Since I powder coat the check is riding on the coating anyway, so no difference to the barrel.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    SE Kentucky
    Posts
    1,309
    Never tested for accuracy but did notice that the aluminum checks tended to come off in flight, would find them scattered along the flight path, 5-10 per hundred rounds. Copper, either Hornady or Gator did not. If this is true of all aluminum checks I don't know, these were 30 cal in 06 and 30/40 AI. I only had 1K of them and decided to stick with copper. FWIW the Lyman copper checks also came off, might find one or two in a hundred rounds.

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy Valornor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Somewhere, Utah
    Posts
    339
    I have heard that Aluminum gas checks tend to fly off too, maybe a dab of adhesive would help them stay on? I’m interested in making them, so I have an excuse for my drinking habit...


    Check out my website www.theballisticassistant.com

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Dragonheart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    2,705
    A good reason to think about powder coating.
    I double coat rifle bullets to create a polymer jacket for the alloy. After the first coat I set the check, the second coat creates a bond so the check is there to stay and will be found with the bullet. This is a photo of a 7mm the first coat was blue and second coat was a clear.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_1913_1.JPG 
Views:	41 
Size:	49.5 KB 
ID:	249272

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
    762sultan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    the wilderness...north of I- 80
    Posts
    235
    That's a great idea to powder coat a bullet twice. I'm going to try that.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Retumbo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    743
    Installed correctly my gas checks came off after going through 1/2" plywood.


  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,513
    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonheart View Post
    A good reason to think about powder coating.
    I double coat rifle bullets to create a polymer jacket for the alloy. After the first coat I set the check, the second coat creates a bond so the check is there to stay and will be found with the bullet. This is a photo of a 7mm the first coat was blue and second coat was a clear.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	SAM_1913_1.JPG 
Views:	41 
Size:	49.5 KB 
ID:	249272
    I put two tumble coats on my boolits and I cracked my laminate top bench trying to size them in my lee sizing die. It took an act of god to size them. I had to hit the lever with my hand to pound them through. One coat not an issue. I bought an cheap lee press for a spare to mount to my metal bench out in the garage for future sizing tasks.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check