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Thread: Copper stock for gas checks

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Copper stock for gas checks

    I know everyone is using aluminum for gas checks but I am old school and I want to use copper. Where do you find it and can it be found online?

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    Rcmaveric's Avatar
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    Do search for copper sheet, copper foil or copper whether sheeting. Just find the gauge to suite your needs. I would try and find it local at hardware stores or craft stores before ordering off amazon

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    If you're going into mass production, all those arts & craft stores usually have a few sheets about the size of a show box lid.
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    Those rolls would be perfect but I think it would be just a bit expensive to get them sent to the USA!

    No Ed, No mass production, just enough to feed my needs.

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    The trouble with buying copper is the cost. By the time you have your gas checks made ,you have spent as much as buying them. For many size checks you can figure on 1/2" square of copper per check. That's four per square inch. If you have a cheap scource of copper or even free,then it works out. With the aluminum you can really save on the checks.
    n.h.schmidt

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    Several year ago, I bought some copper flashing at a home improvement box store,($89) it measured .016 which was too thick for my 30 cal GC tooling. So I cut it into shippable pieces and sold it in the S&S section. I bet that stuff would have been good for 44, 45 or 50 cal.
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    Petander,
    Thanks for the idea, not sure why I never thought of looking there before?

    I surfed through fleabay and then did some Metric to SAE conversion, and ordered a couple rolls of .008" Cu, from Hong Kong for
    my 22 cal FCIII dies. Should be here in 2 or 3 weeks.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    Petander,
    Thanks for the idea, not sure why I never thought of looking there before?

    I surfed through fleabay and then did some Metric to SAE conversion, and ordered a couple rolls of .008" Cu, from Hong Kong for
    my 22 cal FCIII dies. Should be here in 2 or 3 weeks.
    Can you pm me a link to where you found it? I found some but .4x100x100 mm is not much copper for $12.45. That is only 4x4 inches. I must not be looking in the right place.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    Petander,
    Thanks for the idea, not sure why I never thought of looking there before?
    You're welcome,that's why we're here.

    I was looking at local hobby shops here in Finland,bought some sheets but they had very little in stock. I figured ,instead of waiting I can get mine directly as well...


    Rick, those sheet prices are often for packs of five,for example.

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    At McMaster-Carr

    I get .012" brass shim stock; 6"x100" roll for $45. Makes 2000+ GCs either 30 or 32 cal.
    Larry Gibson

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    +1 on the shim stock... but i got a better price here.... 37.55 for a roll 6" x 100"

    https://www.msdiscounttool.com/catal...CABEgK5HfD_BwE

    these guys are easy to deal with ....

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  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    you could look at the same place you would get copper for a new still

    https://basiccopper.com/copper-sheet--rolls.html

  14. #14
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    Larry and Marco, I am curious to know if you have actually used that shim stock yet? The hardness at R30 makes me wonder if it may be too hard and would crack in the forming process, or be very hard to cut out. It is described as a "half hard alloy" which makes me think it is a brass stock more than copper.

  15. #15
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    .009 brass shim stock is all I ever use and never had a crack or split . I've gone through 8 or 9 rolls over the last few years making 30 , 38 , 41 , 44 , and 45 cal. and only problem I've had is a few minor cut fingers .

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    https://www.riogrande.com/product/co...ad-soft/132128


    needs to be Copper 6" x 12" Sheet, 28-Ga., Dead-Soft


    Item Description Ordered Quantity Unit Unit Price Ext. Price
    132128 SHEET CPPR 28GA 6"X12" 3.000 3.000 PAK $12.80 $38.40
    2EA 3.000 PAK -- for 30 cal
    ________________________________________
    132130 SHEET CPPR 30GA 6"X12" PKG/2 1.000 1.000 PAK $13.50 $13.50
    2EA 1.000 PAK -- for 22 cal
    ________________________________________

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy dimaprok's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by notenoughguns View Post
    .009 brass shim stock is all I ever use and never had a crack or split . I've gone through 8 or 9 rolls over the last few years making 30 , 38 , 41 , 44 , and 45 cal. and only problem I've had is a few minor cut fingers .
    A typical shank on 44 mag is .400 so .009 + .400 + .009 = .418 and your bullet diameter is .429 - .430 sized. So if your gas check doesn't seal the base - what good does it do and how do you keep it on? I can't even keep .010 on 30 cal to stay put, I am using .013- .014 in order to "crimp" and stay put. The only thing .009 fits is 9mm/.357 and .22, although I use .005 - .008 for .22

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    Last edited by dimaprok; 01-20-2021 at 06:39 AM.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy dimaprok's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by n.h.schmidt View Post
    The trouble with buying copper is the cost. By the time you have your gas checks made ,you have spent as much as buying them. For many size checks you can figure on 1/2" square of copper per check. That's four per square inch. If you have a cheap scource of copper or even free,then it works out. With the aluminum you can really save on the checks.
    n.h.schmidt
    Exactly, if your gas checks are costing 2-3 cents each, might as well stock up on factory ones. The aluminum ones I did the math once, if I buy 50 foot roll for max savings it was 8 gcs per penny in 30 cal and its a lifetime supply.

    I wonder where Sages get their copper stock because they don't cost that much more than aluminum ones.

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    Last edited by dimaprok; 01-20-2021 at 08:49 AM.

  19. #19
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    I have been using the same roll of aluminum for a couple years now.

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  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by dimaprok View Post
    A typical shank on 44 mag is .400 so .009 + .400 + .009 = .418 and your bullet diameter is .429 - .430 sized. So if your gas check doesn't seal the base - what good does it do and how do you keep it on? I can't even keep .010 on 30 cal to stay put, I am using .013- .014 in order to "crimp" and stay put. The only thing .009 fits is 9mm/.357 and .22, although I use .005 - .008 for .22

    Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
    Modified moulds my friend and custom check maker !

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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