GC Mold Won't Accept Check

[RickinTN]

It's not the bullet diameter, it's the gas check shank diameter. Myself and several others have a 44 Magnum/444 mold that the gas check shank is .015" too large. Our e-mails have been ignored.
Rick

[Iowa Fox]

This guy absolutely doesn't understand cutting a gas check shank on his molds for gas checks sold in the United States. I've got the same mold as Rick above and there is no way you are going to shoe horn a gas check on the bullets. He is not making good on his error. Its a brass paper weight.

[cainttype]

A slightly over-sized punch ground with a bevel at the tip to open the check’s mouth works best for me, much faster and easier than the NOE expander (same principle).
Lay the checks out on a hardened surface (steel plate) and breeze through them like Whack-a-Mole… A little tap is usually all it takes.

[John Boy]

All my GC’s are Hornaday …. Snap, click … Done
25 up to 45 calibers

[alamogunr]

A slightly over-sized punch ground with a bevel at the tip to open the check’s mouth works best for me, much faster and easier than the NOE expander (same principle).
Lay the checks out on a hardened surface (steel plate) and breeze through them like Whack-a-Mole… A little tap is usually all it takes.

I guess it is off to Harbor Freight tomorrow. I have several punches but I don't want to start modifying a quality punch. I'll be sure and take one of the checks with me so I don't waste a trip.

[rintinglen]

A slightly over-sized punch ground with a bevel at the tip to open the check’s mouth works best for me, much faster and easier than the NOE expander (same principle).
Lay the checks out on a hardened surface (steel plate) and breeze through them like Whack-a-Mole… A little tap is usually all it takes.

^^^^This is what I did for a stubborn Lyman 311-291. A cheapo K-mart nail set was ground down and voila! A piece of 1/4 inch iron strap, a 12 oz ball peen hammer, and in about three seconds a gas check, you have opened them up to fit your fat-butted boolit.

[Shiloh]

One of the LEE specialty milds is like that. 8mm drops at about 250gr.
Shank is too small. Call NOE and order the GC expander.

You need the die and proper expander. Gonna have to fiddle with it to get it right, but it works.
https://noebulletmolds.com/site/prod...heck-expander/

Shiloh

I've got a MP .327 Single 7 Mjoinir(?) mold from a GB quite awhile back. I've ignored it up to now due to other projects. Finally cast up a few along with a similar, but not the same, Accurate mold. The MP molded boolits won't seat a gas check. The Accurate boolits fit fine.

I think if I was able to expand the check slightly, I could get them to seat. Anyone have any recommendation how to best do this? None of the various tools I've got around the shop are of a size to expand a .30 caliber check.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I have a plastic dead blow mallet that i judiciously use to tap the nose on stubborn checks. I also anneal my checks on the glass top stove, when they change color i push them off the burner with a spatula. I also cut the sprue a bit faster so i get a nice smooth and flat base.

[gwpercle]

Another trick is to use your outside deburring tool to cut a bevel on the gas check shank base , the beveled shank along with a slightly expanded gas check and they pop right on ...also seating the check while sizing the boolit in a Lyman 450 / 4500 makes it as easy as Pi (pie).
Gary

[Green Frog]

After seeing this thread seriously discussed for two pages I just could resist asking, “If it ‘…won’t accept check…’ have you tried cash or a major credit card?” Sorry, but I just couldn’t resist.

Froggie

[Cosmic_Charlie]

I have a .44 Miha mold that the checks fit on well ( nice and tight ). Using Hornadys. I also have .30 cal Lee and Accurate molds that accept checks without problems. I can see how it would be frustrating to not have them fit though.

[gwpercle]

After seeing this thread seriously discussed for two pages I just could resist asking, “If it ‘…won’t accept check…’ have you tried cash or a major credit card?” Sorry, but I just couldn’t resist.

Froggie

I thought today was St. Patrick's Day ... apparently it's ... Bad Joke Thursday WooHoo !!!

That is pretty funny
Gary

[Green Frog]

“De debil made me do it!”

[alamogunr]

I got a chance to go to the shop and fiddle with the 3/8th bolt that I modified after it was suggested by a post here. I then chucked it up in the drill press and expanded about 50 or so. They slipped right on so were a little big but worked fine after sizing.

It occurred to me that I should have miked the GC shank. I didn't think of that until I had left the shop. My alloy is just COWW with a little tin. I've never been to concerned about trying to adjust size by varying the alloy. This would be a good opportunity to do a little experimenting using this mold.

Don't think I need to go to Harbor Freight.

[megasupermagnum]

Why mess around any farther? Just make that tool I posted and don't worry about fiddling to make a mold do what it isn't meant to.

[gwpercle]

I got a chance to go to the shop and fiddle with the 3/8th bolt that I modified after it was suggested by a post here. I then chucked it up in the drill press and expanded about 50 or so. They slipped right on so were a little big but worked fine after sizing.

It occurred to me that I should have miked the GC shank. I didn't think of that until I had left the shop. My alloy is just COWW with a little tin. I've never been to concerned about trying to adjust size by varying the alloy. This would be a good opportunity to do a little experimenting using this mold.

Don't think I need to go to Harbor Freight.

I honestly think the tool fix will be much easier to achieve than coming up with a special alloy ...
I can use a tool a lot better than hitting that pefect blend of metal that allows a check to snap on .
Gary

[Shuz]

Occasionally I will get a cast boolit that has a very small skirt on the base of the gas check shank that makes it very hard if not impossible to fit a gas check..I have resorted to filing them down the best I can with a small hand file. Does anyone know of a tool similar to a case outside deburring tool that could be used for this?
Both my case deburring tools have a pin in the center that prevents it from being used for this purpose.

[Bazoo]

I have some 30 caliber checks that were too tight on my shanks. So, I ground a 5/16 punch with a taper, polished it mirror bright, and use that to expand. I only have a box, they are the old ideal checks. The punch is a mac brand I scored in a bucket of wheel weights! When I’m done with that box I’ll grind it off square again.

[Bazoo]

Occasionally I will get a cast boolit that has a very small skirt on the base of the gas check shank that makes it very hard if not impossible to fit a gas check..I have resorted to filing them down the best I can with a small hand file. Does anyone know of a tool similar to a case outside deburring tool that could be used for this?
Both my case deburring tools have a pin in the center that prevents it from being used for this purpose.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop...ol-power-tool/

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop...r-tool-manual/

There is another brand I recall but I can’t find it.

[Shuz]

Thanks Bazoo!