New source of gas check material for those who roll their own...

[AZ-Stew]

I've been wondering about the new Budweiser aluminum "bottles" since I first saw them in a TV ad. I bought some yesterday for research purposes. First thing I had to do was rid one of them of the liquid filler they use to prevent the bottles from becoming dented or collapsing during shipment. Sacrifices must be made.

Using my bandsaw, I cut the bottleneck section off just below the shoulder, then cut the bottom off. I used a tubing mic to measure the wall thickness and found it to be an amazingly consistent .015-.016 at both ends. I don't know whether the .001 difference was measurement error or variation in the wall thickness at various locations.

Anyway, those who know the homemade gas check business better than I, due to first hand experience, can comment on whether this is a good source. I've always thought the standard flat-ended cans were too thin, and the fact that some folks use two layers to make one check seems to confirm this.

Comments??

Regards,

Stew

[snaggdit]

I'm waiting on one of Pat's checkmakers so I will be watching this thread with interest!

[badgeredd]

It seems like the .015/.016" thickness might be a bit thick. I DID find that some of the cat food cans (I think mine are 9-Lives brand) are .008/.009" thick. The cans I am using are coated on the inside but I found that if I use the coated side for the inside of the GC it works well. As you say the pop cans are thin, but I have a 358156 single cavity that the check shank was damaged on when I go it. I carefully bored it to take the pop can checks at .004" thick. REALLY cheap boolits now!

Edd

[AZ-Stew]

Huh. I thought this post would get more comment. I'll have to go measure some .375 checks I have and see how thick they are for comparison. I'll post later when I go out to the shop.

Regards,

Stew

[azrednek]

Anyway, those who know the homemade gas check business better than I, due to first hand experience, can comment on whether this is a good source.

Stew

Yes, it is an extremely good source!! Stew, so nice of you to relieve the contents of those bottles and post your research results here!! Tell the wife you are being pressured by other members to check the consistancy of an entire case and various brands.

[snaggdit]

+1 on the pressure...

[mrbill2]

Man, don't tell me I am going to have to start drinking beer again and collecting beer cans. This cast bullet stuff is realy getting complicated.

[AZ-Stew]

Duty calls. I'll finish the other four I have this week, and if they don't have the consistency I believe they will have, I'll have to go get some more for testing.

I measured some Hornady checks a while ago in my shop. They mic'd at .019 for .375 checks, .018 for .45s, and .020 for both the .32 and .30s.

These 16oz Bud containers should make several hundred checks from each bottle. Looks like good stuff.

Regards,

Stew

[Boerrancher]

I have been using the bud aluminum bottles since they came out for gas checks on my 30 cal boolits. I will tell all of you that a standard reloading press does not have enough power behind it to cut these bottles. You can do it with an arbor press easily enough though, or a regular hole punch and a hammer on a block of hard wood. I had a friend of mine make me a hole punch with springs that you feed a strip of the material in and smack it with a big mallet to punch out the disks. It works quite well but it is heavy, about 10 lbs, but it has to be in order for it to punch the thicker material. Here is a pic of my disk punch with a strip of an Aluminum Bud Light bottle sticking out of it.


Here is a pic of some of the aluminum gas checks made from the Bud Light bottle.


I get on average 175, 30 cal gas checks out of a bottle. I don't like the cheap watered down stuff but I have a friend that does every so often and he saves the bottles for me. I have been using them for at least a year now. I never posted on it because I thought every one else had thought of using them as well. The aluminum is very soft which makes it easy to shape with out becoming brittle like some of the sheet aluminum I have used.

They work great, I have been pushing a 50/50 WW and pure alloy out of my 30-30 up to 2300 fps, and 2500 fps with my 30-06, and have had no problems with leading. I have around 500 rounds through each of those rifles and have yet to run a patch or a brush through them, and both shoot sub MOA groups. I never could get that kind of accuracy out of commercial gas checks or gas checks I made out of pop cans as consistently as I do the Bud Light gas checks.

Best wishes form the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Echo]

Dang! Joe, those look great! Looks like I have another branch on this tree to explore...

[snaggdit]

I'm up for the disposing of the liquid filler, although I prefer my home brew beer. Sounds like Pats check maker might have a hard time with the material, though. I guess I will just have to build up a stock of the material before it arrives and see.

[Tom W.]

Gee. I wonder how the cap on my Crown Royal bottle will work??????

[Buckshot]

...............Ya know, the weight of the additional trials and tribulations we have to go through to shoot cast is just getting me down. However fear not, I WILL persevere without further complaint.

................Buckshot

[qajaq59]

Boerrancher, those are pretty darn nice gas checks. I take it that you put in the strip, whack it with a hammer and get those??
If so, I'd be curious to know how much your friend would charge me to make that punch?
Qajaq

[Boerrancher]

Boerrancher, those are pretty darn nice gas checks. I take it that you put in the strip, whack it with a hammer and get those??
If so, I'd be curious to know how much your friend would charge me to make that punch?
Qajaq

The punch only punches out the flat aluminum disk. The disk is then placed in a forming die and formed into a gas check. As far as my friend making another punch like that, he just had knee surgery a couple days ago, and is already 40+ days behind on his work. He doesn't know when he will be able to stand at a machine. I had a new idea for a 30 cal check maker that I was going to have him work on, but I haven't even mentioned it because of his bum leg.

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Ricochet]

I've been getting my liquid filler in longnecks. I'm having a terrible time making checks from them.

[Charlie Sometimes]

Man, I'd like to have one of them punches and forming dies sets, too. I have laid off the beer, but I'm sure I've got buddies somewher that would save the aluminum bottles for me!

[quasi]

The downside is the Bud beer, it is HORRIBLE.

[snaggdit]

I might ask around some local bars and see about snagging some empties. A agree on the taste.

[mooman76]

A&W has a aluminum bottle for their rootbeer float.