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Thread: Lifetime of Aluminum Gas Check Material

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub D.Bullets's Avatar
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    Lifetime of Aluminum Gas Check Material

    Please Don't Judge Me!!
    For my first endless supply, I was counting on using 12 oz beverage cans. I found that most beverage cans were to thin (.0045 +- .001) I needed something thicker for my bullet base. So after a weekend of some Rigorous and Intense Research, Eureka!! (they must be the 16 oz Beverages) So far they have been working well @ .007 inch. Not only do I have a growing stack of Aluminum now. I have friends that insist on helping me. I sure do miss them.
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ID:	315960 16 oz Aluminum Twist Tip Cans

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
    Ben's Avatar
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    I make my own .30 cal. aluminum gas checks.
    I find that .014" thickness makes the best checks for me.

    Ben

  3. #3
    Boolit Bub D.Bullets's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by deces View Post
    How do you feel about eating a lot of Sardines & smoked Oysters?
    Define alot? What thickness is that?

  4. #4
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    If you're going to be pushing rifle cast bullets soda/beer can gaschecks are enough. Also doubling or tripling up on them in a pain and doesn't work out too good. Get the thicker aluminum material.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master



    MUSTANG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ben View Post
    I make my own .30 cal. aluminum gas checks.
    I find that .014" thickness makes the best checks for me.

    Ben
    +1 for me.
    Mustang

    "In the beginning... the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master deces's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by D.Bullets View Post
    Define alot? What thickness is that?
    The pull lids are of a soft aluminum. I don't have my calipers with me, but I would say about twice as thick as a pop can or more.
    These men and their hypnotized followers call this a new order. It is not new. It is not order.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    405grain's Avatar
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    The rolls of .014" thick aluminum roof flashing from Ace Hardware make really good gas checks. Just one session of making checks produces enough to last all year, and the roll will probably last a decade or more. I make my own beer, so I can't make gas checks from the bottles.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master Maven's Avatar
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    I've used some of Ben's .314" Al GC's on Lyman #314299: They were a perfect fit on that CB's base. Furthermore, there was no difference in accuracy v. commercial checks (Hornady, Sage) that I could detect. In short, Ben's GC's fit that CB's base like a glove!

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maven View Post
    I've used some of Ben's .314" Al GC's on Lyman #314299: They were a perfect fit on that CB's base. Furthermore, there was no difference in accuracy v. commercial checks (Hornady, Sage) that I could detect. In short, Ben's GC's fit that CB's base like a glove!
    I'm glad you said that there was on difference in accuracy between your aluminum checks and commercial check. I tested that exstensively with more the one very accurate rifle and came to the same conclusion. Maven even to see if I could do it or if it would work I made a few check from the galvanized coated metal roof for a barn. The stuff is pretty thin, but thick enough to work. Punching checks from it wasn't any harder then when using the aluminum and they worked exactly same. I only tested and don't shoot them as steady diet, in fact haven't revisited them from years ago.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy wyofool's Avatar
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    Better cans Don't let your friends see them

    I assure all of you that I didn't drink or buy these and have had them a long time. These are the best for gas checks they are .014 think and you can get a lot out of each can if you cut into strips.
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  11. #11
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    Please keep the politics out of this discussion! This isn't the PIT.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I have found that the .014" aluminum flashing checks work fine for me. I'm keeping MOA in my hunting rifle with them. I do think that sage's gator gas checks are sexier though. One roll of flashing (about $35) will last years.
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master

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    .014” aluminum flashing works for me.

    Old school paper cutter makes short work of cutting strips to use.
    Last edited by Budzilla 19; 08-30-2023 at 09:25 PM.
    I firmly believe that you should only get treated by how you act, not by who or what you are!!

  14. #14
    Boolit Buddy Krh1326's Avatar
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    For the guys using beer/ soda cans… may I just double check, you are using those for PB GCs, yes?
    Are they any different from the regular pull tab cans?
    Just because it’s a bad idea…
    …. Doesn’t mean it won’t be a good time !

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    Instead of beer/soda cans, I've found that some of the energy drink cans are thicker. They are not as thick as coils stock, but it's definitely thicker than pop cans. The younger generation seems to supply me with all I need. I'll stick with coffee.

  16. #16
    Boolit Bub
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    Currently I don't make any GC but looking around for suitable thickness I noticed the bulk olive oil containers (4lt or about a gallon) are a lot thicker than any beverage can I have found so far (I can't remember the exact thickness but at least double) might be worth checking out

    cheers

    Redd

  17. #17
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Budzilla 19 View Post
    .014” aluminum flashing works for me.

    Old school paper cutter makes short work of cutting strips to use.
    I use a paper cutter too to make strips. Cuts the time down a lot and makes quick work of making checks.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy Brassmonkey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reddirt204 View Post
    Currently I don't make any GC but looking around for suitable thickness I noticed the bulk olive oil containers (4lt or about a gallon) are a lot thicker than any beverage can I have found so far (I can't remember the exact thickness but at least double) might be worth checking out

    cheers

    Redd
    they are steel, or am I making nothing into a problem?

  19. #19
    Boolit Bub
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    The ones I have used are all aluminium, they are the ones from Italy so I guess genuine....

    cheers

    Redd

  20. #20
    Boolit Master


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    Been running .45/70 checks out of those this week. Definitely work real well for that if they'd only get their pilitics straight, there would be more around.

    Get about 100 checks out of one./beagle

    Quote Originally Posted by wyofool View Post
    I assure all of you that I didn't drink or buy these and have had them a long time. These are the best for gas checks they are .014 think and you can get a lot out of each can if you cut into strips.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    diplomacy is being able to say, "nice doggie" until you find a big rock.....

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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