Wanted to PC the boolits I use in the Garand and the Mosin, but they are tall and prone to falling over. I also wanted to figure out a method of keeping the gas check shank clean, so a standard gas check can be seated after coating without issue. I believe I solved both with the same setup - I bought a small piece of perforated stainless from the local metal supply. It has holes just smaller than 1/4 inch, so I opened every other hole up using a 7/16 drill that would allow the gas check shank to fit into. Then I used the perforated sheet as a template for punching correct size holes in a silicone baking sheet. A press fit requires a CS Osborne size 10 leather punch (17/64") for a 30 Cal gas check shank. 6.5mm boolits conveniently require a 1/4" punch.
Next I loaded up the tray with 322 NOE 311365's - pre-sized to .310 without a gas check. Obviously I do not have the standard $5 toaster oven - I wanted to have the ability to powder coat larger motorcycle and car parts when I needed to, so I bought a big Oster digital convection oven for the job. Not only does it hold temperature to tight tolerance, I can do huge batches of boolits at one time.
All set in place, but are they stable? Here's the 45 degree test - sure, the unsupported corners up top are leaning over, but they fell back in place then it went back flat. No issues will be had moving these between coating bench and oven!
I use the box the oven came in as my powder coating booth, cutting a window in the front and placing a piece of scrap aluminum sheet to use as a ground plane - I clip the powder coating negative lead to the plate, and the bullet tray just sits on top. Here they are coated and baked using Powder by the Pound - Caribbean Blue.
Ran them through the sizer again to seat the aluminum check (Pat Marlin Check Maker) and bring back to .310 and here is the finished product - 7.62 x 54R , 20 grains of 2400 with dacron. This will knock the 500 meter silhouette rams down with regularity using my Finn Mosin. Love the way they look! Like a shiny new car...