Best gas check maker

[sixpointfive]

So gents, which is the better gas check maker the free chek or patmarlin?

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

I like Pat's . . . of course he is one of our own! :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_R6ZjayWU :Fire:

[JeffinNZ]

Freechex III hands down. Why make a gas check in two steps when you can make one EVERY stroke of the handle?

[HARRYMPOPE]

Freechex III hands down. Why make a gas check in two steps when you can make one EVERY stroke of the handle?

With all that shaking ground it would be a pain to get the "blank" on the Pats die.<G>
I was in the 1989 Loma Prieta 7.1 quake in 1989 in SF Bay Area,Scary stuff!

How thick of material can you use on the FC III ,.30 cal ?

HMP

[reloader28]

I aint tried the freechex so I'm going to give my vote to Pat.
Besides,as far as I know, hes the only one making plain base checks.
Those things work awesome and he'll be getting more of my business.

[pistolman44]

I bought a Freechex II last year but sold it after a week of use. Using .014" Al for making checks they all were a little loose on all my 44 boolits. I use 3 different brands of molds for my 44. So I decided to stick to Gator gas checks which fit tight on all my 44 cast boolits. But after seeing all the positive feed back for Pat's GC tool I ordered one for a 45 pain base boolit.

[Lead Fred]

Pats makes checks as nice as the store bought.
Very high quality maker, and works flawlessly

[sixpointfive]

Hey Jeff in NZ can you post a video of you making gas checks? Can you use .014 to make 30 cal?

[sixpointfive]

How do the PB gas checks work? Do they crimp on a PB bullet. For example I have a 38-150 mould that I would like to GC for my 357 mag.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

does pat sell that here ? i would lik to get one if he makes one for 44 mag or 45 cal
that is just to cool

[38Special]

does pat sell that here ? i would lik to get one if he makes one for 44 mag or 45 cal
that is just to cool

Mother of all Checkmaker™ Dies Links
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=104930

[30CAL-TEXAN]

I have not used the FreeChex tools so I really can't comment on how good they are. Based on some of the feedback here I would guess that they work well. I do have and regularly use one of Pat's 30cal CheckMakers and it is top notch quality.

I think it would be in the best interest of anyone looking for a GC tool to read all of the threads available on this site for all makes of tools and decide for themselves wich one is best suited for their needs. Otherwise all you have are other people's opinions that may or may not be biased for one reason or another.

I have noticed that threads like this sometimes tend to start looking more like a pi$$in' contest rather than useful information.

[Sagebrush7]

http://http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_148814d6ecf3907229.jpg ('http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=84')

Hands down, Freechex lll is the best! Made 5000 .45 caliber aluminum gas checks before lunch with this baby!

[sixpointfive]

Just bought the freechex III. Hey sagebrush7 how are using yours? drill press? arbor press?

[JeffinNZ]

Sorry, can't post a video but you search Youtube Jeff in NY has done it already. Up to .015 material works fine.

[turbo1889]

Fixed the picture:


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_148814d6ecf3907229.jpg
Hands down, Freechex lll is the best! Made 5000 .45 caliber aluminum gas checks before lunch with this baby!

And that looks like and air ram cylinder set-up of some sort to automate the check making process.

[Swede44mag]

If you want a Freechex III get Ed's plans and make your own.

If you buy one off Flebay you take your chances.

I plan on buying one of Pat Marlins he is a forum member and will work out any problems you may have.

[sixpointfive]

Turbo 1889, how much do you have in that rig minus the cost of the dies?

[turbo1889]

I just fixed the photo link code in Sagebrush7's post #13 above and made the comment that it looked like it was an automated set-up made using an air cylinder. That isn't something I have myself. Direct your questions about this to Sagebrush7 all I did was fix his picture for him so the forum would accept his code and show it.

[sixpointfive]

Gents, what is the going rate for sorted (no zinc or steel) ww?

[sixpointfive]

After making a few gas checks and seating them on my lyman 30 cal 170 grain bullet I notice that the gas checks can be easily pulled of.

[pistolman44]

Did you not read my post (#6) that I said using the Freechex II that they had a loose fit on my cast boolits. Only thing I can suggest to you now is to try thicker material. Or run them thru your sizer twice. That helped on some but not on all.

[JeffinNZ]

After making a few gas checks and seating them on my lyman 30 cal 170 grain bullet I notice that the gas checks can be easily pulled of.

Can you please tell us:

1) how thick is the material you are using?
2) the diameter of the gas check shank on the bullet?

[sixpointfive]

.014" the bullet is a lyman 311291

[JeffinNZ]

2) the diameter of the gas check shank on the bullet?

[swheeler]

After making a few gas checks and seating them on my lyman 30 cal 170 grain bullet I notice that the gas checks can be easily pulled of.
Maybe you need to anneal them

[Spector]

Or enlarge the gas check shank part of your boolit mold.........Mike

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/ShawnVT/Guns/314129GasChecks.jpg

Shot them into sand.

[Moonie]

It is my understanding that the largest complaint with the freechex tools is loose fitting checks. I believe Pat discussed this and why he designed his tool differently and that the checks made with his tool fit tight, with different thickness's of materials.

I have no experience with either of these tools and have no dog in this fight, just what I've read.

[DukeInFlorida]

Here's the trick to making custom gas checks:

Both guys make the cup forming die such that there's a specific limit to the cup wall thickness after it's made. So, even if you muscled .030 thick stock in either tool, it will come out with a lesser thickness to the walls.

You can wet lap the outer diameter by using fine emery cloth, dripping with oil, on a dowel, and hone out the outer diameter a few thousandths.

I did that with two of my FreeChex III tools. Not because Charlie made any mistakes. He didn't. I just wanted larger final diameter installed checks.

AS A CONSEQUENCE of making the outer diameter bigger, I found that the checks I made were really tightly crimping in place when I ran them through my sizing die! Wonderful side benefit to doing the lapping.

So, now I have tools that I can run thicker material through, to suit my guns, and at the same time get tighter fit to my castings.

Having said that, my vote goes to FreeChex III if you wanna buy them, or to Ed's version of the same thing, if you have the machinery to make them.

One stoke forming is the way to go.

If you're making checks out of copper, Blammers prices are just above raw material cost for copper.

[Whistler]

I spent most of last night trying different materials making .35 and .44 checks with the Freechex III's in an arbor press. I concur with Moonie and DukeInMaine on this one, no matter what thickness you use, you still have loose fitting checks, even after running them through the sizer.

With the tools, I received a sheet of 0.008 that said "Max for .35" and some 0.014 that just said "For .44". The 0.008 seems to work good for the .35, but the 0.014 just falls off two different .44 boolit designs (the Lee 310 and the RCBS 240-SIL).

I tried some 0.011 aluminum folded double for the .44 and even that can be pulled off with my finger nail. The only difference is that the thicker the material, the higher the cup walls of the check become. When using the same 0.011 material for .35 checks the cup buckles and deforms at the base - however, it can still be pried off with my fingernail.

I am not a tool shop machinist. Trying to lap the tools would probably just ruin them...

[Whistler]

Some (small) progress.
I have tried putting .008" and .011" aluminum in layers using the .44 FreeChex III.
This gives a slightly extruded gas check that seems very much like the Hornady copper gas checks, which incidently measures .019" with my micrometer... They have pretty much the same fit that I have with the commercial checks, though the walls of the aluminum checks are somewhat higher. It is also a time consuming process as it binds up the tool at every downstroke, but it will probably work for me until I open up my mold shanks somewhat and cast new boolits. Unfortunately I have about 2000 unsized/unchecked boolits waiting...

[Whistler]

Layering seems to be a question of preparation. If you layer your sheets before you cut them, the cut edge will make the layers fit together and prevent binding when using them in your Freechex III tool. Today I layered some .011" aluminum with great success. I also believe you have to use a distinct and fast pull of the handle on your arbor press as this also reduces the risk of the tool binding compared to gentler and slower pulls.

The layered .022" (.011 + .011) gas checks fit OK on my .44 boolits with .397 shank. They also have an overall feeling more like the Hornady copper checks; they are somewhat heavier and more durable when handling.

[Doug Humbarger]

How do I get Ed's plans?

[tjones]

These posts are ancient , reading contemporary ones seems things have really changed. tj

[notagain15]

I looked at both gas check systems. My question has to do with the FreechexIII system. Does that one only work with the Arber press or can it work with a hammer?

Pat's Gas check system may be 2 steps but it works in the press I already own and do not have to go and purchase.

Anyway are there any other systems out there that I should be looking at?

[hockeynick39]

Pat's works for me. I make PB gas checks from 6.5mm to .458 cal out of soda/ beer can aluminum. Most of these are pistol and straight walled rifle, but am starting to get into bottlenecked rifle cartridges and PB cast bullets with pretty good results from .30 cal so far. The 6.5mm is a different animal and will take a little while to sort out.

Making 6.5mm checks on a cold and rainy day:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/6.5mm%20Gascheck%20Maker%20001_zpsh1tw8app.jpg

.45 cal checkmaker and checkeb boolits:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/45CalPBGCBullets009_zps55afc7b2.jpg

Lubing and checking at the same time:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/604_zpsa604839b.jpg

[PatMarlin]

The best gas check dies are the ones you use to make your gas checks and then go shoot.

[SniderBoomer]

For plinkers and because I am busy, I buy checks that are made by others using a Freechex.

They work well and are great value.

For my own use in target competitions, I use Pat Marlin checks I make myself. I have had wins with PM checks :-)

When you find the right thickness of Copper or Alu, they stay on well and match the Hornady, which are now priced away from my pocket.

[DukeInFlorida]

FreeChex III !!!!!

Now, when you place the order, don't be shy about calling in the order, and having conversation with Charlie Darnall. He's eager to please, and can walk you through what material to use.
Some rolled aluminum is cold worked, fine for roofing repairs, but work hardened aluminum tends to spring back, making for looser fitting checks, even it using the right thickness aluminum.

To repeat what I have posted elsewhere:
For 22 caliber FreeChex III, I use .008"-.011" aluminum, softer is always better.
For 9mm - 30 caliber FreeChex III, I use .015" aluminum, ditto softer is better. Currently ONLY using Yonky's material, it;s been properly stress relieved.
For 44 cal, 45 cal FreeChex III, I also use .015" aluminum, ditto same as 9mm to 30 cal
For 50 cal, I use .020 to .025 material. I have changeable inserts from Charlie which allow me to make gas checks for BOTH my S&W 500 Magnum, as well as gas checks for 50 BMG in the same tool. Try doing that with the competitor's tools.....

I've had great success with Charlie's FreeChex III tools. Be aware that he's now also making FreeChex IV tools for some of the smaller sizes. That refinement of the tool set makes for even higher production quantities, and is virtually trouble free.

[Retumbo]

The best gas check dies are the ones you use to make your gas checks and then go shoot.

Wow...I actually agree with him for once.

[Screwbolts]

The best gas check dies are the ones you use to make your gas checks and then go shoot.

This is the clear demonstration of a very intelligent man! There is nothing gained in the tearing down or badmouthing another's product.

I believe both products are high quality and both will produce quality gas checks. anything said beyond that is stricky an "OPINION" . I also know that this POST is my OPINION .

I also believe Springback of the alloy used for both the boolit and to make gas checks will greatly effect fit, or tight fit to boolit base. IMHO, Unless you paid a very high price for a certified alloy to make your checks to fit a certified material that the projectile was made from, there is no way that the maker of the tools involved be held responsible for " the check was loose, so I sold it " even with certified alloys, was the shank cast of size in the +- range that would work to ones opinion standard.

Ken

[6622729]

I have Pat Marlin and like the two step process. I have not used any other maker and am happy right here. I form .015 copper and shoot them with great success in 300AAC.

[sparky45]

All the negative posters in this thread, and you know who you are, need to re-read post #42 and take it to heart.

[TXGunNut]

I don't make my own but have used a few thousand Hornady GC's. Pretty good but last night I tried Gator GC's for the first time. I don't think I'll be buying any more Hornady checks.

[M-Tecs]

Never used Pat's. I have a Freechex III and it works well.

[Sagebrush7]

Larry will like that!



I don't make my own but have used a few thousand Hornady GC's. Pretty good but last night I tried Gator GC's for the first time. I don't think I'll be buying any more Hornady checks.

[TXGunNut]

Larry will like that!


Larry?

[Sagebrush7]

Yea, Gator Checks are made by Larry Blackmon and sold by many vendors besides Blammer and Sages's Outdoors. He also has a line of swaging dies and presses used by many members on this forum. That Larry!



Larry?

[bstone5]

I have the publication by Ed Smith in PDF file format if someone wants a copy, let me know and I will E-Mail the work done by Ed Smith with regard to making gas check makers.
i have made several gas check makers using the single stroke design similar to the FreeCheck III as described Ed Smith in his publication.

[TXGunNut]

Yea, Gator Checks are made by Larry Blackmon and sold by many vendors besides Blammer and Sages's Outdoors. He also has a line of swaging dies and presses used by many members on this forum. That Larry!

Please tell him I appreciate his quality work. NOE sells them as well, they make good packing material when I order a mould or two. They seem to work especially well with Al's moulds. Can't wait to try them with some 35 cal boolits.

[jiandawg]

I'll throw in another vote for Pat Marlin.

I haven't tried the Freechex system, but I liked being able to use my reloading press to make gas checks. I've got enough stuff that I didn't want to have to get a arbor press to use the Freechex, besides with all the positive feedback for Pat Marlin check makers on here, I figured I would give them a try. Got a 45cal initially and a few months afterwards I got the 40pb, 35pb and 22 cal makers. Repeat customer.

[Don Fischer]

Any body know where to get that die set Pat was using? How expensive are they also?

[Forrest r]

I haven't tried the Freechex system, but I liked being able to use my reloading press to make gas checks. I've got enough stuff that I didn't want to have to get a arbor press to use the Freechex

Can't say I blame you. I ended up with 1 of these

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/pbgcholder_zpsbecoyzoo.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/pbgcholder_zpsbecoyzoo.jpg.html)

To use with the freechex so I can use a standard reloading press.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/100_3083_zpsz55gy71k.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/100_3083_zpsz55gy71k.jpg.html)

I know what you mean by stuff and buying stuff leads to using it to make more stuff and buying more stuff to use that stuff. Ended up buying an arbor press (stuff) and then found I could use it to make more than just gc's with it. Stuff like free bullet jackets from 9mm & 380acp cases with the stuff I bought to go with the stuff I bought to make gc's. Some of the stuff I make with all the stuff I buy to make stuff with.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t242/forrestr-photo/dfae2a17-b053-423f-bb91-4f74ce405208_zpsbgtlhn9l.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/forrestr-photo/media/dfae2a17-b053-423f-bb91-4f74ce405208_zpsbgtlhn9l.jpg.html)

Now I sorta wish I'd of only bought pat's stuff, that way I would of never bought all this other stuff and learned how to make other stuff with that stuff.

And yes, either of them make good stuff. It just depends on how fast you want to make stuff with their stuff.

[TenTea]

^^^ Forrest r, you have succinctly summarized the gun nut phenomenon, which can also be applied to people in most any area of endeavor!

We get stuff to do stuff which leads us into making stuff to use in our stuff.
Then, we get more stuff to use and improve the new stuff we made.
Of course, we need to do stuff for money and sell stuff to afford a place to safely store our stuff.
I'm reminded of George Carlin (RIP)...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac

[Don Fischer]

This might be off subject a bit. Someone mentioned that the GC's they were using were a bit loose. that shouldd be better for PC bullet's. I put some 30 GC's on PC bullet's and awfully tight!

[Dragonheart]

The Freechex tool in operation:

https://youtu.be/R5sIuzphTEk