Need advice for gas checks

[SkookumJeff]

Hi all, I'm new to boolit casting. I'm starting out casting with a Lee C430-310-RF mould to cast boolits for my 444 Marlin rifle. I'm FINALLY getting good boolits out of my mould, long story there. I plan to use Hornady .44 cal gas checks. These gas checks slip onto the base of the boolit with no interference, they are loose on the base. If I understand the process, the gas check would be crimped onto the boolit as part of the sizing operation?? I DO have a Lee sizer for this caliber. The boolits are dropping from my mould at about .432" diameter which is about perfect for my 444 Marlin. Since the size is right out of the mould, I do NOT want to size my boolits.

How do I crimp the gas checks on the base of the boolit if I'm not sizing the boolit???

I thought about using my Lee factory crimp die but I don't think the collet will squeeze small enough. I've searched this forum for an answer but I have not come up with a satisfactory answer. I'd rather not use glue or Locktite to glue the gas checks onto the boolit, I'd rather find some way to crimp them if possible. Does anyone make a crimp tool for crimping gas checks? Thanks.

[gerrycan]

Skook.
Just sit the proj. with gc in place in the lubesizer and pull the handle down until it JUST SIZES THE CHECK AREA . Takes a bit of practise but it works . Gerry.

[RU shooter]

Hone your Lee sizer out to .432 and it will just size and crimp on the check.

[161]

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_34&products_id=65
This works for me

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Hi all, I'm new to boolit casting. I'm starting out casting with a Lee C430-310-RF mould to cast boolits for my 444 Marlin rifle...
I DO have a Lee sizer for this caliber. The boolits are dropping from my mould at about .432" diameter which is about perfect for my 444 Marlin. Since the size is right out of the mould, I do NOT want to size my boolits.

How do I crimp the gas checks on the base of the boolit if I'm not sizing the boolit???


I have the same mold, that I recently bought new.
it has the same problem...undersized GC shank.

If your Lee sizer is .432 then try this:
tumble lube them (the thinner the coat, the better)
push them through the sizer die without a gas check,
this should slightly expand the gas check shank,
(unless the boolits are less than .432)
then install the gascheck, tumble lube again (and thin is better).
then pushing the boolit through the sizer should crimp on the gas check,
as the gas check should have a larger O.D. than .432
Good luck,
Jon

PS. If I didn't express enough !!! That tumble coats should be thin, Well...
I apply 45-45-10 so thin I can't really tell it's coated or not, unless
I feel the boolits. I use a heatgun to heat the boolits and lube
as I tumble them. With 45-45-10 they are dry by the time the boolits
cool off, about 10 or 15 minutes.

[SkookumJeff]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks everyone!