Noobie Question!

[flyfrod]

I've been thinking about starting to cast boolits for my 44mag and 480 ruger as hunting loads. Do i need to use gas checks for these calibers or what would determine if I needed to?
THanks

[Duckdog]

A lot will depend on the FPS of the load and the mold... if it is designed for a gas check or not. Unless you are hotrodding the 44 mag, you will probably be OK. I do not know much about the 480, as I don'y have one, so I'll just shut my yap on that caliber.

[flyfrod]

Since I'm just starting and don't want to spend the money on a lubrisizer, How would I seat a gas check on a .475 or .44 bullet?

[Duckdog]

If the mold is desinged for a gas check, the cheapest option is a LEE sizer. That's all I use.

[Bullet Caster]

Get yourself a Lee sizer kit for each caliber. They're not that expensive usu. around $18-20. Each kit will come with a bottle of Lee Liquid Alox (or LLA) that you can use to make some great tumble lube using Recluse's formula of 45/45/10, which is 45% JPW (Johnsons Paste Wax) by volume, 45% LLA (Lee Liquid Alox) and 10% mineral spirits, all by volume. This lube is great out to about 1600 - 1700 fps. The gas checks are applied by using your fingers just before you push the boolit through the sizing die. The sizing die squeezes the gas check firmly to the boolit base and usu. cannot be pried off with a finger nail. This sizes your boolit at the same time just be sure to put some lube of some type on 'em before you size 'em. At least that's how I do it. BC

[canyon-ghost]

I apply gas checks by turning a handful cup side up on the table then, press the bullet into the gas check. They'll stay on long enough to get sized. You can feel when they seat down on the check that way.

Good Luck,
Ron

[Hurricane]

There are molds made for hunting loads that do not use gas checks. Lyman 429421 and RCBS 44-250 for 44 mag. for example. I am sure other makers have molds in 44 and 45 that do not need gas checks.

[lead chucker]

Bullet caster
Is mineral spirits turpentine? I have a can that says mineral spirits of turpentine. Would that work?

[DLCTEX]

I shoot the Lee 476-400 FP which is a plain base in my 480 Ruger Tarus Raging Bull and have no problem with leading. I do lube them with a lubesizer, but they could be pan lubed easily. I think tumble lubing with Recluse's 45-45-10 would probably work up to 1700 fps.