.44 Special & Gas Checks

[ShooterAZ]

When one of my shooting friends found out I started casting, he gave me a few of his old molds since he is no longer casting. The were a little rusty, but I got them cleaned up OK with a little comet and a toothbrush.

One of the molds is a 44SWC gas check design. My question...is there any reason I shouldn't use this mold for light to medium loads? The mold was free, so I don't mind buying a few gas checks.

Thanks...Shooter

[Wolfer]

No reason that I can think of. Gas checks do raise your pressure a little but no where near as high as jacketed. They are really handy to keep your barrel lead free but still lube fouled.

I don't have a gas check mold for my 44 spl but do have for my 45 colt. I don't like the boolit but will shoot 6 through it ever now and then. If I clean my guns they don't shoot their best until I get a few shots through them to season the bore, so to speak. The gas check seems to clean it up but leave the season.

[youngda9]

Try shootin without a check first to see if its even necessary. If you're not running it hot it might not matter.

[DLCTEX]

I would think that 44 Sp. velocities will not need a check. I shoot RD460-350 in 45 70 at higher velocities (up to 1500 fps)without a gas check and no problems.

[white eagle]

to answer your question
no go ahead no reason what so ever not to use the mold

[ShooterAZ]

Thanks...I will try both ways.

[Bullwolf]

I use a Lee C429 240SWC mold (gas check design) for 44 special loads quite often.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=539&pictureid=3880

My favorite 44 special load for this boolit is using 7 grains of unique, WW 44 special brass, and a Win LG pistol (std) primer.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_187904eb4af933c5db.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=2599)

I have messed around with a variety of different lubes and coatings, but have eventually settled on simply tumble lubing the boolits in either Lee Liquid Alox, or Recluse's 45-45-10 with out a gas check.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=539&pictureid=3885

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=539&pictureid=3884

(Yes, I did wipe the tumble lube off the boolit noses in the pictures)

I have had no problems with it in 44 special, or in my mild 44 magnum loads (10 grains of Unique with the 44 Magnum load) not using any gas checks.


- Bullwolf

[MT Gianni]

I had a 44 magnum load in a rifle that needed a gc but most of my revolver loads have not. I would leave checks off of the special loads unless they group poorly.

[bobthenailer]

In 44 special loads a GC is not nessary .
I have used GC cast bullet designes without the GC installed in perhaps 5 different firearms and in every case the non checked bullets were just as accurate as the GC bullet , under 1,100 fps and no leading issues.

[mdi]

I have 5, .44 Magnums that I cast bullets for. I do shoot .44 Specials in a couple of them, but I cast the same bullets for whichever gun I want to load for. So, my .44 Special loads sometimes get a Lyman's 429244, SWC w/gas check, and Ranch Dog's 265 RNFP w/gas check. Since I'll process 100-200 bullets at a time, all get gas checks and get stored waiting for a "new and improved" load, be it .44 Specials ( mild to hot), or .44 Magnum (mild to T-Rex killers!). I haven't tried gas checked boolits w/o gas checks, but many here have...

[runfiverun]

you generally have to keep things quite mild.
i have two revolver molds that rquire gas checks.
one i have tried without them it was used for bunnies and such at about 800 fps.
i did kill a coyote that came running in when i shot a rabbit [and it was carrying on] with it once.
the 44 rcbs swc gets pushed in the ported 445 and in the leverguns to warp speed.
i got it cheap from the back of a dusty shelf, and was gonna get the check area removed, till i tried it. :groner: