Gas Check Confusion

[grindal]

I am hoping the experts here can steer me in the right direction. I had been using Hornady .30 cal gas checks for my Lee 312-160 casts with great success, and decided I would give making my own a try. I ordered a .30 cal Freechex III which works great and punches out very nice looking checks.

My problem is I can't get them to crimp onto the bullets at all. I tried doing some measurements and I think I have found part of the problem. The ID of the Hornady checks I had been using come up at .286 and fit onto the shank nicely. My home made checks have an ID of only .283 and are difficult to place on the shank which is somewhat tapered and measures .282 at the very bottom and .284 towards the top.

Am I on the right track here for why I can't seem to get these to properly seat? Is there anything that I can do to help these seat better?

[tjones]

You can use a slightly thinner metal! Info sez you vary the id with material selection.

[grindal]

The sample material that came with the Freechex measures right at .014, could I use the more readily available Amerimax aluminum that measures around .010 or would that be too far of a swing in the other direction?

I should mention that I am using a .314 sizer on these to crimp as I want to keep these boolits as fat as possible. They are food for my Mosins....

[tjones]

Beagle the plunger mouth out or get one which is .315, once upon a time different sizes were available. Some use a 1/4 drill motor and wooden dowel and wet dry paper, go slow and check often. Duke-in-maine wrote about this some time ago, he wanted a bigger check to size down. Otherwise ask for a switch---it's not a big deal.

[fcvan]

Amerimax makes flashing from model #66006 which is 6"x50' at .0078, 68006 which is .0092 (mine measured .0105) and 68106 which is .014 thick. I've been making my 30 cal checks with a CheckMaker using the .014 material.

I have made some plain based checks in 35 and 45 caliber using the .0105 material and it works great. I have ordered the .0078 material which should arrive tomorrow. Ace didn't carry the thin stuff. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the .0078 works with plain based checks.

[tjones]

Yes Amerimax may be the answer if the checks spring open. I missed it too. He's sizing to .315 with a chk which is likely .312 or 3 to start with. He sez he was using aluminum which was packed with the tool, and I found fm: yonky marked every which way. tj

[grindal]

Okay so I measured the exterior of the check and yes it is only .312 across, no wonder why I am getting no action in the sizer die and they are not crimping. I measured the Hornady's and they measure at .316, explains why they were working so well.

So the question is - Can I fix this and how?

[waksupi]

Use thicker metal.

[tjones]

PM duke-in-maine. He was one of the first to change the od a bit. U can request an exchange too!

[Sagebrush7]

You will want to purchase a .303 FCIII at .318 and use Amerimax 68214. It varies .0165 to .018 or buy Yonk's .015. The regular FCIII 30 cal runs out of quish about .310 with the Amerimax 68114. The 68214 comes in 16x50 rolls. I can fix you up with some if you don't want to buy a whole roll. James

[grindal]

Everybody thank you for the help.

I was afraid it might come to ordering the .303.

Looks like I will be emailing Charlie to ask for an exchange, hopefully he will - I have only cut so far the sample strip that was sent.

[VHoward]

Charlie is a stand up guy. He wants you to be happy with your Freechex III. Give him a call.