What brand copper gas checks work best with "LEE 309-170-F" mold?

[Walstr]

After some window shopping for .30 cal molds, the Lyman 311041 for $75 is too much for an experiment, so I'm thinkin' a LEE mold for $20 may be a good start?!?

What brand copper gas checks work best with "LEE 309-170-F" mold?

[Calamity Jake]

Any and all work just fine depending on the as cast diameter of the gas check shank of the boolit!!

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Your question is best answered if you knew the size of the GC shank of the boolit from the particular mold you receive. Lee molds can vary...but with that said, I found that most (not all) of the several 30 cal Lee molds I bought (including the 170 FN) have a slightly undersized GC shank (most of my Lee molds were bought new in 2010-2013, which was before their change to the new design, they seemed to tighten there specs after that). With those Lee 30 cal Lee molds with slighyly undersized GC shanks, I had success with both the Gator and the New Hornady.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?189534-Lee-30-cal-2-cav-molds-not-necessarily-as-advertised&highlight=

[farmerjim]

Mine works fine with Gator checks.

[454PB]

Mine works fine with Hornady or Gator gas checks. They are tight, but I like them that way.

[robg]

Hornady and gator work for me .I did find gator to be harder/stiffer but both fitted easy.

[Walstr]

Any and all work just fine depending on the as cast diameter of the gas check shank of the boolit!!

Dat's what I'ma askin' pard.

[Walstr]

Thanks to all. My next call goes out to LEE to report on their shank dimension, etc.

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

The only ones I've used are Hornady. They worked fine.

[Gewehr-Guy]

Checks from Bulletgaschecks.com fit well on my Lee 170 gr. I think .30 cal copper were $22K free shipping, nice folks to deal with. LEE bullet shoots better than Lyman 308291 in my 30-30's and .30 Rems.

[gwpercle]

I have both Bullet Swaging Supply and Hornady 30 cal. checks and both fit properly.

[Skunk1]

Checks from Bulletgaschecks.com fit well on my Lee 170 gr. I think .30 cal copper were $22K free shipping, nice folks to deal with. LEE bullet shoots better than Lyman 308291 in my 30-30's and .30 Rems.


Just got some 45's in the mail yesterday. Look terrific and a great price. hoping to install some tonight.

[frankenfab]

I would just buy the $20 mold to get started, and a box of brand x gas checks. Gas check fit is not normally supposed to be a major issue to be overcome.

If you're handy with a drill and sandpaper, you can enlarge the gas check shank on your mold. If the gas checks won't go on, you can take a ball bearing and flare them.

Its all part of the fun. Have fun!

[Hick]

I use Hornady gas checks with that exact lee mold C309-170 and run them through my lee sizer to crimp the check in place. They work perfectly that way.

[avogunner]

Honestly, I've never thought of measuring the shank and then trying to match a check size. I've used both Hornady and Lyman checks (whatever was on hand) with this same mold with equally satisfactory results. We sometimes tend to over think these things.
Semper Fi.

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[Moonie]

Interestingly enough I've found that you can use a 25-06 lee collet sizer to size down the gas check shank if too large and then 30 caliber gas checks will fit properly. This works well when powder coating as well.