Cost of gas checks

[Jim]

I bought a few CASES of gas checks a coupla' years back and haven't run out yet. I was just on Midway's site and like to fell over when I saw the prices.

Now I understand why I keep seeing posts about makin' yer own.

[randyrat]

Thats also why we hear the terms; paper patching, cow,filler,plain base bullet mold, more now than ever. I even picked up a couple plain base bullet molds for plinkin and PP. I may even consider GC maker, if i could find one for a tirdy cal. We "lead heads" always find our way around obsticles. As we use less GCs the price may go down a little "MAY".

[missionary5155]

Generally why do we need -em (gas checks) ? I think a solution is to just move up to a bigger caliber.. hunt in closer... I guess there are "Specialised Shooters" who Must have-em. But I guess if we totaled up the game that has expired to Bare boolits compared to the Checkys than we can get along o K... least I can... I think I can ??

[JeffinNZ]

The cost of 1000 .30cal is the same as what Charlie's gadget cost me including postage to NZ, currency difference and credit card fee.

[Boomer Mikey]

Generally why do we need -em (gas checks) ? I think a solution is to just move up to a bigger caliber.. hunt in closer... I guess there are "Specialised Shooters" who Must have-em. But I guess if we totaled up the game that has expired to Bare boolits compared to the Checkys than we can get along o K... least I can... I think I can ??

I generally agree that hunting with bigger calibers using plain base bullets at plain base velocity gets the job done well... the 45 cals have put more big game meat on the table than all others combined and 30 caliber plain base bullets work fine at plain base velocity for small to medium game.

For me it's the challenge of making my own and shooting the long range games (Silhouette) with cast, but I love to tinker. From a standpoint of money; I would be way ahead working a few side jobs in my field and buying the best bullets money can buy.

For some, it's the challenge of shooting as inexpensively as possible; for others it's having the capability to make what you need if things become scarce or being able to make what you need when you need it.

The enjoyment in hand loading is being able to do things your way... to your satisfaction.

I actually enjoy the hand loading hobby more than shooting; together with a little gunsmithing it's a very satisfying trio of hobbies that provide a great deal of enjoyment for me.

Boomer :Fire:

[PatMarlin]

In terms of the cost of making your own checks with copper, I've found the best semi- negotiated price for enough .010 copper to make 1000 checks in 30 cal to a cost currently of $8 per thousand, and that includes shipping.

But on a group bulk buy I believe I can get the cost down to at least $6, and depending on how much bulk we can order, maybe less.

Now that is reasonable and doable... :drinks:

[RU shooter]

Pat , What matl. and thickness is your soon to be released checkmaker designed to be used with for say a 30 cal. check ? would it make a difference If I wanted a dia. of .309 or .314 would I use the same thickness of matl.?

Tim

[PatMarlin]

Pat , What matl. and thickness is your soon to be released checkmaker designed to be used with for say a 30 cal. check ? would it make a difference If I wanted a dia. of .309 or .314 would I use the same thickness of matl.?

Tim

Hi Tim,

Right now we have punched material up to .010 copper, but I think this latest rev. will most likely punch thicker soft copper and alum. How thick I don't know as yet.

What I have personally found is by using one punched disk of beer can, with another punched disk of .010 copper, I sized my GB Fat-30, and my Fat 311407 boolits to .314 perfectly.

Not only was the gascheck locked on solid, it sized right along with the boolit to .314- not under sized were we obviously don't want to be.

So we have designed and based our checkmaker die set for free aluminum checks and the .010 copper I can get the good buy on.

This way it covers all bases for all sizes needed, with a choice of inexpensive copper or free aluminum. This made the most sense to me anyway.

It will also work with Vodka. Don't ask how I know.. :mrgreen:

[RU shooter]

It will also work with Vodka. Don't ask how I know.. :mrgreen: Dont laugh but I have seen it in a can in Ukraine :drinks: Dreadful stuff,but cheap and thats the name of the game to most there. thanks for the answer,Looking forward to its release.

Tim

[PatMarlin]

Oh boy I fixed my craving for a drink with some Vodka this past spring.

I was piling up brush and slash piles and started burning after dark. I remembered I had some of that Grey Goose and lime jiuce from a camping trip in the shop, so I got into it. Holy cow, it's so smooth before I knew it, I had finished that bottle and was laying out there with my dogs.. :mrgreen:

Forgot about the fact I didn't have anything to eat but sandwich that day and I was sick for all the rest of the week.

I haven't drank any hard stuff since. Took me almost a month before I could drink a beer even.. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[crowbeaner]

Someday you boys will learn the meaning of the word MODERATION. I just bought 2000 Hornady 22 cal. checks on GB for $16 a box and shipping of $5.25. Those little beggars are a PITA to pick up and snap on the base of those itty bitty boolits. I got about 1500 done before I went crosseyed. It took me 2 days to stop pinching my finners together. You price is fantastic, Pat. I'd order a bunch but the CFO over drew the bank account AGAIN and I'll have to wait. Do you make those .22s? I still have 1500 but I know that the bug will bite again and I'll be hand pouring the 22s.

[PatMarlin]

I'm the picture of moderation... :mrgreen:

Crowbeaner,

We will be offering as many calibers as we can as long as they work well. .224 will be an interesting challenge.

[JeffinNZ]

Couldn't believe my luck a few years ago when happened on 4000 .22 GC's bundled together for sale 'second hand' for $35. Just about got whiplash getting my wallet out!

[PatMarlin]

A friend of mine had bought out a gunshop at one time and offered me all the existing stock Hornady checks in almost every caliber at $5 a box. I had not started casting yet, but bought 10 boxes of 358 cause of my 35 Rem and a few pistols I owned thinking some day I may want to try casting.

Boy what a dummy. At least I got 10.

[jahela]

Hi,

here in Europe the Hornady-GCs are still more expensive than in US. Currently they list up 30 Euros /tsd. That's more than 45$ !! Others are not available.

I'm thinkin' about machining off the GC-grove out of one cavity of my SAECO
.264-149. Will it work for the softer loads? Want to try 17 grs 2400 out of my swedish M96.

Dirk

[PatMarlin]

Dirk-

If you can hold on for a few more days, hopefully by Friday you can see our checkmaker working here at Cast Boolits and we will start taking orders. We will ship world wide also.

I just cringe at the thought of messing up a good mold. I would not dare to alter my Saecos. An off the shelf LEE yes.

I'm just waiting for my buddy who us machining these to send me my final revision from Washington.

[GrizzLeeBear]

Pat, how fast are you gonna be able to make the check makers? I think there might be a long line of people that want them. I already want a .30 and a 8mm check maker. Looking forward to seeing some pics of the finished product!

[PatMarlin]

We are setting up production now, and will be running 30 cal first. Should not be to long of a wait. Once we are up and running we will stock various calibers as we progress.

We will accomplish what ever it takes to meet the demand. The hardest part is done which has been the R&D. They are not that simple as thought, and it has taken a great deal of work to get it right. We could have compromised and made it like some that already exist but we wanted something better.

[Wayne Smith]

Pat, have you kept to your desired price point?

[PatMarlin]

Hi Wayne,

The price will be at the lowest we can possibly make it. That's all I can say right now. I think also an important factor is working hard to get copper at a good price, which I've laid the ground work down for.

I hate jawboning about this as I'm a doer and not a talker, and I don't have it in my hands right now to show you. Could show the last prototype but what good would that do? It produced nice checks though with my press.

[dukenukum]

I really need one of the .30 cal. tools :drinks:

[jahela]

Dirk-
If you can hold on for a few more days, hopefully by Friday you can see our checkmaker working here at Cast Boolits and we will start taking orders. We will ship world wide also.

OK, I'm looking forward very interested!
I'm also one who would be able to make all my stuff by myself...

I need a 6,5 mm, .30 .44 and .45
The metal you work is it pure copper? I'll try to find a dealer who sells sheet 0,25 mm thick...

[PatMarlin]

I'm not sure our Checkmaker will work with copper that thick. It will work with .010 and thinner material.

The reason we are sticking with .010 is the cost of thicker copper increases 3 fold and over.

[Old Ironsights]

Generally why do we need -em (gas checks) ? I think a solution is to just move up to a bigger caliber.. hunt in closer... I guess there are "Specialised Shooters" who Must have-em. But I guess if we totaled up the game that has expired to Bare boolits compared to the Checkys than we can get along o K... least I can... I think I can ??

'except I can't use my .45-70 on deer here and the .357 really needs GCs at the velocities needed to make it to (comfortable) Deer/Hog Class...

I still have a lot of Gators... byt I REALLY want a .35 GC tool for "sustainability" reasons.

[KTN]

Patmarlin,

not to worry,0.010" is 0.25mm:-D.
And I'm sure our dies will work with even thicker copper.
My homemade punchdie cuts easily 0.510" diameter disks from 0.020"=0.50mm annealed coppersheet at the end of presses stroke (Rockchucker).
Good luck,those .22 checkmakers are really gonna be a challenge:mrgreen:,hope you can make them too,with reasonable price.:drinks:



Kaj