Widening .44 gas checks to fit boolit

[ghh3rd]

I need to widen some .44 gas checks to get them onto some boolits. For some reason although my Lee 310 gr boolits drop small, the shanks seem oversized.

The best thing I’ve found so far has been a 1/4” socket, but it results in the gas check being a bit concave. I don’t know if this will affect accuracy, but I’d like to find a better method.

Anyone have any tips?

220758

Thanks - Randy

[Beagle333]

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=432&osCsid=tjpk31frvoinmmm923gq10i6o3
You can use a large ball bearing and just tap it in there (takes a while to find just the right one);)
or use the NOE GC expanding die above.

[ghh3rd]

Cool, thanks!

[reloader28]

I've ground down a punch to the right size and it seemed to work.
I have had some checks that looked like the pic but cant say that I noticed any difference in accuracy. They all set pretty flat when the powder charge hits it

[evoevil]

NOE has a die to expand the checks

[Dusty Bannister]

Did you anneal the checks before trying to expand the skirt?

[ioon44]

I used a small ball peen hammer, best solution was get rid of the mold that was casting over size.

[upnorthwis]

I lathe turned a taper on a piece of drill rod to make an expander. Problem was that it removed the crimp edge and after seating I could turn the GC with my fingers. This caused my 03A3 to loose accuracy. Problem solved with new checks. The old ones will be used for foulers. (only 800 more to go)

[ShooterAZ]

I used a small carriage bolt to "flare" it just a little bit. Slight tap with a mallet and they fit better.

[ghh3rd]

Tried the carriage bolt but mine have raised letters on the end... may grind them off and try it. Looks to be just the right size. Thanks

[jsizemore]

Expander plug from a 40cal pistol sizing die set?

[bobthenailer]

I also used a 1/4 " drive deep well socket for a mould that I borrowed that the shanks were too large to seat GC , only had to do about 400 GC

[beagle]

Back when I had a machinist shooting partner, I had him make all kind of gizmos. One project was to make several blank RCBS shell holders. These fit in the slot and were flat on top. I called them "anvils". When needing to enlarge a GC, I went to the local ACE Hardware and bought several bolts that fit the thread on a 310 die. Went home and lopped the heads off and checked them in an electric drill and turned the end round using a flat file and of the correct size to expend my checks. This die and an "anvil" really made it easy and it was adjustable and by use of a lock ring I could set it to make a run. Pretty east to turn out whatever diameter I needed. Before I got the "anvils", I used a Craftsman square laid across the Rockchucker ram. Little trouble to make but it worked well./beagle