Aluminum gas checks vs copper or (gilding metal)

[Shuz]

Do aluminum gas checks work as well as copper gas checks? Is one harder on bbl life than the other?

[Jniedbalski]

I would like to know the answer also. I have tried both and to me it seems they work the same. But I haven’t tested for accuracy between the two. Just shot and never compared them side by side

[Tom W.]

My check maker is for .45 caliber rifle or pistol, depending on the punch, and a doubled over Pepsi can makes great checks. I haven't found any difference between the copper or aluminum checks. I have found that I can use the aluminum checks in my .44 if I'm careful about centering the boolit when I lube and size them.

[Dragonheart]

When I make checks I usually use aluminum. If the check in installed parallel, completely flat and won't come off I haven't found any difference. Since I powder coat the check is riding on the coating anyway, so no difference to the barrel.

[Rich/WIS]

Never tested for accuracy but did notice that the aluminum checks tended to come off in flight, would find them scattered along the flight path, 5-10 per hundred rounds. Copper, either Hornady or Gator did not. If this is true of all aluminum checks I don't know, these were 30 cal in 06 and 30/40 AI. I only had 1K of them and decided to stick with copper. FWIW the Lyman copper checks also came off, might find one or two in a hundred rounds.

[Valornor]

I have heard that Aluminum gas checks tend to fly off too, maybe a dab of adhesive would help them stay on? I’m interested in making them, so I have an excuse for my drinking habit...


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[Dragonheart]

A good reason to think about powder coating.
I double coat rifle bullets to create a polymer jacket for the alloy. After the first coat I set the check, the second coat creates a bond so the check is there to stay and will be found with the bullet. This is a photo of a 7mm the first coat was blue and second coat was a clear.
249272

[762sultan]

That's a great idea to powder coat a bullet twice. I'm going to try that.

[Retumbo]

Installed correctly my gas checks came off after going through 1/2" plywood.

https://i.imgur.com/NfMoZoM.jpg

[Tripplebeards]

A good reason to think about powder coating.
I double coat rifle bullets to create a polymer jacket for the alloy. After the first coat I set the check, the second coat creates a bond so the check is there to stay and will be found with the bullet. This is a photo of a 7mm the first coat was blue and second coat was a clear.
249272

I put two tumble coats on my boolits and I cracked my laminate top bench trying to size them in my lee sizing die. It took an act of god to size them. I had to hit the lever with my hand to pound them through. One coat not an issue. I bought an cheap lee press for a spare to mount to my metal bench out in the garage for future sizing tasks.