Gas check maker

[Gamsek]

Just wondering, is there any need for GC maker tool here in Europe?

Reason: I finally convinced my retired machinist to make me another one-stroke GC maker and he might make few extra if I talk to him. Just curious about interest & need for GC maker tool here in EU, this isn’t a post about selling etc...

He made for me and for himself a wonderful tool, based on a plans I found on internet and it works great. Our 30cal make a bit higher GC (2.9mm) then Hornady (2.1mm) but they fit all my 30” cast bullets. We will see how new will work, it shouldn’t be so high. Will work with 0.4mm cooper or aluminium strip.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201215/a0bc6965a79f42c863fe5f203c13ec82.jpg
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201215/15d92fdff80b10b1450804aa128e199f.jpg
The dark one is mine after heat treatment- hardening.

I know USA has PatMarlin, DimaProk and Matteson, but every time I import stuff from USA I am struck with postage, tax and custom fees (extra 50€).

gamsek

[Lamont Cranston]

Gamsek,

That is very nice workmanship. May I ask where you found the drawing for that tool? I am an amateur machinist and would love to take on that as a challenge.

Best regards,
Lamont

PS. I'm in the US and so no more eager to pay shipping and duties than you are.

Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk

[longbow]

That looks like the IDZ check maker:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?200965-Easy-to-build-gas-checkmaker&highlight=maker

I made the Ed Smith gas check maker:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?306809-Ed-Smith-Document-For-Making-Gas-Check-Makers

post #2

Both I think easy to make but I chose the Ed Smith version largely because I have thick aluminum gutter material at 0.019" so wanted to use a mallet with the thicker material but checkmaker made for thinner material so checks extrude a bit. I figured it might be a bit much for my loading press. Works great with a mallet.

Seems to me I have another set of plans as well for one very similar to the first link.

We'll see if Gamsek's version is the "Easy-to-build gas-check-maker". Might be a third option!

Longbow

[MUSTANG]

Nice work on the Gas Check making tool. Good looking finish.

[Gamsek]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201216/7e98eeb5ccce24d824fe3d068199d8ce.jpg

Plans are also here [emoji3516]and few FB cast groups have them in their files section too. My machinist immediately understood what he has to do when he saw plans....

[longbow]

Yup! That's the one! Both that one and the Ed Smith are nice rigs and very generous of the designers/makers to share. Both well written up with good plans too.

My first gas check maker was based on the Ed Wosika/Paco Kelly Freecheck design. That one uses a punch like a gasket punch to punch out disks then the disks get put into the forming die. It makes a nice gas check but slow and a bit finnicky handling the disks. The one step check makers are nice.

I'm about to make another Ed Smith check maker for .44 and probably one for PB checks for .30 cal. as well.

Longbow

[Rcmaveric]

I need to buy a lathe and learn this skill.

Those look really nice and professional and heavy duty.


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[Scrounge]

I need to buy a lathe and learn this skill.

Those look really nice and professional and heavy duty.


Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

I have the lathe(s), been working on the skills. I'm finding more of my workshop as I go along. Maybe I can populate my relaoding bench a little better soonish. ;) My thanks to those on this thread who've shared the info they have.

Bill

[plus1hdcp]

It's a great project Scrounge and I encourage you to give it a try. Give me a shout should you develop questions. I have made a couple myself and these were some of my early learning projects. BTW, I'm still not that good but I do try. Good luck

[andrew375]

Considering the cost of gas checks here in England I've got to say yes! I have made my own check makers but I have been asked by a couple of people where they can get one. I'll send the link to this post to them.

[dimaprok]

There is a definitely demand for them in Europe as commercial gas checks are harder to obtain than here in USA. I made and sold to a dozen European countries my gas check makers based on IDZ plans. I did modify the plans to have a punch and threaded sleeve to be separate and I do temper the punch. I also turned down the top portion to fit energy drink bottle to collect gas checks, otherwise gas checks shoot in to the ceiling :) The design where a single strip passes through is not as good, for couple reasons. First it's more complicated to make with the slot milling and drilling and tapping and you have to sink the screw heads, etc. Second - it's 2x less labor to cut a double row strip and if your strip ends up being 1" instead of 0.9" who cares, but not with a single strip that has to be exact with in order to not get stuck.

Looking at Ed Smith plans I got some ideas how to make the GC maker even more modular, whatever it's going to make easier or not to machine I will see.

P.S. I don't make them anymore.

273508273509

[Gamsek]

Dima thanks. After making mine, then his version (slot) he came to same conclusion about slot etc.....and now will combine the best from both and this time he will try to make height of GC closer to factory ones (30cal = 2.1mm)

We will see how it will look and what kind of GC will make. I will post some pictures, I think he will finish them soon after new year....photo of home made GC (2.9mm) on a MP 312-159 HP Hunting far right compared to Hornady and FreeChex.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201219/06c1729d82e1cf8833eba24275d06481.jpg

[Rickf1985]

Here is a question, since I do not have a lathe and nowhere to put one if I did have it is there anyone making these that is willing to sell one in .30 cal.?

[Rcmaveric]

Here is a question, since I do not have a lathe and nowhere to put one if I did have it is there anyone making these that is willing to sell one in .30 cal.?Post a want to buy in the trade section. Someone might make you an offer or have an extra one laying around.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[Gamsek]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210106/33394b011a53178a99693231a574369a.jpg
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30 cal

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210106/145482e9ea5c961c9173a70d0cc527d8.jpg
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7mm

They are just like Hornady’s, both tools (7mm, 30cal) are snug fit on my RCBS 7mm Sil and MP 312-159, MP 311-410 (undersized GC shank)

I will put those extra 7 mm and 30” GC makers for sale (EUROPE only) next week after I test them also, my machinist already cut perfect GCs but need to see how they fit. Today I checked only one tool- flawless.

[rockrat]

Gamsek---how about a set of drawings?

[Gamsek]

Gamsek---how about a set of drawings?

Based on plans mentioned here[emoji3516].sorry but my machinist have plans.

[Petander]

Looking good.

Would a Henry lever action 30-30 work with these checks with the right bullet?

[Gamsek]

Looking good.

Would a Henry lever action 30-30 work with these checks with the right bullet?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210108/07e185a606c6dd74b4534de9d2a651fd.jpg
If you find a bullet for 30-30, GC will not change anything, it “becomes a part of the bullet”, good example is MP 312-440 Hammer of Thor 1st,2nd GC version, 3rd is PB version. Hornady GC.

[Petander]

If you find a bullet for 30-30, GC will not change anything, it “becomes a part of the bullet”, good example is MP 312-440 Hammer of Thor 1st,2nd GC version, 3rd is PB version. Hornady GC.

Yes,what I mean is do I have to find a bullet to fit the check or the other way round?

Here you can see a pointy Mihec bullet with a Gator 500 S&W check. The other bullet is an LBT with a Hornady 500 S&W check. Bullet shank sizes are the same but the "500 S&W" checks are all different. Gator is loose,Hornady snaps on. Gator is low, Hornady has higher walls.

Gator "rifle 500" may be as high as Hornady. I should have ordered those.

https://i.postimg.cc/jjjMcvXt/IMG-20210117-002328-732.jpg

[Gamsek]

In case of this GC maker for 30cal, material for GC thickness 0.4mm max is recommended to get as close to factory GC from Hornady. You can use less. Height of Hornady GC is 2.1mm, this tool makes 2.4mm. All dimensions can change with hardness, thickness of material. This tool makes copper GC that are snap fit on all MP 30” bullet shanks (just like Hornady GC). With that height there is still clearance. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210117/5aa0a30c339cad06e5844a4f5ba120e3.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210117/9a5124c7eccccca605880e16cdf95b7d.jpg
So, if your mould makes some “problematic” out of spec shanks, you can try and adjust with different material or thickness.

[Petander]

Excellent,thanks Gamsek.

And I'm going Mihec mold route on this anyway. Exciting!