Anybody else try the One Stroke Gas Check Maker from 22reloader?

[mkj4him]

I got one for 35 and using .01” copper sheet it make terrible checks. One side is arrest he’s out and tinkled all the way around. I can get a response from them.

What are people using that can work on a standard press without having to buy a separate press?

[Charliemac]

It looks like Idz's "easy to build check maker"?

[n.h.schmidt]

Could you take some pictures so we can see what you see? I can't make out what is wrong from your description . This die is used on a standard press .It should work on most of them. The heaver the better though as this is a brute force operation. Have you tried any aluminum? Do you lube your strips ? I used to do that when I was making gas checks.

[Bfb]

I think for .35 you need .012-.014 material. As well copper is “sticky” and won’t shear as well as aluminum. I have found with one step makers that resting the punch on top of the material and the tapping the handle with a soft faced mallet forms the check the best and far less prolonged stress on everything, including my arm!

[P Flados]

I have made a couple using the IDZ plans. 30 cal drink can and 30 cal for Aluminum flashing. They both work great with the right thickness material. Effort is not bad at all.

[Avenger442]

When trying to contact them use the contact form on their website https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/pages/contact-us?contact_posted=true#contact_form. They say it is the quickest way to get a response. I'm having a similar problem with a 9mm/357 check maker. It cuts the skirt or part that goes up the side of the bullet on an angle. That makes one side of it too long to fit in the recess for the check on the bullet.286780

I have used the form to request a swap for the check maker. Will let you know how that goes.

[n.h.schmidt]

Well That is very bad.Not even close to being ok. Is the punch a real loose fit to the die body. It almost has to be to do this.

[oldcanadice]

I have one in 44. I think your problem is that your material is too thin so it distorts as the cutting/forming ram comes up. I use .014" aluminium and checks are ok. I've tried can material for fun, and that is wildly distorted too.

[Avenger442]

Got a message from Brian today. New check maker headed my way so he is standing by his product.

Schmidt:
Doesn't seem to be. But that is an unmeasured statement. And it seems that the taller side is being cut on the same side of the die each time. So it may be a bit out of round.

oldcanadice:
That is probably not the problem. I have their 44 cutter and it works well on the same material.

[mkj4him]

When trying to contact them use the contact form on their website https://sharpshooter-22lr-reloader.myshopify.com/pages/contact-us?contact_posted=true#contact_form. They say it is the quickest way to get a response. I'm having a similar problem with a 9mm/357 check maker. It cuts the skirt or part that goes up the side of the bullet on an angle. That makes one side of it too long to fit in the recess for the check on the bullet.286780

I have used the form to request a swap for the check maker. Will let you know how that goes.

That’s exactly the problem I’m having. I’ve tried copper and aluminum but so far the only thing I can find is .010 thickness. I haven’t tried any rain diverter aluminum yet which I may have to. I actually got the guy to send me a second 35 gas check maker and while it doesn’t tear the one side quite as bad it is still present and not acceptable as far as I’m concerned. Nothing less than a perfect Gas check will be acceptable for a punch that cost $100 per caliber. So are the free checks devices not being made anymore? There’s no sign of them on eBay

[mkj4him]

I have one in 44. I think your problem is that your material is too thin so it distorts as the cutting/forming ram comes up. I use .014" aluminium and checks are ok. I've tried can material for fun, and that is wildly distorted too.
Please tell us exactly what material you’re using and where are you got it from that measures .014 inches. Thanks

[Avenger442]

Please tell us exactly what material you’re using and where are you got it from that measures .014 inches. Thanks

Don't remember the thickness of the alu. But don't think that is the problem since the 44 check maker makes a decent chek with it. I mean it is not like you get from Hornady but better than some of another supplier's aluminum check. Got some that suck from them. But they carry a decent copper check.

I bought my FreeChex II 30 cal. years ago. It makes a good alu. check. I think there was a version III. I haven't seen them offered in years. Used to be on Ebay. Don't like the use of an arbor press to use it. Would have been great if that guy had offered one to use in a press.

And for you guys that suggest I make my own. That's kind of for guys that own or have access to a mill, accessories and stock to cut them out of. Not to mention the learning curve. Would rather spend that $4-5000 on this.
286895

[358429]

Is that your daily ccw[emoji3]? What cartridge is it chambered for?

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[Avenger442]

Is that your daily ccw[emoji3]? What cartridge is it chambered for?

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Dirty Harry carried one in the movie Sudden Impact. But I would think it to be kinda bulky for concealed carry. It is the Auto Mag Model 180-D 44 AMP Classic Edition w/8.5" barrel. They make one with a shorter barrel but I'm not sure why, both are really heavy. It cost about $4000 shipped. I believe it is hand made. Which I guess must justify some of the cost. Harry said, “This is the .44 Magnum AutoMag, and it holds a 300 grain cartridge, and if properly used it can remove the fingerprints.” I believe it was the most powerful semi auto hand gun in the 80s. Basically a 44 magnum semi auto.

I don't have the money to get it. It is one of those testosterone fueled man things. Probably would sit in the safe. And now you can get a Desert Eagle in .50 for a lot less.

The gun that he carried the most was a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in 44 magnum. A friend of mine laid out the bucks to get a replica of that gun. It was not as accurate as my Ruger but still a good gun.
286924

[358429]

Dirty Harry carried one in the movie Sudden Impact. But I would think it to be kinda bulky for concealed carry. It is the Auto Mag Model 180-D 44 AMP Classic Edition w/8.5" barrel. They make one with a shorter barrel but I'm not sure why, both are really heavy. It cost about $4000 shipped. I believe it is hand made. Which I guess must justify some of the cost. Harry said, “This is the .44 Magnum AutoMag, and it holds a 300 grain cartridge, and if properly used it can remove the fingerprints.” I believe it was the most powerful semi auto hand gun in the 80s. Basically a 44 magnum semi auto.

I don't have the money to get it. It is one of those testosterone fueled man things. Probably would sit in the safe. And now you can get a Desert Eagle in .50 for a lot less.

The gun that he carried the most was a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in 44 magnum. A friend of mine laid out the bucks to get a replica of that gun. It was not as accurate as my Ruger but still a good gun.
286924Thanks for writing that up and posting the fantastic pictures. I shot a friends compensated heavy sprung coonan once with the same loads that I was shooting from my sp101. It was so much less recoil and so much more Fireball. Group was approximately 1 inch 20 yards . Been aching for an L5 Desert Eagle in 357 Magnum for a while now. You are not helping, posting those pictures[emoji3]

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[Avenger442]

I have a 44 mag Redhawk that I love to shoot.

I noticed you like the .308, too. One of my favorite cartridges. I have four rifles chambered for it. Love the performance when you get the load right for the gun.

Sorry about the temptation to spend your money. I'll try to keep the testosterone down.

[Avenger442]

Well second check maker for .357/9mm came yesterday. Tried it today and it makes a check as good as alu check from Sage's Outdoors. So I'm good now.

[358429]

I have a 44 mag Redhawk that I love to shoot.

I noticed you like the .308, too. One of my favorite cartridges. I have four rifles chambered for it. Love the performance when you get the load right for the gun.

Sorry about the temptation to spend your money. I'll try to keep the testosterone down.Please, no apologies needed.

Sometimes you gotta transform moneys into fireball and blast wave! Im not kidding! Its therapeutic, i tell ya!

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[Avenger442]

Please, no apologies needed.

Sometimes you gotta transform moneys into fireball and blast wave! Im not kidding! Its therapeutic, i tell ya!

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Yeah. But don't tell my wife I really didn't buy that shot gun for her to use for home defense.:bigsmyl2:

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Please tell us exactly what material you’re using and where are you got it from that measures .014 inches. Thanks

Here is a link to some 0.14" aluminum flashing. At 4" wide, the roll is a bit narrow. I just tried some of the same brand that is .011" and it makes uneven cups.

https://www.amazon.com/FLASHING-ALUM-AMERIMAX-MfrPartNo-68104/dp/B0009SQFTS

[Hedly Lamarr]

I got my One Stroke check maker yesterday and my .014 aluminum today. Mine is for .44 gas checks. Started out badly. The 1st or 2nd check punched gets stuck on the bottom half of the die. I have to use a steel pick (similar to a dentist pick) to get the thing off. It's hard to notice the check stuck on there and any subsequent checks punched on top of that stuck check are sheared off with no sides. I've sent emails to Brian and I hope he backs this one up with one that works. I tried lubing the dies and aluminum strips with WD40, which did nothing. I heated the strips to around 575F, and that did nothing either. I believe the mandrel inside the bottom half that the check is formed around is either too thick or needs chamfering. I would have hoped that they tested these things before shipping them out.

[Bfb]

Try wiping forming mandrel with scocht bright pad to get it clean AND dry, wipe your material dry as well… when check is formed depending on material thickness the checks will “hydraulic” lock to mandrel if oily. As well put a small mark with a sharpie on top of forming mandrel so it is easy to see if check has been in fact stripped off.

[Idz]

My guess on things not extracting from the forming pin is short stroking the press. The formed skirt has to be moved past the lip in the die where it springs open and catches the lip. The pin can then be pulled out, leaving the check in the die. Inconsistent skirt height can be caused by the forming pin engaging the blank before the blank is fully punched out. There should be about 0.010" travel to the forming pin after the disc is fully punched. All the die clearances have to be set for the type and alloy of material being punched. Too soft or too hard will be a problem.

[Hedly Lamarr]

Pretty sure I'm not short stroking the press. Pushed down on it so hard I cracked the bench top (corian countertop). I'm leaning toward the possibility that the lip that catches the check is too far up in the cutter to catch the checks consistently. It caught a very few (6 to be exact) but misses most. Brian is sending me another one, so we will see.

[Hedly Lamarr]

Upon further examination of the inside of the punch, I noticed 2 steps. The first step was down where the formed check should be caught by the lip on the inside of the punch. The second step was farther up in the bore. The inside diameter at the top of the punch is .048" larger than the diameter below the check catching lip. I could not measure the diameter just above the lip, but I believe that the lip is not large enough to snag a check consistently and that the larger diameter should have been continued down to the lip. This would have made an area large enough above the lip to catch the check and pull it off of the forming mandrel. Idz, I looked at your drawings for your check maker and didn't notice the 2 steps in the bore of the punch. I noticed only the 1/64th step to catch the check. I will inspect the new check maker when it arrives to see how the punch is bored.

[Hedly Lamarr]

Update on the One Stroke check maker. My replacement works great! I've punched out 500 or so aluminum checks, heated them in my toaster oven (my thermometer says about 575F) for a couple hours, and they go on and stay put. I'm a happy camper, so far. On the original check maker, I think that the punch is fine, but the forming pin is either too rough or a little oversized. I tried the replacement punch (top half) with the original forming pin (bottom half) and it did not work either.

[Bloodman14]

Take a set of calipers to your local DIY store that sells rolls of aluminum flashing. Most of it averages .014" to .017" thick.
Once cut into 7/16" strips, it will make a LOT of 30 caliber checks using Pat Marlin's Checkmaker. Don't know about other sizes.