Need Info on Expanding Gas Checks

[Shiloh]

The 8mm LEE 175gr. 324 I have, has over sized shanks. I chamfer the base with the NOE base tool, anneal the Gator Checks, but still a chore to install checks.
I have the NOE GC expander, bit is painfully slow. 3-4 checks per minute tops. To prep size and lube 8mm boolits to have a decent supply,
is serious work.

The GC Shank measures .308+, way to big for easy application of shanks.
If anyone has a faster, easier way to apply GC's, I'm all ears.

Shiloh

[Winger Ed.]

Would it be practical to seat the boolits on the check with a top punch chucked up in a drill press?
You should get more leverage than pushing them on by hand.
Then they'd be on the base squarely and ready to go into the sizer.

[Shiloh]

I use the Lyman seater in the lube/sizer. I cut a steel disk to fit in the sizing die to seat it straight. It is all so painfully slow.

Shiloh

[Gewehr-Guy]

I would get another mould, and ream out the base of the offending one too make it into a PB mould.

[Shiloh]

Thats the plan for one of them.

Shiloh



I would get another mould, and ream out the base of the offending one too make it into a PB mould.

[35 Rem]

I have been using the NOE SC325-180-RF in my 8x57 and have the same problem seating gas checks. Even when I use the Lyman tool in my RCBS LubeSizer the results can be best described as having "MAshed the GC in place" rather than seating it properly. You can see the lead has been shoved forward on one side rather in front of the GC so it's really not even crimped all the way around as there is no lead inside a portion of the GC cup. So far my solution was to buy the NOE GC expander. Using Hornady GC's I now get perfect - but still tight - fits on the bullet shank. Yep, it's slow as can be but I figure that for a rifle bullet I don't need tons of bullets. My main issue with the NOE GC tool is that the check sticks on it often and I end up tearing my thumb nail all to pieces by the time I expand 50 or more in one session. I suspect Lyman GC's might fit unmodified but I don't have any of them.

[tja6435]

I would also buy a new mold from Accurate or LBT so you can spec gas check shank size and not have to fiddle with an expander. It seems way too tedious for me to deal with expanding gas checks vs the amount of time I could be casting and lubing without that extra step.

[Minerat]

I use one of these.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-casting-reloading/gas-checks-tools/gas-check-seating-die/

Still slow but saves your thumb nail.

[hiram]

To expand 30 cal GC's I used a 1/4X20 machine screw. Lay the gas checks on a plate secured for non-movement. I use a piece of railroad track turned upside down in a vise. I use the round head of the screw to expand the GC cup with the tap of a hammer.

[oley55]

I use one of these.

https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-casting-reloading/gas-checks-tools/gas-check-seating-die/

Still slow but saves your thumb nail.

and these for expanding the checks: https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-casting-reloading/gas-checks-tools/gas-check-expander/

[35 Rem]

and these for expanding the checks: https://noebulletmolds.com/site/product-category/bullet-casting-reloading/gas-checks-tools/gas-check-expander/

That's the one I use.

[wesson357]

I expand my gaschecks with an old ball bearing. (can check the diameter I use later). I put a bunch of gascheck on a hard surface cup up, place the ball on it and a light tap with a light gunsmith hammer on the bearing and repeat. The ball bearing don't stick on the check, very fast to use as the ball self center. I flare maybe 30/minute.
The noe check sizer is a pain to use!

[sukivel]

I expand my gaschecks with an old ball bearing. (can check the diameter I use later). I put a bunch of gascheck on a hard surface cup up, place the ball on it and a light tap with a light gunsmith hammer on the bearing and repeat. The ball bearing don't stick on the check, very fast to use as the ball self center. I flare maybe 30/minute.
The noe check sizer is a pain to use!

That’s a great tip!

I don’t like my NOE expander, it works, but like you mentioned sticks on every check.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bfb]

Use a carriage bolt here… long threaded portion to hold onto and nice rounded head.

[GhostHawk]

I set checks on a counter, place shank on the check, try to get it centered so the bullet stands straight.
Give it a tap with a rubber mallet seating the bullet. Place checked bullet into a press mounted upside down. Check first into the sizing die, and run it through crimping the check onto the boolit.

Simple and 99% stay on.