Gas Check or Plain Base

[brown bass hunter]

Need some help on gas check or not. I am looking at molds for a 45-70 and have settled on the NOE 350 grain, but not sure if I need the gas check design or plain base. My 13 year old nephew will be doing most of the shooting out of a H&R single shot. I think I will go with the hollow point option. I do not plan on pushing it to the max, but feel like the plain base is quicker and easier to deal with.

Thanks for your expert advice!

[Ben]

The plain base will work well.
The weight and dia. of the meplat will do all of the work for you.

Ben

[fastdadio]

Well, you can always shoot a gas check design without the check seated. I do it with the Lee 170gr and they do just fine, and there is a long running thread on this subject. Starting the young one out on a single shot 45-70 is going to require you begin loading these very light and certainly won't be in the velocity realm where you would need a gas check. But if you buy the plain base, you will never have the option going forward. I say buy the check design, that way in the future, if you decide you would like to check them you can.

[murf205]

My experiences with several 45/70's have shown a gain in accuracy with gas checks. My Marlin CB prefers them and my son's Ruger #1 REALLY prefers them. My H&R Handi Rifle couldn't care less. The H&R is a light rifle and your nephew will appreciate the low speed loads. I bought an Accurate molds 4 cavity mold with 2 PB and 2 GC cavities. I believe NOE offers the same option. Give Al a call to make sure, he is a super guy but is pretty busy so he might have to call you back.Either one of them is a quality piece of equipment. My best results have been with SR 4759 powder but it is now discontinued but Accurate 5744 or Shooters World Buffalo Rifle works fine. Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

[centershot]

A LOT of buffalo were killed with 45-70's shooting bullets at around 12-1300 fps. Go plain base.

[Winger Ed.]

Plain base and powder coat.

[brown bass hunter]

Thanks again for the info

[45workhorse]

10-13 grains of unique would be a good load. Easy on the shoulder, powder and accurate!
Plain base!
Just my two cents

[GregLaROCHE]

Plain base and powder coat.

I agree with this.

[Bird]

Plain base at 1300fps or so.

[pworley1]

If you push them fast enough to need a check out of a Handi Rifle your nephew is not going to enjoy shooting it very much. The flat base is all you need.