Yet Another Source for AL Gas Check Material

[35 Whelen]

Someone may have already discovered this source of aluminum, but.....

I ordered and received a Free Chex II gas check maker. It came with a small piece of aluminum .0095" flashing which was easy to use in making checks, but the checks were too thin for my tastes and could easily be pulled off.
As a result I modified the unused end of the check punch in my lathe so as to make the I.D. of the check smaller, but still no joy. So off I go in search of thicker check material. None of the hardware stores in my area had anything but the aforementioned "thin" flashing. Standing in Lowe's scratching my head, I thought of the metal "No Trespassing", "Garage Sale", etc. signs. I found them, whipped the micrometer out of my pocket and violá! .0125"! Perfect! $1.99 + tax and I'm out of there.

Back at the bench, stamping checks out of the sign is quite easy and they make nice looking checks. As best I can figure, one sign should net around 550 .30 caliber gas checks.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/EZChexII.jpg

Stamped out one direction, the checks maintain the glossy paint of the sign and look kinda cool! Stamped from the opposite direction, you get a plain aluminum check:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/EZChexIIa.jpg
Either way, the checks crimped firmly onto my 314299 bullets and I couldn't pry them off with my fingers.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/314299withhomemadechecks.jpg
I hastily checked seven 314299 bullets and loaded them into some 303 cases over 11.0 grs. of Red Dot and ran to the bench with my U-Fix-Em Savage Enfield in tow. I took seven rounds thinking I'd have to make some sight adjustments, and then fire a 5-shot group. Well, the sights were close enough and here's the group.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/314299group.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Cast%20bullets/Homemadechecks314299b.jpg
I don't know what happened with the low flyer. I wasn't watching the group through the spotting scope as I fired because I was in a bit of a hurry. Anyhow, discounting the flyer, the remaining six shots (the cluster that appears to be five shots is actually six)) clustered very nicely into 1 1/2" or maybe a shade less.

Also of interest is the fact that my lube is home made. Kinda makes a man proud to cast his own bullets, check them with his own checks, then lube them with his own lube!

35W

P.S.- As a side note, I found that aluminum guttering also might make good gas checks. At about .018" it makes a much heavier/thicker check that is similar in dimension to my Hornady gas checks. And with a 10' piece of gutter a fella should be able to get 1000's of checks for under $10.

[leadman]

I had an old For Sale sign that was metal, but it was attracted by a magnet. This was probably 15 years ago.

That's a good grouping. What was the range?

I have a Savage made Enfield that has a 2 groove barrel. Haven't done much work with it yet but plan to soon.

Have fun!

[35 Whelen]

I had an old For Sale sign that was metal, but it was attracted by a magnet. This was probably 15 years ago.

That's a good grouping. What was the range?

I have a Savage made Enfield that has a 2 groove barrel. Haven't done much work with it yet but plan to soon.

Have fun!.

The new signs, or at least the ones at Lowe's here locally are definitely aluminum.

Thanks! The group was fired @ 100 yds. That particular Enfield is bless with a .312" groove diameter barrel.
35W

[Cowboy5780]

what size check maker are you using for the 303
Thanks
Tony

[jameslovesjammie]

I would have used "No Hunting" signs instead. Seems more appropriate to me. :)

[RU shooter]

Nice looking chex and nice group too! Also for matl. there is drip edge maybe a bit thinner than the gutters.Keep looking for flashing / trim matl. the stuff our local hardware store sells is .012 painted and works well for me


Tim

[Fire_stick]

When my "POSTED" signs go missing, I know where to start looking:mrgreen:!

[35 Whelen]

what size check maker are you using for the 303
Thanks
Tony

I'm using the .30 caliber check maker. I turned the opposite end of the inner punch down to around .280" +/-

I'll keep looking for different material, but the signs seem to be just perfect. I plan on doing some more shooting and testing this week.
35W

[35 Whelen]

It's been over a year since I "discovered" the aluminum Garage Sale/No Trespassing/No Hunting signs for check material. The signs I use most are .0125" in diameter. I did find a different brand that are .014", but there seems to be no advantage to the thicker material. I don't know how many checks I've stamped and fired from the .0125" material by now, but certainly on excess of 1000.
The checks made of this material are fantastic. I keep a box of Hornady checks on my bench, but the only time I use them is when I'm in a big hurry to shoot and don't have any of the aluminum checks stamped out...which is almost never. Honestly, I trust my aluminum checks more than Hornady as I've gotten some fantastic accuracy from bullets checked with the aluminum checks. Since I've been shooting the same loads for years, I can say without hesitation that bullets checked with the aluminum checks seem slightly more accurate than those checked with the Hornady's.
35W

[Ben]

I received my 35 cal. Pat Marlin CheckMaker Tool yesterday. I had some RCBS 35 cal. 180 gr. Sil bullets cast and thought that they would be a good candidate for the new Aluminum gas checks that I was making with the CheckMaker Tool.

Let me say that the tool is everything that Pat says it is ! !

The punch cuts through the .014 " thickness Amerimax aluminum with ease.

The g/c's fit snug on the g/c shanks of all the 35 molds that I have here to test them on.

I'm anxious to test some of these.

Ben

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/35%20cal%20Gas%20Checks/DSCN0639.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/35%20cal%20Gas%20Checks/DSCN0641.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/35%20cal%20Gas%20Checks/DSCN0647.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/35%20cal%20Gas%20Checks/DSCN0649.jpg

[Mugs]

Ben
Nice looking ck's. I've got one coming in 35 cal. also. Been shooting the RCBS 180 sil. since it first came out. My FA 353 loves that boolit. Can't wait to try some alum. ck's on them.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

[Ben]

Mugs :

I want to try these out in my 1894 Marlin CBC, 38 Spec. The small meplat on the end of the bullet should be about ideal to prevent a " chain fire " in the mag. tube of my 1894. Many say that a true round nose is OK, but I feel better when a true flat surface is in contact with a primer in the mag. tube.

The nose shape on this bullet allows it to run through my 1894 like water going through screen wire.

I have them loaded with 10.5 grs. of 2400 in Win. once fired 38 Spec. brass. This load should clock around 1,300 fps. This rifle is amazingly accurate.

Ben

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Marlin%2038%20Special/PICT0001-1.jpg

[Mugs]

Ben
I've used that boolit in 2 10" TC's 1 .357 and 1 .357 max. a DW .357 max. my FA and a Rossi 92 in .357. They all like it. My Rossi load is 1700 fps., it thumps you pretty good.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

[Ben]

My 1,300 fps load out of 38 Spec. cases won't be close to being in that league ( 1,700 fps ).

I'm hoping mine will be pleasant and accurate.

Ben

[PatMarlin]

That is a lovely rifle Ben. I been looking here and there and never have seen one with case hardening. I would like to buy one for my wife some day.

[Pirate69]

I found some aluminum flashing at Lowes that is 12" wide and 25' long for $13. It is painted on both sides. The thickness is 0.014". The Free Chex II produces a GC that snaps on the back of my 30 cal bullets. Makes them easy to size.

[Mugs]

Anyone looking for Amerimax 68104 .014 flashing go to www.acehardwareoutlet.com search 68104 flashing. They show the 4"x 50' roll for $14.99. This is the flashing that Ben and I have been using with great success. Dead soft and needs no annealing.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

[PatMarlin]

:holysheep



If I've done my math correctly, that roll will make 10,399 gas checks with my Checkmaker™ dies in 30 caliber.

That's less than $1.50 per thousand.

My dies produce 1144 checks out of 264 sq inches.

How's that for efficiency? ...:mrgreen:



:castmine:

[PatMarlin]

:castmine:


This efficient-

http://www.patmarlins.com/35PBClose.jpg

[PatMarlin]

...:Fire:


Produces these results....

http://www.patmarlins.com/Benmore.jpg



...:Fire:

[Jim Sheldon]

Anyone looking for Amerimax 68104 .014 flashing go to www.acehardwareoutlet.com search 68104 flashing. They show the 4"x 50' roll for $14.99. This is the flashing that Ben and I have been using with great success. Dead soft and needs no annealing.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L


Now that was some useful info Mugs - I just ordered me a roll of the stuff. When my Checkmaker gets here and I determine the width of the strips to cut, I'll fabricate a stop fence for my Harbor Freight paper cutter to make it easy to get 'em the right width.

That ACE dealer in NY running the outlet has better shipping prices than I found through Amazon as well.

Thanks!

Jim

[Mugs]

I try to look out for use guys.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

[Jim Sheldon]

I try to look out for use guys.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

Apparently somebody has to ---- :drinks:

[Jim Sheldon]

I try to look out for use guys.
Mugs
IHMSA 5940L

Finally!
I ordered a roll of that Amerimax flashing on the 5th. Just got an email that it finally shipped. FedEx slow boat! They say shipped on the 7th, but it just went out last night and has an estimated delivery date of the 15th. Oh well.

Poor Pat - he's working his tail off for us and all we can do is complain about not having our Checkmakers yet. Funny how that seems to happen with products that are super good but take time to produce. Guess it's because the older one gets, the faster life moves. Hard to keep up anymore -- :lol:

Anyway Mugs, thanks a lot for posting that info. My local Ace store had no idea about the Amerimax stuff and it isn't in his availability documents from his supply warehouse.

Jim

[sixpointfive]

So gents, which is the better gas check maker the free chek or patmarlin?

[edsmith]

the one you like best.

[sixpointfive]

Trying to decide which one to get. Asking for opinions, I prefer to use my Rockchucker press

[357shooter]

I use the Pat Marlins and recommend it highly. It's easy to use and produces great results. Any time I've had a question Pat has taken the time to answer. Great product, great service, great results.

Hey, Pat, there's a new marketing slogan!

Pete

[edsmith]

Pats checkmaker is made to be used with a reloading press, the freechex is made to be used with a arbor press, it can be used with a reloading press if you make a adapter for it.

[pistolman44]

I bought a Freechex II last year. Used it for 1 week. Made checks out of .014 Al. It was for .44 cal. I have 3 gas check molds RCBS,Lyman and Lee. The checks didn't fit tight enough for my likeing. I sold it. I just stuck with the Gator checks because they fit tight and can't be pulled off. I did order a PB gas check tool for .45 from Pat. He has excellent feedback on all his products. At the time I bought the Freechex tool I didn't have the right press to use Pat"s tool on to work 100%. Now I have a new Lee Classic Cast press now to use with Pat's GC tool on.

[7of7]

I bought a Freechex II last year. Used it for 1 week. Made checks out of .014 Al. It was for .44 cal. I have 3 gas check molds RCBS,Lyman and Lee. The checks didn't fit tight enough for my likeing. I sold it. I just stuck with the Gator checks because they fit tight and can't be pulled off. I did order a PB gas check tool for .45 from Pat. He has excellent feedback on all his products. At the time I bought the Freechex tool I didn't have the right press to use Pat"s tool on to work 100%. Now I have a new Lee Classic Cast press now to use with Pat's GC tool on.

Speaking of tight fitting, I was wiping some of my boolits off, that I had installed the checks on, and one was loose. I looked at a few others, and they weren't loose at all. Then I looked closely at the one that was loose, sure enough, it didn't get sized...

[35 Whelen]

I bought a Freechex II last year. Used it for 1 week. Made checks out of .014 Al. It was for .44 cal. I have 3 gas check molds RCBS,Lyman and Lee. The checks didn't fit tight enough for my likeing. I sold it. I just stuck with the Gator checks because they fit tight and can't be pulled off. I did order a PB gas check tool for .45 from Pat. He has excellent feedback on all his products. At the time I bought the Freechex tool I didn't have the right press to use Pat"s tool on to work 100%. Now I have a new Lee Classic Cast press now to use with Pat's GC tool on.

I had the same results with the FreeChex II, BUT that was with .009" material. I switched to .014" material and everything's fine now.
35W