My First Batch

[Jaeg]

Hi all

I cast my first batch of projectiles last night, mould used was the RCBS 37-250
for the 375 Winchester, alloy used was wheel weights, the Projectiles finished size was .376 out of the mould.

Tonight I made a dummy round, I fixed a hornady gas check to the bottom of the projectile, I then noticed the gas check had a larger diameter than the Projectile
at .379, is this normal and what effect would this have if I were to fire a bullet with a larger gas check, would it create unsafe pressure?

I beleive the hornady gas checks are supposed to be crimped, maybe that is why they have a .379 diameter.

Regards, Jaeg

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Congrats on starting you casting career. You are quite correct, the gas check has to be crimped on and this is usually achieved by passing through the sizer die. I have a similar mould which I modified by reaming the gas check groove off one cavity only giving me a choice of plain base or gas checked bullet.

Probably like the rest of us you start with 375 then . . . . and finally you have 50 moulds and never buy jacketed again

Just some of my vast array of cast gear:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Cast_all.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Moulds.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/Pot_2.jpg

[Leftoverdj]

Yes, they should be crimped. No, there is no danger in loading and shooting them uncrimped as long as the bullet is seated so that the GC is within the case neck. Most of us use lubrisizers with the appropriate dies to crimp the GC and lubricate. A far less expensive alternative is the Lee pushrhrough sizing dies which mount in your press.

A stopgap measure would be to use a case sizing die from the .223 family to crimp the GC. This would require making a pedestal that snaps into the ram of your press from a 5/16" bolt using a drill and file as a lathe and removing the decapping stem so the bullet can be pushed back out. This is not worth bothering with if you can buy a Lee die, but might be useful if you are isolated and have a .223 die set

[cherok9878]

Leftoverdj, I am lost, can you explain to me what GC'ing a .375 winchester has to do with a using a .223 loading die. Is the body of the .223 die close to .375? Just bewildered, can't see the relationship.