No booze involved on this one, just running my mouth and not paying attention. I said some very colorful words and launched the hammer across the room.
I considered checking out the Freechex too but decided on the checkmaker. I have 35pb and 45pb and love them. I've ordered the .22 and .30 and am waiting on those. Since the move Pat has been cranking them out to catch up and adding new calibers to boot. I'm really looking forward to getting the .22 so I can start stockpiling lubed and sized boolits for my Mini 14 and AR. Frank
Last edited by fcvan; 10-06-2012 at 07:24 PM.
I own and use both. I have 2)Checkmakers™, a regular model, for use with bullets having a gas check shank and a "plain base" type. The regular works fine. The plain base unit is problematic with many types and thickness of material.
I also have 3)FreeChex tools. Two are FreeChex III's, one is a Freechex II. I have not encountered problems with any of them.
For speed and quantity of checks produced, in my opinion, the FreeChex tools win hands down. When I am in the market for additional tools, they will be the FreeChex variety.
Both vendors have good warranties and are responsive to problems. I have owned the tools for a short time, varying from 1˝ years to 2 months, so I can't attest to longevity. The FreeChex units are heat treated, the Checkmaker™ units do not appear to be.
I won't get into delivery issues because that can be a changing thing with many dependencies.
If I were starting out today, without any knowledge or experience, I would choose Charlie's FreeChex tools. I base this on things I have read on various forums. If you think you will be making a lot of gas checks, I recommend the FreeChex III model. If you will be making only a few for testing purposes, any of the tools will work. I use a FreeChex II for just that purpose. It is economical and plenty quick.
Good luck and happy check making....G
Last edited by tchepone; 10-07-2012 at 11:18 AM. Reason: correct spelling error
Try being informed instead of just opinionated.
Sometimes it is better to just smile and walk away.
You can always tell a Handloader, by his unceasing quest for spent brass.
I had an early one that fit .44 GC shanks.You used double Pop cans to get them to fit better.I have an article from the 1980's on them I'll find if i can.A fellow in the 1980's did the aluminum plain base check thing and had an article in Handloader or American Rifleman I believe.
George
here it is.used on GC shanks.
sorry about the sideways pic's
Gee HARRYMPOPE freechek and freechex look about as similar as the Ford and the Cheverolet. tj
the idea of a GC tool for aluminum checks in a punch manner is nothing new.The similar name of the "freechex"-"freecheck" tool is odd.
23 years later----
"In 2006, +++++++++++++++++++++++++ wondered if discarded beverage cans could be a source of metal for home made (free) gas checks. "
The new tools are much better thankfully.
George
Last edited by HARRYMPOPE; 10-07-2012 at 01:03 PM.
I'm just grateful these clever folk share their ideas with us.
Thermal underwear style guru.
"Exclusive international distributor of Jeff Brown Hunt Club clothing."
Supplier to the rich(?) and infamous.
Cheers from New Zealand
Jeff.
The 11 months or more to get dies were for new calibers I had not yet developed that are now in production. That is old out dated news. Those old perorders are being filled here daily.
I'm rapidly getting close to dies shipping within a few days at my new shop, and all old orders- (new) calibers that had not been perviously available are running.
Things are changing.
By the way- don't forget accuracy. Making checks in record time is great. I'd rather have gas checks put my holes in the ten ring.
Also out of round? Hardly.
Go here and find out what kind of accuracy my customers who are shooters are getting with Checkmaker™ dies:
Mother of all Checkmaker™ Dies Links
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=104930
...
I'm proceeding with a complete line of dies perfected and supported for all calibers, including PB versions. If there is a mold made, or a plain base mold made, there will be a set of Checkmaker™ dies for it.
Calibers Now in production-
7mm cal, 270 cal, 30 cal (includes 7.62x39, 303 Brit w/opt male die), 30PB cal (includes 7.62x39, 303 Brit w/opt male die), 338 cal, 32/8mm cal, 32PB cal (includes 8mm), 32-20PB Winchester (includes 32 S&W Long, 32 Colt New Police) 35 cal (includes 9mm), 35PB cal (Plain Base, includes 9mm), 40/10mm cal, 40/10mmPB cal, 41 cal, 41PB cal,44PB cal, 44 cal, 44PB cal, 45 cal (fits both pistol and rifle), 9.3 cal, 45PB Pistol cal, 45PB Rifle cal, 45PBAR cal (tall check for the AR platform), 50 Cal Pistol (.501), 50 Cal Rifle (.512), 50PB Pistol, 50PB Rifle.
Updated- The list keeps growing...
...
Last edited by PatMarlin; 07-17-2013 at 11:21 AM.
I will say that when I had my PB dies they left me with a nice shiny bore in my Glock 9mm factory barrel. I had no leading without the OB gas checks, but the PB gas checks left me with great peace of mind.
Now where the PB gas checks really shone were when I was attaching them to a NOE 358-95-SP bullet. A 95 grain pointy bullet that I loaded over 10.5 gr of W231 in 357 mag cases and shot out of a Ruger 357 mag bolt action rifle. No leading at very impressive velocities.
Amazon and to a greater extent EBAY hold sellers feet to the fire and buyers can purchase with confidence via the internet. Amazon is hardly book and media anymore. I inject this because this thread has varied a long ways from the OP's question of A verses B. -tj
I do not know what you are talking about unless you are a troll.
The O P asked about 2 products . There have been many replies as to the pros and cons of both products and some educational background on both .
Amazon and EVIL BAY have not had their names mentioned here and they have 0 bearing on this page.
WE WON. WE BEAT THE MACHINE. WE HAVE CCW NOW.
One last thing on the PB checks. They did not work well on my Star sizer unless I sized them base first. On my lee push through sizers I had to bevel the entrance to the die. On the standard base first sizers there were no issues and the gas checks went on more square (or round).
However; the star was finicky with standard gas checks as well.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |