Lee PrecisionReloading EverythingInline FabricationRotoMetals2
Titan ReloadingMidSouth Shooters SupplyWidenersLoad Data
Repackbox
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 39

Thread: Aluminium vs Copper Gas Checks

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    63

    Aluminium vs Copper Gas Checks

    Finally ordered two gas check makers from Pat Marlins. My question is which material do you prefer for gas checks aluminium or copper and why?

    The difference I see are the following:

    Aluminum is cheaper easier to work.

    Copper is stronger and more expensive.

    Copper also is a better conductor of heat.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,308
    You asked that question at the right time. I have just finished doing a check on which is better and can honestly say I could find no winner accuracy wise, but Alluminium is cheaper and is easy to work so I will stay with it. Regards Stephen

  3. #3
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Aluminum pop and beer cans are free, well sort of free, and aluminum flashing from the hardware store is not all that expensive. I woiuld use copper but it costs and my soda and beer can aluminum works just as good.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Southern France by way of Interior Bush Alaska
    Posts
    5,286
    Are aluminum checks made from beer and pop cans thick enough to be used on boolits designed for copper gas checks, or are they best used on plain base boolits?

  5. #5
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    I use them in both instances and they work just fine for all my 9MM and 38sp;/.357mag applications using PB and GC based lead bullets.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    Don't you double the beer can material for when used on a GC design bullet?

  7. #7
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Quote Originally Posted by Bazoo View Post
    Don't you double the beer can material for when used on a GC design bullet?
    No I don't What would hold the two pieces together?

    Take Care

    Bob
    Last edited by robertbank; 03-21-2021 at 08:44 PM.
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,308
    I do the math and work out which thickness I need for a given bullet and as it turns out my .460 projectiles for my 458 and 45/70 need checks made from aluminium spray deodorant cans all other projectiles will work with .012 Aluminium flashing which is cheap as chips. Regards Stephen

  9. #9
    Banned

    tomme boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Clinton, Iowa
    Posts
    5,200
    Beer can checks are used for plain base bullets only. Too thin to do anything with a gas check designed bullet.

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy muskeg13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Houston, Alaska
    Posts
    401
    zinc roof flashing from Lowes

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master


    GregLaROCHE's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Southern France by way of Interior Bush Alaska
    Posts
    5,286
    Quote Originally Posted by muskeg13 View Post
    zinc roof flashing from Lowes
    Are you sure the flashing is 100% zinc. It could be steel electro plated with zinc.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    I've not done it, but seen where folks make checks out of doubled beer can material. Forming it together keeps it together.

  13. #13
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Quote Originally Posted by tomme boy View Post
    Beer can checks are used for plain base bullets only. Too thin to do anything with a gas check designed bullet.
    They woek fine for me. What can they not do? I assume our beer cans are the same thickness as those in the US.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Bazoo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Cecilia, Kentucky
    Posts
    6,715
    Beer cans here are .005 or so. Gas checks for handgun calibers are .010.

  15. #15
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Quote Originally Posted by Bazoo View Post
    Beer cans here are .005 or so. Gas checks for handgun calibers are .010.
    Same as ours. I have shot well over a thousand GC bullets used in my .357mag. They seem to swage on OK and do there job. I have never doubled up the disks. I use Pat Marlin dies.

    Take Care

    Bpb
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  16. #16
    Banned

    tomme boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Clinton, Iowa
    Posts
    5,200
    Gas checks I have measured are from 0.014" to 0.016" The ones I make are 0.014"

    Let's use this bullet for example.

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...ullet=36-180LG

    Bullet diameter is 0.358" The gas check shank size is 0.341" so 0.358"-0.341"= 0.017"

    Here is another example. 0.310"-0.284"=0.024"

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...ullet=31-170JG

    I don't see how a 0.005" gas check would fit and work for either.

  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master
    bangerjim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    out of here, wandering somewhere in the SW.
    Posts
    10,163
    I solve the questions by just buying quality commercial Hornady copper checks of the right size for my loads.

    Problem solved. And I leave the cans for the recycle plant and the flashing for the roof.

  18. #18
    Moderator Emeritus robertbank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Terrace, B.C. Canada
    Posts
    5,245
    Quote Originally Posted by tomme boy View Post
    Gas checks I have measured are from 0.014" to 0.016" The ones I make are 0.014"

    Let's use this bullet for example.

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...ullet=36-180LG

    Bullet diameter is 0.358" The gas check shank size is 0.341" so 0.358"-0.341"= 0.017"

    Here is another example. 0.310"-0.284"=0.024"

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...ullet=31-170JG

    I don't see how a 0.005" gas check would fit and work for either.
    Oddly enough they do. The Universe is not a constant and stranger things occur in the land of the mid-night sun.

    Take Care

    Bob
    Its been months since I bought the book, "How to scam people online". It still has not arrived yet!

    "If the human population held hands around the equator, a significant portion of them would drown"

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy muskeg13's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Houston, Alaska
    Posts
    401
    Quote Originally Posted by GregLaROCHE View Post
    Are you sure the flashing is 100% zinc. It could be steel electro plated with zinc.
    I'm sure.
    [I]Gibraltar Building Products Z Stop 0.21-ft W x 50-ft L 10.4-sq ft Silver Roll Roofing Item #435692Model #MB50
    2-1/2 inches x 50 feet zinc strip roll offers a simple way to prevent roof build-up of moss, mildew and fungus
    Made from 99% pure zinc. Suited for commercial and residential use


    Even if the specs didn't state that it's nearly pure zinc, there's no way to mistake zinc for plated steel once you begin to work it. If anyone were still skeptical, they could always use a magnet. Steel would ruin your check making dies in short order.

  20. #20
    Banned

    tomme boy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Clinton, Iowa
    Posts
    5,200
    Nice way to contaminate the lead on the range. If there is never a chance for the lead to be recovered then it might be a good choice to use the zinc. I find gas checks all the time e in my range lead I collect. I don't need anything else to worry about in the lead.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

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