Titan ReloadingLoad DataRotoMetals2Inline Fabrication
MidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackboxWidenersLee Precision
Reloading Everything
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Ideal Gas Checks.... Collectors item or just use them?

  1. #1
    Boolit Man tomon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Bethel Park Pa
    Posts
    87

    Ideal Gas Checks.... Collectors item or just use them?

    A friend just gave me a sealed factory box of 1000 Ideal 6.5mm Gas Checks that look like they are from the 50s. Brown paperboard taped shut top and bottom. Ideal label stuck on one side of it. I won't open it to see if they are brass or copper. Would this box and contents have any collectability? Thanks in advance, and please don't ask to buy them here. After I get some input, I will decide whether to keep them or sell them. Thanks in advance for input! Tomon
    Last edited by tomon; 07-21-2022 at 07:52 PM. Reason: more info
    NO APPLAUSE......JUST THROW MONEY!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    labradigger1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    west virginia
    Posts
    1,284
    I treat them as any gas check, i shoot them. In my experience i prefer the ideal brand checks. I think they fit the boolit better.
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Bent Ramrod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Southern Arizona
    Posts
    4,284
    If the box is absolutely pristine in every way, and you don’t need the checks, it might be worth storing them away for another 20 years or so and see what happens. Right now, though, I haven’t seen any collector interest in such things, and I go to a fair number of collector’s shows.

    The old Lyman/Ideal checks were Barlow’s patent: made of thin brass and no “crimp-on” feature. The original idea was that they would protect the boolit base from hot smokeless-powder gases and fall off as the projectile cleared the muzzle. In practice, some fall off, some do not; and I imagine some come off at different distances than others.

    This doesn’t seriously impact accuracy at normal CB hunting and casual shooting ranges, but is noticeable out at several hundred yards off a bench. Which is probably why Lyman makes the Hornady-type crimp-on checks now and the original design, except for those made from pop cans with gas-check makers, isn’t available any more. So the original type will eventually be collectors’ items; I just don’t know when.

    Me, I’m doing all I can to make the few that remain in the remote future valuable by shooting what I have of them up now.

  4. #4
    Boolit Man tomon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Bethel Park Pa
    Posts
    87
    Thank you, Sir!
    NO APPLAUSE......JUST THROW MONEY!

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Good Cheer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    the Ark
    Posts
    5,276
    Those same old style boxes, I still have three boxes of .30's, three of 6.5's, one of .35 and one of .45.
    Over the years have found that they have their uses as well as problems.

  6. #6
    Boolit Man tomon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Bethel Park Pa
    Posts
    87
    Gas Checks are posted for sale in Swapping and selling for $50 shipped for anybody interested. Thanks for looking.
    NO APPLAUSE......JUST THROW MONEY!

  7. #7
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Reno, NV
    Posts
    12
    I’ve picked up numerous boxes of the old ideal checks while rummaging thru various gun shows and garage sales. They are a second and or third choice in most calibers as the crimp on style do exactly that…. Stay on.

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