Share with me your thoughts on the NEED for gaschecks on .357 mag bullets. I'm thinking here about full or near full power loads. I've used my 358429 bullets pretty successfully (very decent accuracy, minimal leading) with 85-90% power loads. I have an RCBS 158 gr plain base swc mold that I haven't used much yet. Skeeter always wrote that he felt gaschecks were more needed on .357 bullets than on .44 or .45 caliber bullets. I've thought about getting a Thompson design mold for a GC-SWC .357 bullet but would like your thoughts and experiences on this. I have the Thompson design mold by Lyman in .44 in both solid and hollow-point form. I use the HP version for my hunting loads, my idea being I could cast a little softer to promote expansion but the gas check would still minimize leading? Sound theory or not? Thought about a 358156 in both solid and hp form on the same principle. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience. I've been casting for years but still consider myself a novice.
Ken