Aluminum gas checks on pistol boolits

[Divil]

Hello,

I was scanning the Accurate catalogue and saw a design that would amount to a gas checked .40 S&W boolit. Just to be clear, I plan on using coated, j-word, p-word and conventional plain based boolits in that caliber eventually. I am also curios if an aluminum gas checked .40 caliber boolit is inherently problematic, especially using aluminum gas checks. The reason for the aluminum question aside from general curiosity is that Sage’s has the proper sized aluminum checks readily available.

I have used and continue to use the Accurate 36-140O bullet with a copper gas check and it does great. I am wondering if the aluminum checks will work as well as the copper. Does the brain trust have any opinions on this?

Thanks,
Divil

[Noah Zark]

Never used aluminium gas checks, but it melts at a much lower temp than copper, and crumbles and smears when it does melt. OTOH, if aluminium gas checks exist, logic says they may work. Dunno.

Noah

[K43]

Aluminum gas checks are commonly used on rifle boolets. Can't see they'd be a problem if you actually needed a gas check on a handgun round.

[Delkal]

I never noticed a difference in accuracy or leading with aluminum checks with an accurate bench rested rifle. So I am sure there is no difference with my ability to shoot a pistol (bench rested Contenders excluded).

[Minerat]

I use them in my .454 C running 1700 fps and hot 45 colt loads with no ill effects. Accuracy matches copper, but I ain't no deadeye with a handgun, but get minute of paper plate at 20 yds with both.

[Whole Bunches]

I was at an estate sale and bought about a half gallon bag of aluminum 44 cal gas checks. I think they were home made, but couldn’t find a gas check maker amongst the stuff. Cost me $5.

Using them I found no difference in fitting, accuracy, point of impact nor lack of leading in two 44 special revolvers that I’d previously used Hornady brand gas checks in. The next time I buy gas checks, I’ll try some 30 cal aluminum ones.

[pworley1]

I have used them from .22 through .480 and have found no difference.

[Divil]

I use them in my .454 C running 1700 fps and hot 45 colt loads with no ill effects. Accuracy matches copper, but I ain't no deadeye with a handgun, but get minute of paper plate at 20 yds with both.

That is a stout load! Your accuracy with it would be better than mine!

[Divil]

Thanks for the replies all! It seems the aluminum gas checks are not inherently problematic with regards to leading or accuracy.

[Minerat]

That is a stout load! Your accuracy with it would be better than mine!

I confess, that 1700 pfs was a mistake, I went back and looked after your post, instead of recalling and found my max load was chronoed at 1325 with a 330gr WFN. I apologize for the erroneous info. But still that load do sting a bit. I loaded them to carry when elk hunting. At the range 10 shots will get you questioning your sanity.

[MT Gianni]

I doubt you will ever get a bullet out of the 40 S&W fast enough to need a check.

[Divil]

Need ? Most likely no.

Want ? That is another matter

[Kosh75287]

VERY early on in my experiences with firearms, I was discouraged from using aluminum cleaning rods because they tended to pick up grit that was much harder than them or gun steels and would abrade the barrels as well as anything else with which they came in contact. I'm not entirely clear as to the particular alloy(s) used in either, but if the admonition about one has any foundation, then it makes me wonder about the other. Additionally, while the forces moving the cleaning rods is fairly mild, the projectile velocity makes the force applied on the gas checks as they travel through the barrel are far, far greater. If the aluminum gas checks are not kept pristine when attached to their projectiles and when seated in the cartridges, this seems like an engraved (pun not intended) invitation to greatly accelerated barrel wear.

[Whole Bunches]

I certainly would not use if they had oxidation present.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Hello,
I was scanning the Accurate catalogue and saw a design that would amount to a gas checked .40 S&W boolit.

>>>SNIP

interesting coincidence, I was having a discussion about this on another forum today.
.
Very few 40 cal (10mm) pistol bullet molds with GC shank.
Some of them use a 40 cal GC, some use a 41. When you order a Accurate mold, you can specify the GC shank size. If I were ordering a mold, I'd look to see what GC's are commonly available and give them the correct spec.

[Soundguy]

I've had 0 problems with aluminum checks. The plain base pretty much only come in it.

[Harter66]

Long ago I posed the question if copper fouling can make leading worse with mechanical bonding then why do copper checks riding the barrel not ?

The answer was something about the cumulative effect mostly disallowed adhesion of the copper .
I can't see where the aluminum checks would be any different.

I run 357,9mm, and 40 full power plain base without issue even in carbines where the 38/357 picks up 400 fps .

There is the argument that aluminum oxide is what sandpaper and grinding wheels use . As such it shouldn't be in your barrel . Well using science I seem to recall something about copper, zinc , and iron creating electrolysis and copper oxides making an acid similar to sulphuric neither of which are especially good for barrels.

I haven't burned 1000 aluminum checks through any single barrel yet , I learned paper patch to avoid buying checks . Those that I have run hundreds through are yet to grow oxides like a copper fouled barrel will . 22,25,&26 cal are the only copper checks I have . 27,28,30,32,35, and 45 all get aluminum. I haven't seen any damage but I only run heavy bullets with slow for cartridge powders into the core of jacket speeds .

[popper]

Learn to cast better and you won't need GC for 40sw.

[hickfu]

My plain base gas checks for plain based 45-70 bullets will work on the 45acp and I have loaded a few that way. i have not noticed a difference in POI with or without so I dont put them on any more. Until a bullet is going around 1600fps I dont bother GCing

[K43]

Lead reduces copper deposits...
Copper is not scraped off bullets or gas checks from friction and left in the bore. It vaporizes and deposits as it cools.
Lead will actually help prevent copper fouling. As will tin and zinc.

CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY DIVISION RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING DIRECTORATE US ARMY ARMAMENT COMMAND ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61201

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA014993.pdf