Making Gas Checks on 4 different manufactures check making dies.

[Rustystud]

I bought 4 different manufactures check making punch dies. Two manufactures are one step check makers and two are two step check makers. One of the one step check maker leaves jagged edges. On punched out perfectly clean round edges. The two step punch dies punh out clean round disk, then form them to a cup. One of the two step punch dies makes perfectly clean roud edged gas checks. The other two step makes mini bottle caps. All four when sized in a luber sizer make wonderfully seated gas checks. Honestly I like the one step better. One of the one step die manufacture uses 12L 14 steel. Easy to machine but soft if not hardened. If these dies had been heat treated they would have been much better. 12L 14 surface hardens very nicely with little warpage. The other one step appears to be made from 4140 or M7 Tool steel. They are much harder and more durable, holding an edge longer. The two stage Punch die is most likely some form of tool steel. Both work there are plusses and minus to either type.
Rustystud

[Balrog006]

What are the 4 different ones you tried and which qualities from your post do they have?

Ie which were two step and which were one, which were the steels you mentioned?

[Big T]

I have two from the guy in Canada. One works perfect(30cal) and the plain base 44 one does not work at all. Checks are not tall enough to stay on the bullet even during seating in a case. I had a 357 one from the guy in Florida but that would not work either. It was dull and I about ripped the press off my bench trying to use it.

I pretty much just buy plain base molds now.