I know what the difference is between the two. My question is: "What's the purpose of one vs. the other?"
Thanks!
John
I know what the difference is between the two. My question is: "What's the purpose of one vs. the other?"
Thanks!
John
Father Grand Caster watches over you my brother. Go now and pour yourself a hot one. May the Sacred Silver Stream be with you always
Proud former Shooters.Com Cast Bullet alumnus and plank owner.
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GC shank?
The stepped shank offers increased lube capacity as well as the ability to hold more fouling that the GC scraps away. If the length of the step shank is done right. the top edge of the GC will be crimped over the lip. End result is that while the GC may be able to be turned, it will never come off. This allows the design to more easily handle GC ID variation.
The advantage for more lube with the stepped shank should not be over looked.
The advantage of the straight shank is strength from diameter and more weight rearward.
So the real selection is based upon how you "think" you are abusing the shank / base of your bullet or how much you are leading.
My general train of thought is for the stepped shank where I am using a light design and want to maximize bearing area instead of creating a wide lube groove to give me the lube capacity I need. And I use the stronger, straight design on heavier bullets that might take more push to get on their way.
Sounds good anyway.
Last edited by Bass Ackward; 06-02-2010 at 10:23 AM.
Reading can provide limited education because only shooting provides YOUR answers as you tie everything together for THAT gun. The better the gun, the less you have to know / do & the more flexibility you have to achieve success.
Been casting for 30 years, never seen a stepped GC shank, will someone show me one?
And is this a new idea?
Calamity Jake
NRA Life Member
SASS 15704
Shoot straight, keepem in the ten ring.
I don't know the origin or history, but here's an example. 462-465 GC boolits along with 450 Marlin and 45-70 loaded rounds with same.
Sorry- yes, I meant GC shanks. The extra lube capacity makes sense and I can see how the lip of the check can crimp into the void.
Thanks for the info!
John
Stepped shank is far superior for the reasons noted above. If you're gonna do a gc, no reason to do it otherwise.
I have both in identical design. Haven't found out any practical defferences yet but if I have a choice, like Mountain mold design, I usually go with step shank.
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 |