Loose gas checks

[Humbo]

Hi!
I ordered two molds, one 300gr LFN and one 340gr WFN, both .452 caliber. These are without doubt the best molds I've ever had the pleasure to cast with, but the 300gr mold has problems with gas checks. They just won't hang on, even after the bullet is sized. I'm using Hornady gas checks. I measured the base of the 340, it was .424, and the 300 was .420. Is the 300 mold a bit undersized? Is there an easy fix, or do I have to return the mold to get it opened up a little bit?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

[Veral]

  LBT molds are guaranteed to be the diameter asked for and not more than .0015 over specified diameter, and there is no time limit on the guarantee as long as the mold is clean and not damaged.

  As for check shank diameter, there is no specification spelled out, but I will open them up if the checks don't lock on when sized, N/C.  Send it back.

  If you are dealing with this problem on other molds and the manufacture won't fix or replace them, you can easliy grind the check shank out a little with a dremel tool.  Clamp the blocks in a padded vise, and grind lightly with a well dressed stone.  Go round and round as uniformly as possible.  It won't take much in most cases.  ---  But if it has LBT stamped on the side, no matter how dirty or bruised, I'll fix the check shank if it needs it.

[Humbo]

Veral, thanks for the reply and of course the excellent service. If it was any other brand of mold I wouldn't hesitate to try to open it up a little bit myself, but with these LBT molds it feels a little bit like modifying a masterpiece. I will try to ship the mold back to you ASAP.

One more thing, I'm getting a Freedom Arms .45 Colt, and I don't see the need for using gas checked bullets. Can I use your gas checked molds, and just size the bullets without seating a gas check? Velocities will be around 1000-1200 fps.

Thanks again,
Humbo

[Graybeard]

Bad idea. If you don't wanna use GCs fine buy a plain base mould. Veral may still be running a special on them.

[Veral]

  Bill gave good advise.  However, some bullets cut for gas checks will shoot almost as accurately without checks as the same bullet design and weight cut with plainbase.  Variables between revolvers will be the determining factor, with, I believe, oversize chamber diameter probably being the worst deterent to performance. Applying lube in an RCBS Lyman or Saeco sizer will not go smoothly, as the little gap where the check would be allows lube to push the stop plug down away from the bullet, filling the space with a column of lube.  You'll need a Star sizer to keep from making a mess.

[Humbo]

Bill, Veral, thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I have only RCBS and SAECO sizers at the moment, but a Star is on its way as we speak. I will give it a try, but if it's not ideal, I will order some new plainbase LBT molds soon.

[gypsyman]

Humbo, I guess you have already ordered the Star. I have had a Saeco for years. Just had a thought, why not just order the next size down in sizing dies, say a .451, use the swing out gas check seater that Saeco has, and just size the gas check down an extra .001.  gypsyman

[Humbo]

gypsyman, that is not a bad idea at all. I have a SAECO .451 die lying around, I'm going to try it out and see if that extra .001 does the trick.

Thanks!

[Veral]

Sizing smaller is a bad idea if accuracy falls off, but a good one if you are happy with how they shoot and if the .001 smaller will lock the checks on.  Normally when checks don't stay on, it will take more than .001 more sizing to get them all too hang on securely though.  Better to tap the bullets lightly on the bases, at a slight angle, against a metal surface at 180 degrees apart.  (Before setting checks of coarse.) This will throw up a little burr which will hold the checks securely, without changing bullet balance.  When the gun goes bang, the checks will come down and sqeeze the burrs back with everything more concentric than if bullets were sized smaller.

[Humbo]

Thanks for the tip Veral. I have to try it out, I'm waiting for a new sizer and new dies. I will soon order a couple of more molds for 45LC too, do you have any recommendations? I was thinking in the 250-300 gr range.
Thanks

[Veral]

  The most popular weight I sell is 300 gr, but 250 260 and 280 are also excellent choices.