Do I Need to Use Gas Checks?

[jasonprox700]

I'm wanting to use cast bullets for my newly aquired .40 S&W because they are a lot cheaper.  I've never loaded cast bullets before and I was wondering if I would need to use gas checks for this.  I will be doing mostly plinking with this.

[ButlerFord45]

Short form: No

[calvon]

+1 on what Butler Ford said. At .40 S&W velocities there's no need for gas checks. Get a mold that drops a bullet big enough for a lube/sizer to reduce to one thousandth over groove diameter and you'll be just fine.

Gas checks are for bullets that will be pushed at velocities above about 1600 fps. Most plinking loads for the .40 S&W run from 800 to 1000 fps.

[Tommyt]

Stop Gas Checks Before it Starts

[jlchucker]

Generally speaking, for rifles maybe-depending on your bullet and load.  For most handgun loads, probably not--but for best results with either, use a bullet with a plain-base design if you're not going to use a gascheck. If your next question is going to be about bevel-bases, I myself buy those if I find them at a really bargain-price, and use them for handgun-plinkers, or melt them down with the rest of my alloy to use with plain-base or gascheck molds.