[stormyone]

What are they referring to when they say a bullet (in this case .38 & 44 Mag & Special) has a gas check?

[PinnedAndRecessed]

IIRC, "gas check" is a little cap placed on the base of a bullet to prevent leading. I've never used one but I think after you cast the bullet, you then must physically stick the little cap on every bullet.

I buy copper plated bullets $35/500. Not worth it to me.

[Sharps Shooter]

Gas checks are kind of hard for me to describe without a picture, but they are small, copper cups that fit on the base of cast lead bullets designed to accomodate a gas check. As far as I know, there are only two types of gas checks - Lyman and Hornady. The Lyman type is simply a tight fit, while the Hornady type crimps on when you run the bullet through a sizing die. You can't put a gas check on a bullet which was not designed for a gas check from the get-go.

Gas checks are meant to seal the hot, expanding gases behind the bullet as the bullet is being pushed by the gases down the barrel. If the hot gases leak up the sides of the bullet, it results in "gas cutting" of the bullet and that produces a lot of leading.

At handgun velocities, I've never found gas checks necessary for anything larger than .38 caliber. But I have to qualify that by saying I have seen a bunch of leading from cast bullets if the alloy is too darn hard and won't obturate properly. The alloy has to be just hard enough to not lead by stripping itself off on the riflings due to velocity and pressure, yet not so hard the bullet won't obturate and seal off the hot, expanding gases itself - without a gas check.

[moxie]

from deforming. This helps accuracy. They also help prevent leading. There are several different theories as to how the problems occur in the first place and how using gas checks solves them, but suffice it to say they are often used by those who shoot lead bullets at high velocities.

[stormyone]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering because I got some Buffalo Bore 44 Specials (255 gr. SWC (Keith-type) ) that says they are gas check bullets.

44 Specials - 984 fps & 566 ft. lbs out of a 3.25" S&W 396

Haven't shot any yet, but they sound like exactly what I was looking for to use in my 629 3". I wanted something lighter recoiling than 44 mag, but more than commercial 44 specials.

[Vern Humphrey]

A gas check bullet has a reduced diameter heel -- that is, the last 0.1" of the base of the bullet is reduced slightly in diameter so the copper or gilding metal gas check can fit on that "heel" with the outer diameter of the gas check being the same as the major diameter of the bullet.

If you buy the bullets alone (not as loaded rounds), they may or may not come with the gas checks installed.

If you plan to cast your own and use gas checks, be sure your mould is a gas check design.

[SASS#23149]

http://www.trueshotbullets.com/bullets/30-170rnfp-gc.jpg

bullet with gas check.

[Jim K]

Gas checks keep the hot gas from melting the bullet base and depositing lead in the barrel, and also provide a better rifling grip at higher velocities than the lead bullet alone would. They are a good compromise for hot pistol and moderate rifle loads where cast-bullet economy is wanted but the load is hot enough to cause problems with unprotected lead alloy.

Jim

[BusMaster007]

Good question. :confused:
GREAT answers! :rolleyes:

Thank you, from all of us that just got schooled. :evil: