New Reloader and Caster Question

[DukeOfRoosters]

Hello everyone, I have been lurking on this forum and others for awhile to learn more about the art of reloading. I recently took the plunge and have put together a basic reloading and bullet casting setup.

If I am asking questions that have already been answered, please direct me to the appropriate thread. I searched but didn't find the answer to my questions.

My goal at this time is to be able to cast bullets and reload 8mm mauser ammunition. After I have become proficient in one caliber I'll expand to cover some of my other favorites.

After searching online and browsing through some literature I am still confused about bullet design. I'd like to keep things cheap and avoid gas checking the 8mm Mauser ammo. I realize that pressures and speeds will have to be kept low to avoid leading. Will I be able to seat and crimp bullets cast with a gas check mold properly without gas checks? It seems that most of the molds I've found cast bullets for gas checks. I'm open to mold recommendations. I plan to eventually buy a bullet sizer, however at this point I do not own one and would prefer to keep this first batch of bullets close to the recommended size. The rifle these bullets will be shot from is a refurb'd yugo m24/47. The barrel looks brand new, with sharp lands and shiney.

I'll post pictures of my newly constructed reloading bench and mish mash of equipment when I can get the camera from my fiancé.

Thanks in advance for any help you folks can provide.

 

[cheeze]

My advice would be get a mold that incorporates gas checks (I think most all of them will in 8mm), and you can add them when you get ready. It will shoot fine without the check, just keep the velocities low. With straight wheel weight alloy, you can probably run around 1200-1400 fps (guessing roughly) without leading if they are the proper size, but only shooting them will tell. You don't have to have a sizer as long as the bullets aren't waaay oversize out of the mold. I like them to be .002" oversize in most cases. Linotype would allow a little more velocity still. You still need a way to lube them.

 

[paw080]

Duke, USE THEM GAS CHECKS! I don't mind shouting because this is a
very good question that deserves an honest answer. I didn't cast the lead
bullets I used but I was very satisfied when I tried them. They were from Lee
and were 30 calibre 160,180 and 200gr gas checked designs. I found the 180gr
was the most accurate; shooting from an Argentine 1909 Mauser; armory converted to
30-06. The best group I got was 1 1/8th" at 100yds(5 shots). Good luck;

Tony

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

anybody remember that tutorial posted sometime back about making your own gas checks?

 

[dragon813gt]

The easiest way to make your own gas checks in one step is with a Freechex III. You can make them in two steps with a Freechex II or one of Pat Marlins Checkmakers. They are all affordable and I wouldnt want to do it any other way. Pat Marlin has a plain base checkmaker that allows you to add checks to a design not made for one. My personal opinion is to use a check. It's a minimal cost and it allows you to get better performance from the bullet.


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[NeuseRvrRat]

yeah, freechex is what i was thinking about