Two questions...

Are gas checks needed for building low velocity practice rounds for a .404 Jeffery?

Where can I find them?

Thanks

AT

My 404 won't shoot plain based cast for love nor money, low or high velocity, but slap a 44 cal gas check on the same bullets bum and it shoots lights out.
I use Hornady crimp on copper checks but homemade aluminium ones work fine too.

Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated.

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I'd be really interested in a seeing gas checks applied and any load data you might have as looking for a relatively inexpensive way to shoot 404 Jeff.

My experience with gas checks is much different than Eagles. I have shot, .30 cal, 22 cal and 35 cal , and 6MM both with and without gas checks and could tell no difference. I question the usefulness of gas checks.

quote:

Originally posted by Scrumbag:
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I'd be really interested in a seeing gas checks applied and any load data you might have as looking for a relatively inexpensive way to shoot 404 Jeff.

370gr and 400gr cast bullets with 44 calibre Hornady gas checks applied and sized in Lyman 450 lube/sizer (lube removed for photo).


These loads were developed by Von Gruff (who posts on this forum) when he had his Mauser 404 and we shared info and bullets. The 370gr cast is from his mold and the 400gr from my Hoch nose pour mold.
I shot a lot of the 63.0gr AR2209 (H4350) load and the 20.5gr Red Dot load with both the 370gr and 400gr bullet in my Mauser 404. I have not tried the heavier AR2208 (Varget) or AR2209 (H4350) loadings in my rifle.
For the Red Dot load I substitute Vectan AS shotgun powder which is advertised as suitable for light loads in rifles. I have a good supply of this powder for loading shotshells and it is the most cleanest burning powder I have ever seen. This light 1400fps load is very pleasant to shoot although because of the bullet weight there is still some recoil in keeping with a big game cartridge but good shooting off the bench.

CAUTION: The light loads are lower pressure loads and should be good for any 404 rifle but the heavier loads should be worked up to with usual care for individual rifles.

370gr Cast - 100% LinoType
74.0grs AR2208 (Varget) 2363fps full power practice load
63.0grs AR2209 (H4350) 1900fps very accurate light load
20.5grs Red Dot (or Vectan AS) 1400fps light plinking load
WLRM primer
Norma case


370gr Cast - 90% WW-10% LT
79.0grs AR2208 2465fps 1.4" at 55m
87.0grs AR2209 2416fps 1.1" at 55m
WLRM primer
Norma case
Heat treated

50m target 5 shots with 400gr cast bullet (1400fps load)