Anybody know where I can find 7mm & 8mm gas checks? It appears they are as rare as gun powder and primers.

Also looking for a .225-55 gr. bullet mold (and gas checks) and a Lee .309 - 180 gr. mold. I ordered and received a box that says .309 - 180 gr. but after casting some bullets it appears that a Lee .309 - 165 gr. mold was put in the box instead as the bullets all weigh appox. 168 gr. with the WW lead I am using.

Let's cover the gas checks first. If you shoot a lot of cast bullets that require gas checks you'd be better off making your own. There is this tool called FreeChex. Here's the webiste:
http://www.freechex.net/ He also sells on Ebay. If you get one the third generation FreeChex makes a completed gas check on one stroke.

You got the right bullet mold from LEE. They are so undersized and incorrect is the reason it doesn't weigh 180 grains. I've even owned the mold for the 303 British thinking it would case much fatter and it didn't. You'd be better off looking for the mold from another manufacturer. Looking for molds on Ebay is another place, but they get bid up rather high there.

www.sagesoutdoors.com

They are FleaBay sellers.

Smokinj, I am judging the bullet weight of the supposed 180 gr. Lee mold by the Lee .309-150 gr.FN mold that I have and use. Those bullets weigh in at appox. 156 to 158 grains. (And they shoot extremely well for this novice bullet caster)
I have not miked the alleged 180 gr. bullets yet to see if they are undersized but I don't think they are as it takes some effort to push them through a .309 sizer. But that is with a single wrap of duct tape around them. But again, they require about the same amount of effort as the 150s.

I would like to make my own checks and will check the web sites that you and craigster provided but I was wanting to get to shooting first before I dive into check making.

The thing with LEE molds is (or they use to be) aren't manufactured consistent. I have some LEE molds that make bullets that shoot exceptionally good.

Yeah there's no sense in paying the outrageous price for factory gas checks.