Noticed them for sale on FleaBay. Anyone here tried and/or use them?

Craigster, check on the cast bullet forum. I remember someone saying they had a die/punch setup that they used to make gas checks out of aluminum cans. As I recall they said they worked great. Don't quote me on that though.

I shoot 265 SWC with aluminum gaschecks in my 629 Classic with fine accuracy and no problems whatsoever.

My experience with both al and cu gas checks is that I can go to about 1900fps with Al before groups start to enlarge. 6.5, 7mm 423, and 44 cal all seem to follow the same pattern.
I like the al gas checks because I can make them myself for little or no cost using litho plate from the newspaper where a friend works. Got enough for a million or two but for serious velocity or hunting I use the Hornady factory check even though I can make them from copper flashing as well.

Interisted in makeing some Von Gruff can you tell us how.

I made them years ago from brass. Decided my time was worth buying them. One key issue is consider the thickness of you material for various calibers and bullets

Do a net search here are some links I found.

How to make:
http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/HowTo/MakingGC.pdf

Testing
http://castboolits.gunloads.co...-Aluminum-Gas-Checks

Buying
http://www.thegascheckstore.com/gaschecks.htm

I have a few different frechex 11 checkmakers and find my little Wilson arbor press is suficient for the job of turning litho (al) strips into gas checks. The plug cutter sitting beside the die cuts the disc and and the former stem beside it forms the check and it drops out the bottom. The block is hollow and I drop them in the hole which will comfortably hold 1 k checks. The 6.5mm maker is on top with the 7mm stem below on the base with the 423 and 44 plug cutters at the back of the block. I have found that I can use the 6.5 and 7mm forming stems in the 7mm die and get both size checks with the 423 and 44 stems both working from the 44 die.



This is some of them ready to be seated on bullets with from the left 6.5 single layer .012 checks, double layer .012 7mm checks, .021 copper flashing 7mm checks, .423 (404J) single layer .012 checks and .430 single layer .012 44 mag checks. About 3 K checks all up.

I used to just sit in the sun (or in front of the tv and do them like this untill I started to use the arbor press.This is double layer 7mm .012 checks being made but with the arbor press I use a single layer and cut two discs then from them which is just as quick and much easier on the little press.

I always wondered about oxidation, aluminum oxide is very hard. Wonder what affect it has on your bore?

I was thinking the same thing. As the Al ages it will oxidize and that would not be good for the bore, or maybe it will just polish it??
C.G.B.

There have been many conversations on the CB forums about the oxidation or otherwise from the al gc. I come down on the no problem side of the finding.
Here is a discussion on the merrits of the al versus cu gc.
http://castboolits.gunloads.co...m-vs-copper-gascheck

Been shooting aluminum gas checks I make myself for years. A little bit of knowledge is more dangerous then no knowledge at all. I said this because someone that has a little knowledge of aluminum oxide sandpaper goes "Oh wow, aluminum gas checks are going to wear my barrel out". Believe me, it's not going to happen. My checks don't oxidize. Even if they did you're taking about really super fine oxides. There's not much area on a gas check to carry a lot of the oxide. Just don't worry about it.

I've gotten various rifle calibers up to jacketed velocity with aluminum checks. In some instances my home made checks beat the factory gas checks, in others it's about a tie.

I make my own gas check maker dies that screw into your reloading press and one stroke produces one completed gas check. None of that two step slow process as with the Free Chex tool. I started out that way and thought there had to be a better way. There is...the die that makes them in one shot.

It's too expensive to shoot factory check anymore for me.

I've got some copper gas checks in a little wooden box in my old Griffin & Howe stuff. I'll have to check the size.

quote:

I make my own gas check maker dies that screw into your reloading press and one stroke produces one completed gas check

plans?

I would like to see some plans to make a GC cutter that I can use with my Rockchucker press.

quote:

Originally posted by D Humbarger:
I would like to see some plans to make a GC cutter that I can use with my Rockchucker press.

Ditto.
Could a person modify the Lee Bullet Sizing Kit for the job?