Gas Check Experience

[George Lingo]

I have read in the Lyman 3rd edition cast Loads that a gas check is not needed if velocity is kept below 1600 feet per second and the bullet is a No.2 alloy or harder. Is this true? What is your experience. I was given some Oregon Trail Laser cast bullets in .30 cal. and am considering using them with 12.0 grains of Unique for about 1500 Feet per second.

[High Plaines Doug r]

Using plain based bullets, leading should not be an issue at 1600 fps in a clean, smooth (broken in) .30 cal barrel.

[musculus]

you might find adding a gas check will make the bullets more accurate..

[Kirk]

With a .30 cal, I think you'll get better accuracy around 1200 fps. I've used 2400 with great success.

[Matt Anthony]

I have used loads without gas checks with great success as long as you keep the fps to 1,600 or less as others have noted. Using bullets designed for gas checks is somewhat fine line when using them without. I always cut off the gas check protrusion and make it a plain flat base. You do lose some weight. Do you have to do that, no you don't. I look at it this way, that protrusion might be affected by the hot gases and distort to one side or another, making your bullet in-accurate. It works for me and my bullets are very accurate out to 100 yards.
You can use google.com to get an enormous amount of information on gallery and reduced loads. Red Dot is a good powder for reduced loads.
A pip-squeek load of 3 grains of Bullseye with a 00 buckshot in just about any 30 cal. rifle lubed with alox is a potent little load out to 50 yards. My favorite is taking a 30 cal. gas check, put it in a .308 sizer with a 00 buck, run it through and lube it with spray moly or alox over 3.5 grains of Titegroup. Out of my 30-06 the little projectile is humming at 1750 fps. and will take out coyote's, bothersome dogs and foxes at 50 yards and below. It's also a great crow round and is very accurate if you do your part.
Good Luck!
Matt

[slamfire]

I have read in the Lyman 3rd edition cast Loads that a gas check is not needed if velocity is kept below 1600 feet per second and the bullet is a No.2 alloy or harder. Is this true? What is your experience. I was given some Oregon Trail Laser cast bullets in .30 cal. and am considering using them with 12.0 grains of Unique for about 1500 Feet per second.

I used lyman mold 311299 and 311284 without gas checks, lyman #2 alloy, and shot them over 1600 fps, and the accuracy was awful.

Gas checks made everything better.

I think the recessed base gets distorted by gas pressure if not covered with a gas check.

I purchased a mold that duplicates the 311299 mold, but does not recess the base for a gas check. I am going to see if I can push that bullet faster without problems than the lyman designs.