Seating gas checks with Lee lubersizer

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Last Post 31 July 2022
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2frogs posted this 21 July 2022

I have been tumble lubing my Lyman 358 156 bullets which works pretty good. The problem is when trying to seat the gas checks while sizing the gas checks get like a congave in the middle of them. Is this because of the lube on the base of the bullet. And they shoot terrible. So I have been removing them and seating the checks by hand. Costing me more money for the checks. Any thoughts on this. I tried to take a picture,but it doesn't really show the problem.

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RicinYakima posted this 21 July 2022

You should consider sizing and seating the gas checks before tumble lubing. Yes, the lube is non-compressible and once the side of the check move in, there is no place for the lube to go.

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Qc Pistolero posted this 21 July 2022

I shoot my 45-70 with 46-414 L from Accurate mold tumble lubed(unsized)at around 1250fps without any gas check without any leading;So maybe you don't need GC.Try it;you might end up saving time and money...or hating me until my death if it doesn't work!

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Spindrift posted this 26 July 2022

I would suggest the following:

1) Do not lube bullets prior to seating/crimping gas checks. You can run your bullets through the Lee sizer «dry», no problem. You don’t want lube on the GC shank.

2) You can use your reloading press to seat the gas checks on flat nosed bullets, using a few tools you probably have already. First, screw a Lee sizer die into your press. Put something sticky on the push rod (like alox), and stuff the push rod into the reloading die, so it stays there. It doesn’t matter which sizing die it is, you only need the flat base of the push rod, acting like an anvil. (Nowadays, Lee make their push rods with a «hollow base», which is unfortunate).

Now, mount another push rod in the ram of your press. You can now seat the GC with your press, between the flat face of the ram-mounted push rod, and the flat base of the rod retained in the sizer die.

You can use a similar technique for non-FN bullets as well, but the you need the ingenious NOE top-punch holder for the ram, and a suitable top-punch.

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mashburn posted this 27 July 2022

Hello Spindrift,

Glad to see you repeat this post. I wish you had included the pictures that you had attached to your post a few years ago. Keep up the good informative posts. How are things in Norway? I bet that you are cooler there than here. Our coolest temperatures for days and days have been 101 degrees F and the hottest have been 108 degrees F. The average temp. has been about 106 F. That is very hot, even for here. I am ready for a break. Thanks for central air houses and air-conditioned shops. My electricity and water bills are sky high, but I do not regret the expense as long as I can stay cool.

I really appreciate all of the good information that you have given me, and I have shot some super groups, but am still learning in the powder coating art or science, which ever you prefer to call it.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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mashburn posted this 21 July 2022

If you want to observe an excellent way of seating gas checks with a Lee push through sizer, look up the post, which includes pictures, by Spindrift a couple of years ago. It is excellent and the checks will always be seated square. And yes, seat the checks before lubing.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Spindrift posted this 29 July 2022

Hello, Mashburn!

I hope you are well!

Summer here in Norway is quite pleasant, around 75F on the sunny days; some rain every once in a while, which is refreshing.

I’m glad to hear you’ve found some of my posts helpful! I managed to find a photo that illustrates the principle of gas check seating I described. In this photo, I use the NOE top punch holder for the ram.

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mashburn posted this 30 July 2022

Hello Spindrift,

I know you hunt with powder coated cast bullets and have experimented with different things dealing with cast bullet accuracy and powder coated bullets for accuracy and hunting. My question is, have you shot any powder coated, fairly soft cast bullets, in actual hunting situations? I believe I'm correct in assuming that powder coated soft bullets should be just as accurate as powder coated hard bullets and should be able to reach the same velocities as the coated harder bullets. All of the powder coated hunting type bullets, that I shoot, are gas checks, if you have done so, how much expansion and penetration are you getting with such?

I have had some health problems, due to an injury, for about a year and a half, and that has delayed my bullet and shooting experiments quite a bit and 108F temperatures have it really shut down. I still am working on the perfect cast lead coated bullets in my air- conditioned shop.

By the way, I have discovered how the get whatever thickness of powder coating on my bullets that I desire, and I'm doing it consistently,

If you ever get a wild urge and want to come to the US on a hunting trip, you have a full invitation from me and my son. As long as we stay on my son's ranch you won't even need to buy a hunting license and tags. I can have my son and grandson do for you like they do for me. When they hear me shoot, they come to my aid and help me field dress and load my game in the Rhino, of course you're a young man and would probably prefer to carry your deer or hog out of the mountains yourself. Ha

Thanks again,

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Duane Mellenbruch posted this 21 July 2022

Perhaps you do not even need the gas checks if you are using mild loads with the gas check bullet. Clarify if you mean concave or convex. Concave means you have a inward dome formed when seating the gas check as one sometimes gets when sizing a bullet nose first in the Lee push through sizer.

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2frogs posted this 21 July 2022

Yes inward some. They are all that way. Sort of caved in,in the middle and the checks come right off

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2frogs posted this 21 July 2022

These are all soft lead. Bhn of 10 to 11. Think they'll be good for close range deer hunting. So I trashed those checks and reseated new one by hand. They are nice and flat now.

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2frogs posted this 25 July 2022

I should add that's it's the flat nose of the bullet pushing into the gas check that is causing the problem so this is telling me that the check is not being seated property.