GC Question.....

RCoulter52

New Member
Long time re-loader/caster, but have not used gas checks (all of my casting has been for handgun).

Now, with the bullets I need being extremely hard to find, I am considering running some .358, 158 grain semi-wadcutters through a .355 or .356 sizer to experiment with in my 350 Legend. My question is, does a bullet have to be designed to use a gas check OR can they be used on any style of bullet?

I know that this is probably an elementary question, but in 39 years of casting have never used a gas check.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance in this matter,
Randie
Fort Smith, AR
 

S Mac

Sept. 10, 2021 Steve left us. You are missed.
The bullet needs to have a gas check shank to be able to install a check, unless you are using a plain base check, which is made of a thinner material. I have never used the latter so cannot speak to how well they work, ease of installation.
Welcome to the forum.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
First welcome .
We get a few more Arkies and we'll arrange a central location shoot .
I'm about 50 miles south of you .

Gas checks as typically used need a so designed bullet . There are plain based gas checks but like every thing else good luck .

I mentioned being pretty close . I have a 3584?? 158 SWC gas check mould sitting on the counter along with a spare 358-200 RNFP and a really heavy full RN available . We can work out details , or not of course , if you're interested .
 

Rick H

Well-Known Member
The answer is yes....most commercial gas checks must be used on a bullet designed for them. I.E. with the small diameter step at the rear for the gas check. However: just to add to the confusion, there are gas checks for plain based bullets that crimp on over the cast plain based bullet and are swaged down with the sizing die. I have never used them. I believe most of the plain based checks are made by the user.

I'm pretty sure other's more versed in the art will chime in here.
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
The question has already been addressed, but you may be able to powder coat and not have to use GC.
I have a Pat Marlin plain base check maker and have had good luck with it. It's easy to make the checks and apply them.
Since I started powder coating, I don't use them as much. Powder coating solved all my high speed problems.
 

STIHL

Well-Known Member
The question has already been addressed, but you may be able to powder coat and not have to use GC.
I have a Pat Marlin plain base check maker and have had good luck with it. It's easy to make the checks and apply them.
Since I started powder coating, I don't use them as much. Powder coating solved all my high speed problems.


I was thinking the same thing on the powder coating it would be the best option in my opinion.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Long time re-loader/caster, but have not used gas checks (all of my casting has been for handgun).

Now, with the bullets I need being extremely hard to find, I am considering running some .358, 158 grain semi-wadcutters through a .355 or .356 sizer to experiment with in my 350 Legend. My question is, does a bullet have to be designed to use a gas check OR can they be used on any style of bullet?

I know that this is probably an elementary question, but in 39 years of casting have never used a gas check.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance in this matter,
Randie
Fort Smith, AR
I wouldn't size them down to .355/6 for a 358 cal rifle. In fact, you may find a .359 or .360 sizer will seat them just fine and give you better accuracy. As a very general rule, using as "fat" a bullet as will easily chamber tends to give overall better results. That's not a carved in stone rule, but it almost always works best for me.
 

RCoulter52

New Member
I wouldn't size them down to .355/6 for a 358 cal rifle. In fact, you may find a .359 or .360 sizer will seat them just fine and give you better accuracy. As a very general rule, using as "fat" a bullet as will easily chamber tends to give overall better results. That's not a carved in stone rule, but it almost always works best for me.
The 350 Legend is loaded with a .355 bullet. Why Winchester did this is not completely understood.

Randie
Fort Smith, AR
 

STIHL

Well-Known Member
The 350 Legend is loaded with a .355 bullet. Why Winchester did this is not completely understood.

Randie
Fort Smith, AR

You probably want to slug it just in case, but I have read where some of them are 357 bore instead of the 355 bore.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I agree with the guys. I've done many experiments myself and ask the question on many boards. It doesn't hurt anything to try it meaning a guest checked designed bullet fired without a gas check. I always found better accuracy when I install the gas check. That's not at all talking to there being needed or not from a standpoint of leading/accuracy.
Powder coating goes a good distance toward not needing gas checks from a velocity standpoint. You can also use softer alloy with powder coat and not get leading.

I shoot allot of cast in my 350 Legends. I regularly push plain base, powder coated, boolits, from my 350 legend and 450 bushmaster past 2000 ft./s with zero BULLET fowling as related to the COATING. ;)

CW
 
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CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
THAT brought a laugh, Fiver. Thank you!

Welcome to the board, RCoulter! Nothing posted above conflicts with my experience using gas checks. Like others above, I have no experience with the plain-base gas checks of any make, nor have I tried shooting a gas-check-specific bullet design without a gas check. I have been a caster since 1981, and over those 40 years my usage of gas-checked bullets has steadily declined. I am largely old-school, and have not yet coated my castings. Grease-grooved designs work well enough for me, so far.
 

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
It is 0.355" diameter to get the right amount of taper to help extraction. That was also why it has the rebated rim. To get a little larger web diameter to help the taper. The 358 rifle bullets are usually too hard for hunting yet the 358 pistol bullets usually blow up hunting with them. If used for varmint then the pistol bullets are perfect.

All brass is not created equal either. The highly touted Starline brass is made out of spec and can be extremely dangerous. The web floor is outside the supported chamber and has blown many rifles up. It will turn your brass into a belted mag before it blows out if you are lucky. Win brass is hated by many but do the normal reloading practices and this can be extremely accurate.

The other thing you have to watch is the powders used. H110 and lilgun are your two top powders most like to use for full power loads. In a bolt action then pretty much all powders for the 357 mag will do. i got away from the AR15 in 350l because of the pressure issues that seem to rear their head without warning.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I agree with Tom altho I will keep my MSR 350 you just cannot get top loads if you expect any kind of brass life. I jumped on the 350 Band wagon pretty early. Like all was taken back by the ignorant choice of .355. But thinking like a caster, it didnt matter to me as much. Plus with time, proper bullet will be built.
Altho long barrels in the caliber are on minimal returns mine is a Faxon 24" and with a moderate 25 or 296 and a 165 Im mid 2200's. With very good accuracy & long case life. Knowing FTX bullets that velocity will work just fine. BUT to prove this I had some testing with the bullet to 2100 and in wet paper it penetrated expanded a d stayed together with 60% ish weight retention.
In my Ruger Bolt, Im really enjoying a 270g cast I bought for my 358 NM and Whelen rifles. Using small charges of Herco (cause I have a few pounds and no other use) Its shooting very well. It right on the cusp or stabilization. Meaning @ 1000 fps I see tail marks but @ 1200 they are gone out to 125/130 yards.
Using a MP 220g HP cast 20:1 and 12g Herco I took a deer this season. Velocity was 1400 @ 15'. Thru and thru penetration, with a dime sized entrance and quarter sized exit, taking out 2 ribs only. The deer expired within 50 ish yards perishing within sight of my stool in a blow down. Pretty good preformance from heavy 357 Mag type preformance.

I have used the 357 Maximum since the late 1980's taking truck loads if deer many with the disco 180 SSP Hornady bullet. But the 158 XTP. FP was also a excellent bullet if kept under 2000. I have re sized BOTH in the Legend and neither has shot as well.

I have used almost 200 170 Hornadys and I dont care for accuracy but they are tough.

180 Speers sized down dont expand in wet papers pushed to 2300 in Ruger. ( its also a tough bullet) The 165 FTX is my bullet is I choose a J word. MP 200 & 220 have been best but I'm certain the RCBS/LEE and various clones will be every bit as good.

I also have shot the Saeco 352. This is also a very accurate bullet!!

At the lower velocities 12-1500 Im liking the HP on game.

Good luck

CW