Gas check bullets WITHOUT gas checks OK?

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I want to know if it's OK to load gas check style bullets without the gas checks. I want to shoot 200 grain (undecided saeco or lyman) 35 cal rifle bullets out of a 357 using 38 brass.
Leading won't be an issue, speed will be slow. My questions are:

Will the lube that collects in the gas check groove have any adverse affect on powder that may contact it?

Will it be extremely messy to shoot since there won't be any thing "wiping" the bore behind the lube?

I know I can solve all of this my shooting gas checks, just want the option not to if it's okay.

Thanks.
 
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I've loaded and fired many, many thousands of rounds of .38 Spl, .357, .44 Spl, and .44 Magnum rounds of cast gas check bullets without the gas checks.

Poor accuracy, bore leading, and bullet lube contamination were almost non-issues. I say "non-issues" because there are exceptions: hot magnum-level loads and storage of ammo in hot weather conditions can and did make for some bullet lube powder contamination.

If loaded mild, and not stored over a hot summer in the car, for example, you could not even tell they did not use gas checks.

The bullet sizing step may, however, make for a messy bullet lube leak at the bullet heel where the gas check should be. This can be minimized by adjusting the bullet sizer lubricator, but it still requires manually wiping the bullet base clean on a rag stapled to your workbench.
 
Lyman 358156 is a 160g gas check mould. I've used it for 20+ years and only use gas checks on the magnum loads. For low power stuff I omit the check.

Lube is White Label BAC - check it out. Really inexpensive and good for up to 2500fps w/low smoke.
 
Thanks John and Twig. Really good info, and I had not thought of stapling a rag to the bench, great idea!
 
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