As anyone have any experience shooting gas check bullet's without gas checks? I have a .44 Magnum G.C. mold that I have used one or two times with out the gas check on the bullet. It appears that at 20 yds. it shoots O.K. But, I wonder out to 50 yds. or more what would happen. I have not noticed any unusual leading. However, I am loading mild target loads. Additionally, I am in the process of getting a 3" .44 Spl. that I will only shoot targrt loads. Thanks in advance.
Shooting G.C. bullets w/out G.C.
- Thread starter Larrymcc1
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nicky4968
Member
If you're shooting standard velocity/standard pressure you don't need the gas check.
Out of a magnum, at magnum velocities and magnum pressures, you do.
All things otherwise equal, no effect on accuracy.
(Most of my experience with GC bullets is the 158 gr SWC for the .38 Special/.357 Magnum).
Out of a magnum, at magnum velocities and magnum pressures, you do.
All things otherwise equal, no effect on accuracy.
(Most of my experience with GC bullets is the 158 gr SWC for the .38 Special/.357 Magnum).
john traveler
Member
As a general rule, loading and shooting bullets designed for use with gaschecks without the gaschecks presents no problems as long as you limit them to target load velocity and pressure.
An example would be 158 grain SWC bullets in .38 Special and .357 Magnum at 800-1000 fps would be no problem. Push that same bullet up to magnum velocities using a slow propellant like 2400, H110, or WW 296, and you will get lousy accuracy and barrel leading. The same would apply to 240 grain SWC bullets in .44 Special and .44 Magnum.
Years ago, I made up and fired a batch of several hundred 120 grain RN lead bullets in M1 Carbines using H110 powder at about 1900 fps velocities. I ran out of .30 gaschecks and continued loading the last few hundred bullets. Results, you can probably guess: accuracy went from consistently good to plain LOUSY. The semi-auto functioning also stopped, and disassembly and removal of the gas piston showed what happened: the gast port, piston, and piston retainer were badly fouled with bullet lube, hardened carbon, and metallic lead.
An example would be 158 grain SWC bullets in .38 Special and .357 Magnum at 800-1000 fps would be no problem. Push that same bullet up to magnum velocities using a slow propellant like 2400, H110, or WW 296, and you will get lousy accuracy and barrel leading. The same would apply to 240 grain SWC bullets in .44 Special and .44 Magnum.
Years ago, I made up and fired a batch of several hundred 120 grain RN lead bullets in M1 Carbines using H110 powder at about 1900 fps velocities. I ran out of .30 gaschecks and continued loading the last few hundred bullets. Results, you can probably guess: accuracy went from consistently good to plain LOUSY. The semi-auto functioning also stopped, and disassembly and removal of the gas piston showed what happened: the gast port, piston, and piston retainer were badly fouled with bullet lube, hardened carbon, and metallic lead.
