Rossi Rifleman

Hello friends,

I have a question about gas checks. I want to buy a new mold for my 30-30. I like the RD 311-165 from NOE. The molds offered drop either two gas check bullets or one gas check bullet and one plain based bullet.

In my plinking I shoot about an equal number of full power loads and low power loads with pistol powder.

Should I buy the mold that drops one of each or should I get the mold that drops two gas check bullets and just leave the checks off of the low velocity loads? Will the accuracy be affected that much?

How fast can I push the plain-based bullet with 45-45-10?

Would straight Alox be better?

Any help would be great.

Steve in N CA

Hey Steve. First, welcome to the forum. Must have missed in the introduction thread.

Next, that's a good first question all right. ;~)

To be honest, I've never done it, but I can't imagine it will affect the accuracy that much in a low velocity round. At least not in the handgun rounds that are the only thing I home cast. But I'll bet that someone else HAS tried shooting them without the checks, had problems and will chime in to point out the error in my thinking. LOL

But logically, I don't see how it could. As I said though, I don't cast anything but handgun rounds. So it may be different for rifle rounds given the higher pressures.

That said, if it worries ya and you shoot about an equal amount of each, why not get the mold that does both? Then you'll never be without either. ;~)

Steve, I think you'll find that it's not so much the lack of the check that affects accuracy as it is velocity. It would seem that almost every bullet and alloy hassome "magic" point where the leading genie gets out of his bottle. I've shot home cast 6.5mm bullets in most of my Swedes and as long as I stay under about 1400 fps they seem to do okay asbove that the average barn door is safe. These where cast with straight wheel weight and lubd with NRA formula lube, sized .001 over bore. The same bullet with a check could go around 2100 fps and keep decent accuracy. Were I getting that mold I'd likely go for the 1 each version, but then that would give me two bullets to play with. My 30 caliber experience has been limited to an SKS 7.62x39, a 7.62x54R and a 7.5x55 Swiss but all with checks. I did shoot a Contender in 32-20, they had a .308 bore and I shot it without checks, it shot a lot better that I did.

Make smoke,

You could get the plain base mold, and use plain base gas checks on them when you feel the need. Sure makes it easier to pick out a mold that way.

Well dern! for some reason I was thinking you had a 45/70 till I reread your post before I hit the submit button.

The 30-30 is a little more picky than the big thumper is. I might opt for the one of each mold but would really rather get the 4 or 5 hole version, they aint that much more costly, and production goes way up with them.

I don't cast anymore, but when I did, I used the Lyman# 358156 gas check mold. I shot a lot of bunny fart loads with them in a 4" with .38 Spec brass without the GCs. They worked pretty well for me, but I've never tried this in a rifle round.

The 156 bullet has been one of the best performing cast bullets that i have used in my rossi. I have an old 2 hole mold that belonged to one of my brother in laws. I reamed out the gas check part of the mold, and made it a plain base. It did not change how it shoots at all. When i want to really push them fast, I put a plain base gas check on them.

The 156 and 4.5g of Unique, is extremely accurate in my S&W 28. Works pretty good in the rossi too.

Thank you for the replies guys. Great info. I will look into plain based gas checks.