Which one do you prefer?

[Bret4207]

I never found adding a GC to be a major chore and they do make things easier in many cases. Cost and availability is a factor these days. Plus, where's the fun in not trying to get a PB to shoot as good as a GC design?

 

[CZ93X62]

The original Ideal 358156 was a 38 Colt (Long) that only lasted a couple of years. Lyman #358156 was originally made for Thompson's private sales, but was adopted by Lyman in the early 1950's.

The Ideal number 429244 is also a recycled number from the 1800's. The Lyman original # 431244 is post #358156, so maybe around the advent of the 44 Magnum?

None of my references show a #454490. However they list a #452490 from 1951 through at least 1959 as a 235 grains gas check bullet.

FWIW

Ric--My edition of #452490 casts at 252 grains in 92/6/2. It was the only bullet that shot well in my current Bisley Blackhawk x 45 Colt that was 'Built Backwards'--.448" throats and .452" grooves. It has shot very well in all of my 45 caliber revolvers, but in 45 AR and most 45 Colt loadings a gas check is superfluous. I have stuffed enough 2400 behind some of these castings to enable 1250-1300 FPS in the Bishawk post throat surgery (now featuring .454" bullets into .453" throats and .452' grooves) and these stay accurate. Way fun, too--but 20 of those at the end of a session is enough for this old enthusiast.

When GCs ran 1 cent each in 1981, I was kinda DGAF about the cost factor--now that they run 5-6 cents each.....different story.

 

[Winelover]

Gas checks are still cheaper than jacketed bullets.

 

[358156 hp]

Gas checks are still cheaper than jacketed bullets.

And you can fine tune cast bullets to different tasks.

 

[RicinYakima]

When GCs ran 1 cent each in 1981, I was kinda DGAF about the cost factor--now that they run 5-6 cents each.....different story.

I bought several thousand each of Lyman and Hornady GC's .358" in the 1980's. And I have many thousand for 30 caliber rifle and 32 pistol. As my shooting friends pass on, I seem to inherit all the GC's. When I go, someone will get all of mine, .22" to .458".

Now I am only using .22 Hornet, .30 rifle and 35 rifle bullets that need GC's.

 

[RBHarter]

I learned paper patch because the green bar was in the recycling bin ..........
I finally bought a lube sizer because guys were practically giving them away. Dies were cheap to .

I placed my first gas check because of the lead on the piston of an SKS with a .317 groove and a gas port that would swallow a #30 drill , a #29 shank probably would have gone in from the inside but no the outside. It was for an Armalite 15 in 6.8 SPC .......... basically instant success.

 

[CZ93X62]

Gas checks are still cheaper than jacketed bullets.

No doubt about it, sir.

With the kids grown and on their own I can afford jacketed bullets AND the Barnes Condor Cuddlers these days. 40 years ago that wasn't the case, for sure--but as a matter of stubbornness and habit I continue the bullet casting--even with the weird Rotometals non-toxic alloy that costs the earth. It has about the same specific gravity as the Barnes copper critters, too.

Illegitimus non carborundum!