Anybody use the FreeChex tool for gas checks?

[SteveR]

I know Paco had made some in the past, I saw this on the web and wondered if anybody has used this maker?

http://www.freechex.net/index.html

Steve

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Back when the first .410 makers were exiting I bought one to give them a whirl in my 414 Supermag. It was a slow process. Using a whole cutter to make the "rounds" then lining it up in the slot and wacking the plunger with my big plastic hammer. I forget the thickness of the copper sheet I had but it was a few thousandths too thick and the finished cup came through tightly.
BUT they all shot as well as any that the big names make. The tools made today are nicer and much faster to use. Plus with the years going by much has been learned about the whole process.
Over at Castboolits there is a wealth of reading about stock thickness and material that works well.
Mike in Peru

[JWG]

Hello,

I have a freechex II in .357 and it works pretty good. I did not have much luck with aluminum siding - the cheks just fell right off. I found some copper sheet and those stay on very good. I got an arbor press from Harbor Freight for cheap and it has been handy to have ( using a hammer or mallet was a no go for me) They take a fair amount of time to make though.


I have been thinking about the Freechex III that makes them all in one operation.

Joe

[Mescalero]

Something to keep in mind.

[SteveR]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I will give them a try. I like the III version, but I don't have a press. Maybe a big rubber/plastic mallet will work.

Thanks,
Steve

[AJMD429]

The website says you can get them on GunBroker.com, but I didn't see any listed there under 'FreeChex'...

[peter richards]

I have them in .243,.308,.338,.358 &.429. & have found them to be very good. I too have found the copper sheet much better than aluminium cans.
They were very helpful & even spoke with CBE molds to make sure the .338 freechex would suit the custom mold I was having made up for my 33 WCF.
Highly recommended.

[SteveR]

The website says you can get them on GunBroker.com, but I didn't see any listed there under 'FreeChex'...

I didn't notice that about selling at GunBroker, I only saw the flea-bay option, thanks!

Steve

[SteveR]

I have them in .243,.308,.338,.358 &.429. & have found them to be very good. I too have found the copper sheet much better than aluminium cans.
They were very helpful & even spoke with CBE molds to make sure the .338 freechex would suit the custom mold I was having made up for my 33 WCF.
Highly recommended.

Thank you Sir!!
I plan on getting them in .30 cal, I hope to see if they will work for my Mosin Nagant, which is .310 bore, and the mold is .312.
I would also like 6.5, .451, and .357-8.

Steve

[mikld]

I have one for .44, and I think I got ot over at CastBoolits.com (vendor/sponsor). Mine works but is terribley slow (and I'm usually a pretty patient feller). I'v had good rsults using an arbor press with mine, but the most important part is finding material thich enough to keep the checks on the bullet. Soda/beer cand are too thin (.007"=.010") and most good shim material is too hard and too costly, defeats the putpose of cheap gaschecks. For a while I was carrying a mic with me so if I saw some suitable material, I'd mic it to see if it would make good gaschecks. I'm down to just three molds with gas check shoulders, a 429244 Lyman, and a couple Ranch Dog's molds 240 and 265 gr. RNFP, for my Puma and shoot mostly 420421 plain base bullets in my other .44s...