Gas check?

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Iwsbull

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I am about to start loading for a 454 casull and am looking at about a 290-300 grain Keith style boolit that I plan to push around 1300-1400 FPS. I powdercoat so I am wondering if that will suffice for straight ww or if I need to go with a gas check also. SRH 7 1/2” if that matters. I have good results in the 44 at about 1300 (I have pushed them to about 1450) with a 265 grain Keith boolit plain base so I think I might be alright with the 454 at similar velocity. I will be ordering a mold from Tom at accurate molds.
 
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I use gas checks with all cast 454 loads. My personal favorite for commercially cast bullets is the 360 grain lwnfp gc from true shot (oregon trail) i've pushed them over 1500 fps - thats stout.i have loaded 250 grain rnfp commercially cast and coated with hi-tek (black), it worked but didn't shoot very accurately above 1100 fps, at that point might as well skip the 454 brass. Thats as far as i went with no gas check in 454. Others may know more. I still use those bullets just in 45 colt cases pushed at 800
 
I do a fair amount of reloading for .454 but cast from "hardball" alloy from Midway and use gas check designs.

What sort of powder coating do you use?
 
I like GCs for velocity, and uniforming of the trailing edge of the bullet. I generally size them on between two thin coats of shake'n'bake powder. If you wait, the powder gets too thick on the shank.
 
View attachment 865092 Eastwood powdercoat. Mirror red.

Thanks, I was curious about that as an alternative to traditional lubes.

As far as leading with WW at those velocities I am far from the expert (I've always relied on GC's for anything above much about 1000 fps or so, depending on alloy) but from all I've read from the pros, fitting the bullet to the chamber throat (snug fit but can be pushed through with finger pressure) helps reduce gas blowing by the base of the bullet and melting it as it passes upward.

Where I've always had the most trouble with leading in revolvers is right in the first inch or so of the forcing cone. I have a S&W model 22-4 in .45 ACP that leaded horribly in the barrel throat and on close examination, the chamfer on the throat was rough and had a deep tool mark on one side. Granted in this case we're talking 200-230 plain base lead bullets at velocities 850 fps or less. I bought an 11 degree forcing cone cutter from Brownell's and smoothed and re-cut the cone and the last time I had it out, it shot clean as a whistle.

So depending on the bullet diameter in relation to the chamber throats and the effectiveness of the powder coat lube, those velocities should be fine with WW alloy. But I have no where near the experience of many other caster/loaders and will be curious what their input is.
 
012CCAC4-3AEB-40D5-97BB-D7233C1A02F8.jpeg Here is one I recovered after it went through an old crosstie and wound up in the berm. The powder coating is tough and you can see how the nose and front driving band deformed but the coating stayed intact.
 
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