I have bought some .430 diameter bullets from the "Missouri Bullet Company" to load and shoot in my Ruger Super Black Hawk in .44 Magnum. These bullets are 300 grain WFN with a Brinell number of 18. I plan on using 296/110 type of powder. One manual (Lyman) says I should use "gas checks" on the bullets. I don't have any experience using these and frankly don't want to use them. Will these bullets lead my barrel if I don't and if I do use them will I have to account for the weight of the "gas check" along with the weight of the bullet? The velocity I might get is unknown to me at this time but I would "guess" somewhere between 1000 and possibly 1200fps. I am not sure at what velocity this bullet would start leading my barrel. I sure would like some help. Thanks for any answers I might get. .

The design of the bullet mold determines if a gas check is to be added. You won't need one at those velocities anyway.

I shoot their coated 240 grain Keith style bullets over unique and H110 with no gas checks. again coated bullets and no problems.

There is no simple answer as to when a gas check is needed, as it's a combination of factors: The pressure the load generates, barrel twist rate, and alloy hardness are the primary factors that dictate the necessity for a gas check.

With a revolver that has cylinder throats properly sized to the barrels bore, bullets sized appropriately, a good lube and reasonably hard bullets, a 44 mag doesn't require a gas check. I've used plain based cast bullets of bhn 13 loaded with H-110 to pressures over 40 kpsi to 1500+ fps in the 357 and 1200 fps in the 480 and have had no appreciable leading and excellent accuracy.

That said, if the bullet is undersized for your barrels bore and the lube is less than ideal, you'll have leading. Some of the most hellacious leading I've had has been from commercial hard bevel base cast bullets with a crayon like lube that were undersized for my barrels bore.

And there is your answer OP

Ditto what sarge said, and if you want a piece of mind why not call Missouri bullet and ask.

Here is a surefire way to know, load some and shoot the f*cking thing.

That works too......

I'm continually amazed at the lengths people will go to not shoot. Seems so many have a fear of actually trying sheit out, it baffles me.

Thanks for all the help. I did email Missouri bullets and there reply also said gas checks were unneeded. Thanks again! Forks

It doesn't matter anyway. You didn't buy gas check bullets, so you can't put gas checks on them.

I just bought a bunch of those same bullets. With 15.5 grns of 2400 I chronoed them at about 1075 fps out of my 4" model 29. No signs of leading.

No. But when did they start making a WFN in 300grs?

Apparently pretty recently... I hadn't looked in on them for a couple of months and discovered they're also offering a 325 grain WFN for the 45 Colt.

Getting lead out of the bore is not that big a deal. Brass brush, solvent, work. My 45 Vaquero has shed pieces that look like lead wire, just scrub a little. That was with the hard cast, hard lubed, bevel based abortions mentioned.

I don't know when Missouri Bullets started making these bullets but there tel: # is 816-597-3204.

Dillon what weight bullet were you using and at what velocity if you know?

255 with a stout load of 296. No idea of actual velocity. A fools errand, now I use better bullets and 9 or 10 grains Unique.

What he said. The bullet is either recessed at the base for gas checks or it isn't. The one thing I certainly would not do is shoot bullets that are designed for gas checks without them. That will likely end up with the powder flash cutting the sides on the bottom of the bullet, leading the bore and producing poor accuracy. Gas checks are not a bad idea and I wouldn't think of shooting 30-caliber rifle rounds without them.