Gas-check bullet costs

[Quarryman]

Hi Folks...
 
I'd like to save money and use gas-checked 180-grain bullets in my .357 Max Contender.
 
One problem: on the sites I've visited, G-C projectiles are more expensive than XTPs!
 
Can anyone recommend a provider of good G-C bullets that actually cost less than jacketed types?  BTW, I don't want to install my own gas-checks. I don't need yet another reloading step.
 
Thanks in advance for any advice. Note, any other comments or cautions about G-C bullets are welcome.

[Czech_too]

Have you considered going with a 180 gr. w/o a GC?  Depending on the velocity that you're gonna push 'em at, you may not need a GC.
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=10
With a brinell of 18, and sized at .358, these are hard enough, and large enough dia. wise, so that you shouldn't get any gas cutting I would think.

[luckydawg13]

grafs & son has M B C  180gr boolits going for $45.59 per 500 pcs

[Junior1942]

With an added coat of LLA the 180 gr LaserCast FP plain base will go through my T/C 10" octagon 357 mimimax a non-leading 1600 fps.  It's a slightly reamed out 357 mag.  About 1500 fps is all my wrist will take, however, so that's where it stays.  The 180 FP is actually a combination FP and cone, more like a truncated cone.  Haven't used it on game yet, but that plan is in the works.
PS: See http://www.laser-cast.com/38Cal.html 500 shipping included = $62.50. Or about 13¢ each in the door.

[Quarryman]

Thanks for your input, everybody.
 
I wanted to go with gas-check bullets because most sources caution against exceeding 1000 FPS or so with plain lead bullets. My own experience with .44 Magnum confirms this, though I admit I haven't been real scientific about it.
 
Junior 1942, I don't know what you mean by "LLA" but based on what you said, it sounds promising. More details?
 
LuckyDawg13, thanks for the tip on Grafs. I wasn't acquainted with that company, and it looks like a good place to shop. Note that they are out of stock on the MBC 180-grain bullet, though. Pretty common problem in the bullet market from what I've seen.
 
In any case, I can shoot lead at 1000 FPS if I want to keep costs down. But that's not why we buy .357 Max pistols!
 
Keep them cards 'n letters coming, folks--I still haven't seen a G-C bullet that's cheaper than jacketed.

[Czech_too]

With regard to the leading problems you've experienced in the past, a good read.
http://www.lasc.us/TaylorLeadingDefined.htm

[Luckyducker]

QMan, I have used these bullets and have found them to be very good and they are good people to deal with, although their shipping is kind of spendy .   Leadhead bullets at this site  (you may have to copy and paste this addy in your address box to get there) http://www.proshootpro.com/   

[Junior1942]

Junior 1942, I don't know what you mean by "LLA" but based on what you said, it sounds promising. More details?

LLA = Lee Liquid Alox.  See www.leeprecision.com Dump all 500 bullets in a lube-use-only bucket or pan big enough to hold them all + room.  Squirt in and on about 1 fl oz of LLA.  Shake, rattle & roll.  Dump them out on shiny newspaper ad paper or aluminum foil.  Put a fan blowing over them and in an hour or so re-arrange them for better drying.  They're ready to load the next day.  Dump them back in the original Laser-Cast box.  Ignore all instructions to add this and that and some of that over yonder to the LLA.