Are There Significant Advantages to Using Drop Tubes

338winmag · Jan 2, 2012

Hi Team,
I understand that one can get more "max" in using a tube and when doing so the powder might not be as compressed but for those of us that don't always use 103+% capacity are there significant advantages to using drop tubes?

Thanks
338winmag

DrMike · Jan 2, 2012

FWIW, I don't use a drop tube, opting instead to use a glass rod to tap the case while holding the funnel to the top. For most ball powders, there is little compression allowable. For stick powders, depending on the coarseness of the propellant, one can load to as much as 114% of case capacity. I anticipate that about two-thirds of my cases are loaded to case densities between 105 and 110 percent. A drop tube might be of use, but I've not used one yet.

Guest · Jan 2, 2012

I don't use a drop tube, but I do tend to swirl my powder through my funnel to give it time to settle in the case. I just pour the powder into the funnel at the upper edge, facing tanget to the hole, so that the powder sort of rides down and around the funnel. It keeps stick powders from clogging at the funnel hole, which is why I started doing it. The function of a drop tube is to allow more time for the load to settle in the case, anyway, so I think I'm accomplishing that to some degree. Never liked highly compressed loads, either. 95-105% is my favorite place to be.

JD338 · Jan 2, 2012

I don't use a drop tube either, even with compressed loads.

JD338

SJB358 · Jan 2, 2012

I use one for everything. I will get a picture of it up, but it's a Midway combo funnel kit with a 4" drop tube. I pour the powder faster or slower depending on case load. It doesn't need it everytime, but I use one. Just part of my process.

Here is the exact one I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/554122 ... 16ID842036

DrMike · Jan 2, 2012

I have the same kit, Scotty, and I have yet to use the extended tube.

FOTIS · Jan 9, 2012

SJB358":3r34ifl2 said:
I use one for everything. I will get a picture of it up, but it's a Midway combo funnel kit with a 4" drop tube. I pour the powder faster or slower depending on case load. It doesn't need it everytime, but I use one. Just part of my process.

Here is the exact one I use.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/554122 ... 16ID842036

me too!