A friend wants to try some compressed loads in his .270 and has been told the best way to do it is with a drop tube.

So how long does the tube need to be and is there anything else that needs to be considered??

Thanks in advance,

Pete

Pete, I just use the primer tube off my Rock Chucker press. I suppose it is about 10-12" (25 cm) long. Works pretty well, for make-do. The one's I've seen are about 6-8" long. Dutch.

Pete, I would have your frined buy the smarter powder funnel from Midway, it is well worth the money.

Besides containing many adapters for different cases, it also contains a noce 4" drop tube that seems to be more then enough for the compressed loads I have dropped in the past.

Good shooting!

A friend and I were experimenting with compressed loads in his 45/70, and to get some of them to fit we made the tube about 2 feet long, for whatever it is worth. The powder measure (RCBS) hung over the side of the bench and we set up a card table with a loading block for the cases.

Thanks guys,

We weren't sure if using a tube too long would cause any problems....Looks as if a 10"
tube should work fine...

Pete

Hey Pete E, I've used the MTM Funnel Set for a long time and it also comes with a 4" Drop Tube. This length works for about 90% of the Compressed Loads I've wanted to try.

Still, there were a few Loads where the Pressure Ring Expansion was still very small and it would have been nice to have been able to get in just a bit more Powder. Saw what I needed at a Bow Shop - an Arrow Shaft.

I got one out of his throw-aways and it is 34" long. Of course, you can cut it to any length you desire. If you get the correct "diameter" it will fit snug within the MTM adapters. Mine was a few thousandths small, but that was fine. I wound the ends with thread (like wrapping a line guide on a fishing rod) and the adapters fit snug now. A person could put a bit of epoxy where I put the "thread wraps" and have a permanent set-up.

If you go this route, use your Deburring tool to deburr the outside of the arrow shaft and chamfer the inside to remove any burrs. Don't want to have the Powder "hang" as it goes through.

And last but certainly not least, I'd strongly encourage you all to use Pressure Ring Expansion as your indication as whether or not the Load is at a SAFE level. Just going by "Velocity", or Primer appearance might end up misleading you.

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

Hore Core,

Thanks for the tip and warning. From what I remember he is using a published load which
is around 107% case capacity...As this is a
max load we will work up with care and we
don't intend trying to exceed them. I have to confess that although I have heard the term "Pressure Ring Expansion " I have no idea what it involves. We are looking for the usual signs on the primer and sticky bolt lift along with the "feel" of the recoil
if you know what I mean. If anybody can point to a site which explains "Pressure Ring Expansion" I'd be interested to learn more..

Thanks again,

Pete

[This message has been edited by Pete E (edited 06-22-2001).]

I got some telescoping brass tubing from a hobby shop. It just fits inside a 45-70 case. Made an adapter to attach it to my powder measure. Mounted the measure, up high, on the outside of one of the doors to my reloading stuff cabinent. Ran the business end through a block of wood. It give about a three foot drop. I use mine for black powder. I bet it would really align and compact the grains of powder for a small bore like .270.

Pete,

This is the one we use. We made it here from the Sinclair rifle rest.

Works like a charm!

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

Hey Saeed, Nice looking rig. I really like your stand for it.

I do believe my arrow shaft might have your tube whipped on appearance though. The one I've got has the "Orange Camo" (Do those words really go together?) paint job. HAHAHA Impossible to misplace mine in the Reloading Room.

Hey Pete E, I just copied down your email address and I'll be sending you a file on Pressure Ring Expansion(PRE). I don't know how long you have been Reloading, but the file is written so beginners can get an idea of how PRE works without confusing them. So, don't think it is "talking down-to" you when you read it.

As a side note, I've yet to see a Load published by any of the Component Manufacturers that will "blow-up" a firearm, but some are still way too high for a "specific" firearm. Speer significantly lowered their Loads for 357Mag ammo when they switched to S&Ws from their Rugers. Likewise, their current 308Win 150gr bullet RL-15 MAX Loads are 3.5gr-4.0gr over MAX for my rifle. But, the IMR4064 Loads are well below MAX for it.

So, always use "every" Pressure detection method available to you. It just results in Peace-of-Mind, long case life and long barrel life.

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

Saeed,

It's kind of hard to work out the scale from the picture, but knowing the rounds you guys load I bet that is an 8" funnel and you fill it using a garden trowel!! :-)

Hotcore,

Many thanks for the e-mail and info...I'll
have a read of it tomorrow and give you a shout...

Thanks again,

Pete

As a side note - I use a compressed load of H4831 in my .270, all I do is tap the side of the case with a pencil to settle the charge.

I should have mentioned the tube is 28" long. Appolgies for the over sight

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

I didn't notice any benefit when I went from a 12inch drop tube to one 20 inches long, but there might be for some powders. I think I was using H4831 for my 270 Win.

Also, for compressed loads I've used an electric clipper (like barbers use to trim hair -- the kind that vibrate back and forth). Touch it to the side of the case and watch the powder vibrate and sink down the case. It worked well for me.

jpb

Have you tried holding an electric razor against the case bottom? Works!