Drop Tube or Vibration

[chuck40219]

Is one better than the other for settling your powder before compressing?

chuck40219

[BrentD]

Is one better than the other for settling your powder before compressing?

chuck40219

Some of us do both - at the same time.

[Walks]

When I loaded Black Powder I used a 3 foot drop tube, worked great.

[country gent]

I use a drop tube 3 ft long, I also have some shorter tubes made but seldom use them. A log tube and slow deliberate pour does well for me. I slowly trickle the powder from the scale pan into the funnel along one side, this trickle may take 20 secs or so for larger rifle charges. Ive never tried vibration but then I didn't want to make up the set up to test it.
An arrow shaft or small tubing can be used to make a drop tube. For small brass tubing Online metals has a large selection.

[chuck40219]

This question is just the progression of my loading journey. I have been using vibration up to now. Have the arrow shaft (31") just have to put together the stand. I find the vibration method easy, I use a beard trimmer, 10 sec. per case and move on to the next case. Would like to see if there is a difference in my shots.

chuck40219

[country gent]

Many variables to consider when testing this (vibration vs drop tube). Cases volume, condition, flash holes. powder type and grain size. Charge weight and column length. Primers type brisance and fire.
While I use the drop tube its more a pre compress or grain alignment as I compress to final depth with a separate die in the press. This works well for me and most BP powders like / eed the compression. Few of my loads need the tube to get the full charge in the case before compressing in the die. some in 38-55 are close.

Make a simple drop tube and drop 10 charges into cases with it measure powder depth then pour charge out of case into pan and pour back into same case use vibration method and re measure depth, This way the same case and charge is being compared the same amount of fines in the charge, the same case volume and sizing, using the same case and charge reduces variables

[okietwolf]

I've never tried it, but an old timer from a club I used to be a member of made his drop tube from a 30" piece of steel fuel line, with an Sbend in it. Not enough of a bend to stop the flow, but to slow it down. He claimed he could dump the black powder in the funnel and it would take 6-7 seconds to flow to the case.

[BrentD]

A bend in your droptube defeats the purpose. Keep it straight.

[okietwolf]

I personally do a bit of both. My measure drops thru a 24" tube with a choke in the bottom and then I rap on the case with a wooden file handle for 15 seconds or so. Once the powder seems to not settle any more then I place the over powder wad and compress

[Edward]

Is one better than the other for settling your powder before compressing?

chuck40219

Both works for me /Ed

[John Boy]

Several years back there was anartclle in BPC News that compared drop tube to vibrating Basically there is no difference. I have a drop tube that hasn't been used in about 10 years because I vibrate all BP reloads

[rfd]

drop tubes are the easiest to use and make, and will more than suffice ... but, a combo of both tube and vibrate would be best of all.

[Lead pot]

Several years back there was anartclle in BPC News that compared drop tube to vibrating Basically there is no difference. I have a drop tube that hasn't been used in about 10 years because I vibrate all BP reloads

John I just happen to have read that last night when I moved some old magazines. The issue was winter 09 #68 and it was still taped shut never opened.

It said, drop tube was more considerably consistent followed by the none settled (just dumped in the funnel) and the least accurate was the vibrated.

[Thunder1964]

I actually do both at the same time.

[BrentD]

I actually do both at the same time.

You are not alone. See post number 2

[.22-10-45]

The latest Fouling Shot (Cast Bullet Asso.) has article on just this thing.

[BrentD]

The latest Fouling Shot (Cast Bullet Asso.) has article on just this thing.

They've been around for a long time.

[Lead pot]

In one of these books https://openlibrary.org/subjects/rifle_practice._[from_old_catalog] read about this subject and it said that a loose powder charge in a shell was more accurate than using a heavy follower on the power. (I think they referred to a compressed load) What their thought was that the burn was faster and more consistent because of the loose powder.
I also have spent time shooting ladder loads using a dipper, drop tube, vibrating or a combination of all and I only have seen higher extreme spread readings on the chronographs when the powder was dropped with a tube and then vibrated.

[Chill Wills]

I also have spent time shooting ladder loads using a dipper, drop tube, vibrating or a combination of all and I only have seen higher extreme spread readings on the chronographs when the powder was dropped with a tube and then vibrated.

Sorry Kurt - I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying, in your experience you saw the largest extreme spreads (ES) when using drop-tubed AND vibrated loads of BP? And by extension, better ES loads were made by using only one method, either drop-tube OR vibration?
thanks...

[Lead pot]

I see larger spreads in the ES when using a drop tube and then vibrating the charge. I think vibrating the charge breaks the granules down and creates more dust or the dust gets over the flash hole.
I can't say for sure but I see a lot of verticals vibrating the charge.
I get a lot better results just filling the case with very light or no compression. Yes the fouling is darker but what does it matter when you wipe between shots fired?