NO LOGIC AT ALL. I THINK

[Dr5x]

In my long range shooting, 300 to 1000 yards with my Gibbs, I always use a drop tube measure. It settles the powder in the breech, then when the bullet/wad is pushed down to you just feel it touch the powder. I then raise the rod about 1/2 inch and drop it. This helps get a more consistent pressure in the breech and I will promise you, it improves accuracy greatly at long range.

I have trouble believing the above BUT I have been surprised a few times by things that "just couldn't be"
I wonder what muzzleloader you were firing at those distances.
In my next life I'll runafew tests and report back
I'm not being sarcastic. I just can't do any far out tests like that. The Brits have long range matches at Bisley range I believed one of our members came in first at the 900 yard range a few years ago. That would be fun but i have run out of time. You Twerps of 60 and 70's should all the things that are of interest. Input things the opportunity may be gone forever.

The other day I was considering a relatively grand project but the question of would I be around to finish it at 92 or 93. A good question but you have decide to get off your lower lumbar area and act like you'll live forever or to just sit back and quietly let ambition die and yourself to die with it. Yes. I think I'll put together a complete new book not to replace the old one but to add an addition to the old and give it as a thing to attract sales or sell it separately.
I think every author should have several books people think are great but won't buy than just one.
Dutch

 

[Dr5x]

In my long range shooting, 300 to 1000 yards with my Gibbs, I always use a drop tube measure. It settles the powder in the breech, then when the bullet/wad is pushed down to you just feel it touch the powder. I then raise the rod about 1/2 inch and drop it. This helps get a more consistent pressure in the breech and I will promise you, it improves accuracy greatly at long range.

Did you ever bother to look down the drop tube after loading to see if any powder wassail in there?
I'm not being a Smart Alec 91920's expression) I really want to know that's how we learn.
Dutch Schoultz

 

[52Bore]

Has nothing to do with static.
Powder will settle/denser at the breech, hence the smaller diameter of the tube and assure no grains stick to the bore after wiping/cleaning between each shot.

 

[Dr5x]

Has nothing to do with static.
Powder will settle/denser at the breech, hence the smaller diameter of the tube and assure no grains stick to the bore after wiping/cleaning between each shot.

Great, but don't some grains remain stuck in the tube? Thus short changing the final load?
I'm beginning to nag tsk

Dutch

 

[Carbon 6]

The biggest flaw in my and your advice is that a certain percentage will wipe with a WET patch letting excess water drip into the breech pre dampening the oncoming powder charge.

That's an easy fix too, just wipe with alcohol. Problem solved again.

 

[Dr5x]

Great, but don't some grains remain stuck in the tube? Thus short changing the final load?
I'm beginning to nag tsk

Dutch

As a pain in the butt former teacher I must change that "don't" to a "doesn' It gets in your blood like not be able to watch people chew gum.
Dutcht"

 

[Carbon 6]

Great, but don't some grains remain stuck in the tube? Thus short changing the final load?
I'm beginning to nag tsk

Dutch

If it does you've got bigger problems.

 

[billraby]

I think it only works if you also have your lucky penny in your pocket.

 

[Grenadier1758]

You only get static with materials that don't conduct electricity. Both steel and copper conduct electricity so static can't build up. If one wipes with a damp patch, there may be some moisture in the barrel to attract some powder. The drop tube, since it is dry, will allow all the powder to pass to the breech. Mostly this is only applicable to bench rest shooters who are looking for that ultimate consistency of powder charge and density of powder at the breech. For most of us, a drop tube is unnecessary.

 

[rich pierce]

I guess everyone is forgetting that rifle barrels are rifled. See, they have these twisty shallow grooves. I’ve seen them and probably you have, too. But the drop tubes seem to be smoothbores. Now maybe there are some really high end ones that are rifled but I’ve never seen one that is. Food for thought.

 

[Dr5x]

I think it only works if you also have your lucky penny in your pocket.

I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT AS LUCKY BUT YEARS AGO I CAME ACROSS AN ENGLISH PENNY FROM 1928, THE YEAR I WAS BOR. I'VE CARRIED IT EVER SINCE TO KEEP AN EYE ON BOTH OF US WERE WEARING OUT.
WE'RE BOTH GETTING A BIT THIN.
DUTCH

I guess everyone is forgetting that rifle barrels are rifled. See, they have these twisty shallow grooves. I’ve seen them and probably you have, too. But the drop tubes seem to be smoothbores. Now maybe there are some really high end ones that are rifled but I’ve never seen one that is. Food for thought.

You only get static with materials that don't conduct electricity. Both steel and copper conduct electricity so static can't build up. If one wipes with a damp patch, there may be some moisture in the barrel to attract some powder. The drop tube, since it is dry, will allow all the powder to pass to the breech. Mostly this is only applicable to bench rest shooters who are looking for that ultimate consistency of powder charge and density of powder at the breech. For most of us, a drop tube is unnecessary.

HOW CAN YOU SEND A PROPERLY TIGHT PATCHED BALL DOWN THE RIFLED BARREL WITHOUT SWEEPING EVERY SPEC OF POWDER BEFORE IT?
HEY I THINK WE HAVE SECONDD CONTROVERSEY THAT WILL NEVER BE SETTLED. DROP TUBES AND BLOWING DOWN THE BARREL.
I CAN BE JUST AS PIG HEADED AS THE NEXT GUY.
DUTCH

 

[Dphar1950]

The drop tube was used and might still be in use by some slug gun shooters. It has no practical use in the rifles most of us shoot and if you are hunting or doing some trail walk its really just a piece of easily damaged junk to pack around. Static is a non-issue with BP.

 

[Dphar1950]

Static? I thought graphite coatings took care of this?
I mean even if it was as fine as talc. And arent most powder measure brass for this reason?
SM

Actually, historically, graphite was used to make a cheap powder look like it was properly polished. Back in the day, for example, the British Military would not accept powder coated with "black lead". It adds to fouling since its a form of carbon that will not combust at BP temperatures. The test for cheap powder used to be rubbing it on the palm. If it made a black mark it was coated and not properly made. Swiss has no graphite. Its impossible to ignite BP with static. The sparks will simply move the grains away at high voltage levels. The high carbon content (charcoal) makes the powder immune to static. And back in the day tin coated or plain steel measures were used. Lots of plastic used with propellant powders of all kinds.

 

[1950DAVE]

HOW CAN YOU SEND A PROPERLY TIGHT PATCHED BALL DOWN THE RIFLED BARREL WITHOUT SWEEPING EVERY SPEC OF POWDER BEFORE IT?

My sentiments exactly Dutch.
Dave

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
For a further variant, look at these true dueling pistols by Robert Wogdon.

One ramrod is fitted with a powder measure. The brass measure is unscrewed from the rod, reversed, and then screwed back on. The reversed end is a hollow measure. The measure was filled with powder and the pistol's barrel inverted and lowered over the rod. Then rod and pistol are turned over depositing the powder in the breech. The famous Wogdon-made pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel had the same kind of powder measure.

dave

 

[Dr5x]

Hi,
For a further variant, look at these true dueling pistols by Robert Wogdon.

One ramrod is fitted with a powder measure. The brass measure is unscrewed from the rod, reversed, and then screwed back on. The reversed end is a hollow measure. The measure was filled with powder and the pistol's barrel inverted and lowered over the rod. Then rod and pistol are turned over depositing the powder in the breech. The famous Wogdon-made pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel had the same kind of powder measure.

dave

ARENT THOSE TWO HANDSOME DUELLING PISTOLS. THEY ARE TO BE LOADED SOLEMNLY IN A MISTY MORNING CLEARING IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING INCREDIBLY STUPID.
THERE IS OR AT LEAST ONCE WAS AN ISLAND IN THE MISSISSIPPI A BIT UPSTREAM FROM ST LOUIS WHERE ALL THEDUELISTS WENT TO DO THEIR DAMNDEST. IT HAD THE NAME BLOOD ISLAND.
CYNICAL FOLK LOOK ON SUCH SOCIETIES AS SELF CLEANING OVENS. OVER TIME THEY GET RID OF THE LOONIES.
AT LEAST SOME BRAVERY WAS INVOLVED IN THE DUEL IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PLUS. TODAY WE HAVE THE DRIVE BY SHOOTING WHICH A FLAGRANT EXAMPLE OF WHEELED COWARDICE, WHICH IS EVEN MORE STUPID.
DUTCH SCHOULTZ

 

[Cruzatte]

Phase of the moon, presence of cats near the shooting area. Or even worse a black cat near your room when loading your gear.
Did you eat beans last night? Oh boy that will add a 1/4” to your groups, or crows over flying the range just pack up and go home.

You know, my late cat Daisy was so good at keeping the polar bears away, I've never seen one around here. And she's been gone for a couple years now. I wonder if polar bear stink or the lack thereof, could have some effect on one's shooting. Now there's a PhD thesis topic for you.

 

[Pete G]

HOW CAN YOU SEND A PROPERLY TIGHT PATCHED BALL DOWN THE RIFLED BARREL WITHOUT SWEEPING EVERY SPEC OF POWDER BEFORE IT?
DUTCH

....and the barrel IS a drop tube, sort of.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I also solve the problem by wrapping a nearly bore size ball tightly in cotton and pushing it down the barrel to force all the powder to the breech end. ;-)

I have enough to worry about, what with the coriolis effect and Davenport Formula running through my mind as I prepare for the shot.

 

[52Bore]

Great, but don't some grains remain stuck in the tube? Thus short changing the final load?
I'm beginning to nag tsk
Dutch

Nope.