Shiloh Rifle Forums

Can you guys direct me to a good brass drop tube setup for loading 40-70SS and 45-70. I do not have the means of making my own so I want to get some advise based on experience. Thanks all.

An aluminum arrow shaft works well. Attach a funnel to the top, hold it over a funnel on your brass and pour slowly and evenly.

Thanks Kurt, didn't even think about looking there. Been too busy working thinking about "shooting". That's a nice looking rig.

I made my drop tube from a 24" length of 3/8" Flexible Copper tubing.
Flared the bottom end wide enough to set over a 45-70 case.
Top end was flared just enough to fit snugly into a Lee powder funnel
and duct taped the funnel to the tube.
For (theoretically) better compacting /packing of the powder as it
drops into the case, I bent the copper tube around a 3/4" dowel lengthwise
to form a shallow helical coil of the tube. The idea is that the powder kind of
swirls and spreads across the inside diameter of the tube as it drops down into
and across the diameter of the case.
Cost me all of a couple bucks for the Lee powder funnel
beltfed/arnie

Arnie I agree with the tube inside the case. You loose what your wanting to accomplish when you pull the tube out, you loose all the settled powder.
I used a 3/8 OD X 5/8 ID swet reducer soldered to a ridge 3/8" OD type L copper refridge tubing that fits over the case mouth and it's good for the .38 to .50 calibers

I use that exact shiloh set up

I use that exact shiloh set up

I used an aluminum funnel and soldered it to the top of a 1/2" copper pipe.
Made the top of the fitting to accept a 1/2 " compression fitting to attach to the bottom of the copper pipe.
Bottom of fitting is threaded to mount onto the top of my RCBS reloading press.
Underside of the fitting is beveled to accept cases up to .50 caliber.

You guys are very clever. All good setups. Thanks for sharing your drop tube ideas. Here's my 40-70SS #1 Just love looking at it.

I use the pictured drop tube measure. and it is very accurate.
I also made the brass tube and brass funnel next to it.

In my 40 70 SS, I load 67 1 1/2 OE in a 30 40 craig case and it comes 1/8 inch from the top.
I loaded some JBA 40 70's and the same load fills the case to the top.
NOW< if I then use the 24 inch brass tube, it settles the same 76 load 1/8 in the case.

so, the drop tube does effect the powder.
Problem is. the 67 load in the 30 40 case and a 415 custom PP bullet shoots into 1 1/5 inches at 100.

NOW, I have to hope the new JBA cases, with the powder compresses more, work as well.

Ken.

the way the 40 70 should look.... label downloaded, boxes bought on line...

perfect fit....Ken

40 70 SS. not ALL the time, but it can shoot straight when I do my part.
EZ round to use....Ken

No one has a motorized drop tube? Hard to believe!

I shoot a 410 grain Boomer Money bullet using 49.7 grains Swiss FFFg in my 1874 .40-65 Shiloh Sharps.
Average 1.2 inch groups at 100 yards including the flyers.
She would fall to sleep at 550 yards until I bumped her up to 52.7 grains Swiss FFFg.