Drop Tube & Bench

Clembert asked me a week or so ago to show off pics of my press when I got my Drop Tube made. It ain't pretty but on the other hand the bench occupies about 20% of the space in my so-called garage. Actually a "Car Barn" built circa 1920.

The drop tube consists of a 24" piece of 3/8" tubing with a 3/8" to 3/8" coupler going into the powderthru die and a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter on top for the funnel. I had to wrap the bottom in tape to get the right fit into the die but other than that it works good.






I'm heading out to shoot up some of the 45LC's this afternoon. I found that using the drop tube and a compression plug from TOTW, stuffing 40gr of 3f into the brass is a piece of cake. I've got a funny feeling that when I pull the trigger on these the recoil is going to make smokeless look tame!!

I still don't have a compression die or plug for 38 S&W but next time I make an order that will probably fall into the cart.





Thanks for the help guys. One of these days I'll post a pic of myself with a "Stupid Grin" on my face.

ClemBert said:

Joe, what is the source of your bullets, weight, diameter, and lube system?

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ClemBert,
I finally found SPG lubed bullets through Powder Inc. I wound up ordering them through Midway because I knew I could get them quicker, but I paid a little more than I should have. The 45's are .452 and the 38's are .358, both load very well.

By the way....It would have been nice if SOMEBODY would have given me just a little heads up regarding what 40gr of 3f behind a 235gr RNFP bullet might be like to fire out of a handgun. Holy C$#@P!!! Those hurt!!! I would liken the recoil to that of a 44 magnum. If I was to want to hunt deer with this thing they'd work great but for punching holes in paper I think I'll keep loading round balls, besides they're a lot cheaper than the conicals. When I find somebody willing to risk their chronograph to this cannon I'll find out what speeds we're talkin'. Just from the recoil I'd be tempted to say somewhere north of 1200fps but that's just my bruised right hand talking for now.

Recoil not withstanding, the round is deadly accurate at 25yds out of a 12" barrel Peacemaker. I suppose if the gun weighed as much as a Dragoon it would be no big deal.

ClemBert said:

LOL! What the heck were you shootin' them outta of? I shot my 40 grain 45 Colts outta my ROA. That's a pretty beefy revolver though so maybe it didn't buck-n-roar like your piece. Well, you have to admit it was a hoot! Perhaps go down to 32-35 grains. Most of my 45 Colt loads are 35 grain 3Fg.

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I'm for my little Hawg Leg or as someone on THR tagged it a "Giraffe Leg"


I originally bought this thing around 1980 to use for hunting coyotes. I loaded smokeless for it for a couple of years and kept the fps down to around 800. I haven't weighed it but I'm sure that it's half that of a Dragoon and I know that it's less than an ROA.

I did find that by compressing the powder, it shoots "Cooler" by a little bit and probably cleaner too. I am going to stick to the 40gr 3f but I'll go back to the 140RB for comfort and cost reasons. I do believe that I will stick 6 of those 235gr RNFP's into it so my son-in-law can re-live the 1870's.

I will eventually find someone who will risk their chrono and find out exactly how fast those conical leave home. Would someone like to post the formula for calculating impact energy please? I know it's simple, but it's been too long since high school.

[email protected] said:

Was it anything like this? This is 37 grs. 45 Colt 235 gr bullet Goex Black
Dawg Factory ammo. I was shooting this in my Ruger Blackhawk 4 3/4 barrel

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Yup that's about it, only with a shorter barrel.

BCRider said:

those T handle rams that FotoJoe is using to make some room to stick the bullet in.

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Actually those "T Handles" aren't for compressing the powder. I originally made them to get the over-powder veggie wad into the case without cutting up my fat fingers on the brass. I use a Compression Plug to compress the 45LC powder that fits into my Lee Factory Crimp Die.

On the 38 S&W's I do lean on the powder with one of those T handles, but realistically you can't get as much pressure as you would think. As soon as I find a 38 Compression Plug it's mine!!!

Vermonter said:

What's a compression plug?

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A compression plug fits into a Lee Factory Crimp Die (probably others as well). They cost a whopping $1.99 at Track of the Wolf. Click Here

Midway also sells compression dies, but you won't find them for $1.99, more like $39.95 and they are stand alone dies, Click Here. I will probably order one of these for 38 S&W instead of using my dowel rods with handles.