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Posted: 6/21/2025 5:39:27 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Sitzkrieg][Edited]
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Attached File A ways back, Blackie Thomas mentioned "Dixie tubes" on one of his videos as a way to conveniently carry cap and ball reloads. Dixie gun works offers packages of these vinyl tubes that you can pre-charge with powder, ball, and wad. 2025 price is $18.95/50 https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/search?FullText=dixie+tubes Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File While picking up accessories for my first .36cal revolver, I grabbed a package of both .36cal and .44cal tubes. When they arrived, I loaded up the .36's with 17grains of powder, .380 balls, and wonder wads. A pleasant discovery was that an MTM brand .44Mag caliber 50rnd plastic hinged ammo box conveniently stored these prepackaged rounds. Unfortunately, at the range the .36cal balls were a bear to squeeze out of the .36 tubes. I only wrestled through half the box before going direct to the measure and flask method. Attached File This morning, I set off to take my .44 1860 out to a first range trip and remembered having bought a pack of the .44 tubes. Not expecting a different experience, I loaded a ball into the larger .44 tubes and was pleasantly surprised with how much more easily they could be pinched out compared to my experience with the smaller .36cal versions. A 500S&W plastic box allowed for similar convenient stowage. Attached File The .44 tubes will see regular repeated use on the range and I reloaded another 50 while the revolver was taking a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner. The .36cal tubes work but seemed to take a ton more pressure to press the balls out, I preferred loading off the stand with a flask or powder measure. I might try the .36 tubes without adding the wad a barely seating the ball in the mouth of the tube. The .44 tubes are highly recommended. Please let me know if anyone has different experience with the .36 version. I wonder if I got an undersized batch. I think these are likely repurposed commercial items. They look exactly like the covers that shipped on AK charging handles. |
| I still use wad and bullet separate. For powder I use Zipfizz energy drink containers. Got about a hundred from a coworker. A flip lid waterproof tube that so far hasn’t seen any adverse powder/plastic interaction with Pyrodex. Works good with a .50 rifle. A regular powder flask still better for a revolver |
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