Tubes for Smoothbore

[Scott Kurki, 12475]

I have a .682 diameter round ball that I am trying to find the right size quick load tubes for. I bought some .69 quick load tubes but as I thought, they are too big. Is there a trick to shrinking them to fit or a source for smaller ones?

[Greg Ogdan, 11444]

Scott,

A couple of years ago, someone from the Deep South had just what you're looking for. They were the red caplugs to fit .69's and long enough to take a heavy charge if needed. Start looking there.

[pastore]

I shoot a .678 ball and mine fit the 69 black tubes. If you run them through the dryer just briefly they will shrink right at the mouth of the tube.

[Gary B]

Ditto what Fletcher said,
Got em from John Dewald at the Northeast Trader. Just don't pick up the ones for the 72 cal. by mistake.
Gary B.

[John Holland]

If you are going to use heat to shrink the soft neoprene tubes....be careful! I put a bunch of .58 cal. soft tubes on a cookie sheet and stuck them in the oven to dry with the ambient heat of the pilot light. Never gave shrinkage a thought. When I took them out about a week later, boy was I shocked to see that they would just fit a .45 round ball ! ! !

JDH

[Edwin Flint, 8427]

Loidgewood has them listed. Hoot Gibson had the tubes in the DS. I don't know if he still has any, but I think others are now buying from his supplier.

[Scott Kurki, 12475]

Thanks much for all the replies and suggestions. I think I will avoid the week long heat treatment, thanks for that tip John :wink: