A
common question that comes up is "what is the easiest way
to carry premeasured powder charges for your 10ML-II to the range,
or in the field?"
I
use the Polypropylene tubes from Lake Charles Manufacturing,
found at http://www.testtubesonline.com/12x75mm_PolyPro_Plastic_Tubes_p/207-0025w.htm
.
The
main site is http://www.testtubesonline.com
. These 12mm x 75mm tubes have a capacity of 5ml; ideal for typical
Savage 10ML-II recommended smokeless loads. They are tough, they
don't scratch easily, and they don't react with any propellant I've
ever used in them.
As
of this writing, they sell for $9.99 for a pack of 250 in clear:
the colored tubes are $10.67 / 250 pcs. I use the "12mm Hollow
Top Caps (Multi-Color) for Plastic Test Tubes" in white
to go with them; they are $20 per 1000 pcs. They fit snug, they
are easy to remove, and are weatherproof for all reasonable purposes,
though I've never gone swimming with them.
The
tubes themselves come in a variety of colors, so you can be as stylish
as you want. I use the clear and the green ("Aquamarine")
myself. So, for about $40 you have a lifetime supply of 500 tubes
and 1000 caps. Split them with a friend or two and you are good
to go for a long, long time.
Everyone
likely has their own routine; I weigh my changes and bottle and
cap them, putting them into a clear Zip-Loc freezer bag with the
specific load written right on the bag with a permanent black magic
marker so load identification is obvious. It stays in my range bag,
out of direct sunlight, so anytime I need to go to the range there
are a couple of hundred pre-weighed charges ready to go.
Alternatively,
there are several tackleboxes and plastic shotshell boxes that will
hold your charges in a bit more elegant fashion, if that's the route
you'd like to go.
When
hunting, in addition to the primary charge for the Savage, I carry
three extra charges and sabots in my shirt pocket. I use a touch
of Elmer's glue to attach 209 primers "flange-side" to
the bottle caps. So, for a quick reload, it is pop the cap, dump
the powder, seat your sabot-- and the primer is already in your
hand at the ready, easily freed from the cap with a little thumb
pressure.
--Randy
