Home made speed loader for tube fed magazines.

[DuaneRN]

I thought I'd share. 
Tube fed magazines can slow a line down.  The speed d loader is pretty expensive.  I have a cheaper idea.  Take a McDonald's straw or something similar.  Tape one end and cut a bevel on the other.  Load the .22 ammo nose first.  When you go to load the tube fed mag pinch the straw to keep the ammo in and insert it either the very end or the loading gate. You can pre- load a whole bunch and keep them in a coffe cup or something.  The straw will hold up to eight. Not quite as fast as a detachable mag, but much faster than trying to load them one at a time. 

Check it out on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqi_UwsOA7A

[Matt]

Sounds easy, cheap, and quick, perfect for Appleseeds! I'll be stopping @ McDonald's on the way to my next Appleseed to grab a few. I've seen tube-fed rimfires @ every AS I've been to and have been looking for a solution for some time.

Of course, if I make those speedloaders, there won't be any tube-fed 22s next time!

[caseyblane]

Thanks for the idea. My tube fed .22 holds 16 rounds in the magazine so I wanted something longer than a straw. I created a homemade speedloader using a curtain rod. The old rod I had was just the right inside diameter and is split on one side so you can tell if it is loaded or not. I taped over the end and plugged the other end with ear plugs to keep it closed up. I'll be giving it a field test soon.

[Geddys Uncle]

  When they outlaw curtain rods, only outlaws will have curtain rods.

[fredfunder]

The long Hardees straw will hols 10 rounds, if this will Help?

[tfelog]

I had the pleasure of watching Dwayne shoot several aqt's this past weekend in Bennington Vt. and was very impressed how smooth he does it.  This technique works very well.

[DuaneRN]

Use whatever works for you.  While the Hardee's straws do hold ten, they are thinner and the internal diameter isn't quite as big.  They tend to hold on to  a bullet or two.  I still prefer McD's even if I have to use two to load for a course of fire.

[Geddys Uncle]

  gonna need to fill out a form and submit to a 3-day waiting period to get a coke @ McDonald's 

[Western Rose]

At the third AS that I went to a lady had made a speed loader from an arrow. I made one today. All I had to do was boil a bit of water and stick the pointy end of the arrow in it for about 10 sec (long enough for the end to heat up). Then I used needle nose pliers to hang on to the point and twisted and pulled it off. The arrow has to be just over a 1/4" in diameter. Arrows can hold more than 10 rounds. The only down side that I can see so far is that you can't pinch the end so that the rounds don't fall out. I've seen them used before so I don't think that is going to be a problem. The arrow does fit down the tube in my gun rifle. Hope this helps.   

[Nickle]

Drill holes where you want the stops at and use cotter pins for semi-permanent stops, and safety pins or bobby pins for temporary stops.

[fredfunder]

At the third AS that I went to a lady had made a speed loader from an arrow. I made one today. All I had to do was boil a bit of water and stick the pointy end of the arrow in it for about 10 sec (long enough for the end to heat up). Then I used needle nose pliers to hang on to the point and twisted and pulled it off. The arrow has to be just over a 1/4" in diameter. Arrows can hold more than 10 rounds. The only down side that I can see so far is that you can't pinch the end so that the rounds don't fall out. I've seen them used before so I don't think that is going to be a problem. The arrow does fit down the tube in my gun. Hope this helps.   

Post some pictures so we can see, Sounds like a good project to work on and it will help out at the Appleseed shoots

[Daniel]

A friend of mine came up with this on his own a while back.......
I hope to get him to an Appleseed so that we can see how it works.................

It would be a good idea for all instructors to take a few straws to an Appleseed, in case some on with a tube fed rifle shows up and there are no loaners.....

[Western Rose]

Sorry it took so long for me to post the pictures..  They kinda blend in with the floor so you might have to look close.. Dad cut them down for me. The longest one (without fletching) holds 15 rounds. The shorter one holds 10.

[Sleeps In Prone]

this is fantastic!!  why didn't I think of this?