doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Winchester 73 22 short

There is a knurled, flat tab on the side of the inner mag tube (loading tube) near the business end (loading end). Put your thumb on that tab and slide it all the way toward the end of the tube that would be under the barrel muzzle when the tube is in place. When the spring reaches maximum compression that thumb tab assembly will lock under a spring loaded hook. Load your cartridges into the mag tube, then slide the mag tube into position under the barrel and when the mag tube with cartridges is within a half to three quarter inch of it's home position the hook that retains the mag spring will automatically be released, loading the cartridges against the cartridge elevator in the receiver.

smokeywolf, If I understand correctly you are telling me to compress the spring all the way until it latches, put ammo in the tube, and replace. does it matter if I fill the tube, or can I just put in 5 shells? The spring is not very strong, so I guess it won't slam the shells back against the elevator hard enough to hurt anything?

This is great news. I'll give it a try this weekend.

Thanks,
Bryndon

I have, on occasion, loaded only one cartridge in the tube and replaced it without incident.
I would be more leary of loading 2, 3, 4, or 5 rounds in the tube than just 1.
You will see the little wedge shaped trigger near the end of the tube that sits right below the barrel muzzle when the tube is installed in it's magazine.