Got a late invite to the party, but so far I agree with all previous reviews.
I unpacked my sample, inserted an empty factory mag into the holder
until the mag catch lug to prevent over-insertion made contact, and
then installed the bullet tube so that the bullet hood was about 2mm
off the magazine feed lips and oriented correctly. Dropped a load of
my referred .22 blazer ammo into the hopper (which chris had already
modified with the relief cuts on either side of the discharge chute),
aligned the bullet tube at the end and slid about half a trough length
of cartridges over the edge and into the bullet tube. Didn't do it
fast, but I didn't go slow either...
The first round dropped correctly into position in the mag, so I just
tilted the combined unit back until the tube was about 45*, pulled
down on the mag's load assist button and the entire tube of cartridges
loaded correctly my very first time. I refilled the tube with what was left in the of the trough of bullets and these finished topping off the mag to capacity without a hitch.
The main body of the loader which holds the tube and magazine in
proper relation to each other is well made and injection molded of
what appears to be a durable polymer. And just like everyone else, I
identifed the soft aluminum bullet tube as a problematic item...but
since a material change is already in the works, there is not much
else to talk about.
Simply said...what is available as the first release of the stinkin'
good loader works as promised...
I watched the instructional video, kept everything that was, and has
been discussed, here in mind, and I loaded my first mag perfectly with
the stinkin' good loader...and the second...et. al.
Only when I started to "experiment" did I get any malfunctions...i.e.
pushing bullets to fast out of the trough, tilting at angles more and
less than 45*, and trying different distances of the bullet hood away
from the magazine feed lips...ultimately I reset everything to my
initial adjustments because if it works, don't fix it.
Issues with transporting the loader, especially the tube, I consider
an end user issue as everyone has their on kit load-out package but I
applaud chris for trying to address this from a manufacturer's total
packaging/marketing direction...but I think the stronger (brass?)
bullet drop tube will eliminate 90% of the beta release complaints.
My only other comments I've communicated with chris concerns
streamlining manufacture and "bullet proofing" parts that currently
may need continued adjustment or tweeking because of the nature of
assembly.
if I'm honest. After cutting the corners and making some minor tweaks I put the tube back in the receiver and it wasn't bent enough so I tried to bend it a little more, mistake one, it folded completely over. Of course now you can't get it out to straighten it but after working at it a while I was able to extract the tube and then used a pen to make it round and straight(ish) again. It took a few more attempts to get it working with all my magazines but it finally came together.
