Abstract: A blasting charge, e.g., for pre-splitting, easy to load into boreholes and to maintain in wet boreholes when the charge density is low, comprising an elongated sinuous length of semi-rigid tubing, e.g., polyethylene, laden with explosive, e.g., a water-bearing explosive, the charge having sufficient rigidity that when unwound from a coil and fed into a borehole it retains a degree of curvature and exerts pressure against the wall of the borehole. Loading explosive into a borehole by unwinding a coiled length of semi-rigid explosive-laden tubing and feeding the tubing into the hole, the leading end of the tubing being provided with explosives-retaining means, e.g., a 180.degree. bend in the tubing together with a sleeve fitting over the bent portion of the tubing.