It's not to say you can't use a T, but there are issues that made me shy away from it.

I would think just volume would be a problem. If you could find a 1/2" x 1" bull head tee (1/2" x 1" x 1/2") that might help.
I can see the thread space causing problems also.

But thanks for the idea, might play around with this concept. I am thinking about welded or brazed fittings.

Ralph

1.) you lose a degree of freedom. Right now, the hopper can always face up, even in the pipe is 30-45deg rotated from optimal. You'd have to drill flange holes yourself.
2.) it doesn't let the feedscrew slice pellets as easily - they can get stuck and jam the rotation.
3.) often times, the threads in those Ts are not perfectly coaxial

It's not to say you can't use a T, but there are issues that made me shy away from it.

The pellets always get pulled towards the end of the auger anyway.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-Galva … ctoEvnMVoE