Drums

[LClarke]

I just read where it is advisable to have a certain number of 30rd. mags and also a drum. I would think that if the adversary is counting and anticipating a magazine drop that he would take that opportunity to charge, big surprise if you had a drum at the ready! All I have now is 30rd. mags but a drum is somewhat appealing. It appears to protrude less from the receiver. What about reliability and durability of drums? The sheet metal looks kind of fragile. I also heard that not all the rounds are expended. Should it be lubricated or run dry? Are they repairable? Thanks for any info on this.

The drums are 100% relibale the problem is people not knowing how to load the properly.
No lub is needed as the lub from the factory is plenty. I have shot every drum I have(8-75rd,2-100rd) atleast 10 times and have had no problems.

[Destroyer]

I think the only set back of a drum would be weight. That, and price, have kept me away. Besides, counting to thirty would be difficult in a high stress situation like a firefight. Loading the 5th from last round as a tracer would probably be better. Just my opinions.

[gopher29]

Since we're on the topic of drums, I have an unimportant question that I was a little curious about. Does anyone know who makes those 75 rnd drums with the 9396 in oval on them. I bought one off of gunbroker.com from some guy and noticed it doesn't appear to be made by Norinco i.e different markings and the turnkey is a ring and not a solid plate like the Norinco. Who makes them and are they as good as the Norinco drums?

- Gopher

[Schuetzenman]

75 round drums are heavy enough, I wouldn't want a 100 rounder! I believe one of the earlier posts is correct in saying "probably the problem is that most people don't know how to load them correctly", is true.

My 75 rounder feeds every last round and has never failed to feed ammo.

The down side currently is the cost, these guys are raping the public trying to get 120 for one of these. 4 years ago they were $19.95. Of course I paid $45 for mine becaue I purchased mine in the first Klinton induced panic back in his first year at bat to fuck up America.

From a tactical point of view, they are not stealthy. When you run with it it rattles like a big maraka . . . "chucka, chucka, chucka on and on until you stop running. 30 round and 40 round mags do not "chuka, chuka" when you run. This is why the old Tomy Guns didn't continue getting issued drum mags in the military. They rattled too and the military realized the down-side to this noise maker. Better to go with the silent "stick" mags. At todays prices you can get about 12, 30 rounders . . . lets see, 12 times 30 equals 360 rounds in mags vs. 75 rounds in one drum. Hummmmmmmmmmm, I like the cost effectiveness of the stick mags over the drum. If you didn't get one when they were cheaper, save your money. You will be able to sustain firing longer with 12, 30's much longer without reloading the mags than with just a few 30's and one big-ass drum!

[This message has been edited by Schuetzenman (edited 12-02-1999).]

[hardcorps1775]

Gopher29, sounds like you got an Eastern European drum (lucky dog). Your mark sounds like DDR but I'm not positive on that. Yeah, dealers are really screwing us shooters on the drums! I hemmed and hawed and finally bought a Chinese 75-rounder @ $75. Then the Klinton panic went away and the price dropped to about $35 when I bought 2. Now they've shot up to $120+. Don't we shoot profiteers? Does anyone besides me think that the democrats must have stock in the firearms industry!? Everytime they make noises about bans or further restrictions, prices skyrocket and folks go on a buying frenzy!!!(C:

[Bryant]

I just clamp two 40 rounders together, it weighs the same and costs less. Besides you can trade your drum for eight mags like I did!