No joy today with the snail drum :(

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by spacecoast

Now that you mention it, I never put 8 rounds in a mag, usually 7 at the most. I had no idea you had to wait to release the winder until the mag is in the drum (unless the toggle is locked open).

As far as locking open the toggle, do you keep an empty magazine for that purpose? Any other way to do it?

1- Release the winder FIRST, settle the ammo column, lock open,
insert drum. On a full drum, leaving the winder "locked" just does not made any difference- think about the pressure you have to use with the loader to get the last few rounds in!

2- Yes, an empty mag, or a carefully manipulated chop-stick.