Snail Drum magazines
 

I was just wondering how hard is it to fully load a snail drum without the loading tool? Is it even possible, and so if you get a snail drum mag you need to get a loading tool also?

not possible

I have a reloading tool and no drum :)

so if you get a snail drum mag you need to get a loading tool also? YES!

I would not say it is "impossible"; some folks may have a really strong thumb and unquenchable self punishment desire ! :)

But practically speaking, you need the loading tool !!!!!

Then what are the arms that I see on the TM's for? I thought they were to wind up the tension on the magazine spring.

Loading Even with the mag spring is nearly impossible to fully load without a loader. Your thumb will fall off for a full load!

/
Yes , before loading you wind up the tension for loading "easily" , but hard with the loading tool ,
When the trommel is full , you can release the spring pressure for firing

GT's loading tool stabilizer arm is excellent when paired with his enhanced TM.

Of course you can still load several rounds with out the loading tool once you use the winding handle to ease off the spring tension. You just can not load the drum all the way to 32 rounds. Loading tools and drums can be pricey and not always available to buy. Maybe someone here remembers how many rounds they can load with out the loader?

It depends, iirc I managed to get 20 in with quite a bit of work.