Snail Drum Magazine
 

I have had this luger snail drum magazine (551870 B/N) I was going to use with my 1918 Artillery luger but I can not load 9mm rds in it being that they are to long for the magazine. 30 luger rds will not load either, but I can load a 9x18 Ultra round in it. Any ideas what firearm this drum magazine was made for? My intent is to still use it for my artillery luger so is it possible to find a magazine to repair it, or is there someone I can be referred to make the needed repairs? Paul

Can you show a photo of the main body with markings? If it is as you say and an original magazine then it was made for 9MM. That being the case the rounds will load at a pretty good angle on drums. Are you using a loader or just thumbing in a few?

Use factory 115 gr. FMJ and use the loading tool and just do it. I've had 2 of the repro. drums and swore they were too short to hold std. 9mm rounds, but it works.
But if still in doubt, send it to GT and let him breath on it.
dju

Snail Drum Magazine
 

I tried thumbing a couple and couldn't start them so I started using a loader. Even with the loader I couldn't get them to start. There are some ruff spots on the magazine and the mouth of the magazine looks like someone was trying to fit it to a firearm. Who is DT? I'm new to the forum. Paul

G. T. is our secret weapon, a craftsman, a magazine specialists that keeps us all running, and an all-around great guy. Try this link: http://forum.lugerforum.com/member.php?u=20 and follow the contact info.

G.T. Is a member on the forum here. Several of the members specialize in repairs or restorations of Lugers and equipment. G.T. Has a great reputation for quality of his work with Luger magazines of all types.

Hi,

Take hart!

All Luger magazines are designed that way; the reason being that the ammo slides up the magazine at a very steep angle, as necessitated by the very steep grip angle.

Correct C.O.A.L. for the Luger, with a round nosed bullet, is 1.173 inches.

This is way to long by current manufactures' standards, with SAAMI maximum set at 1.169 inches.

Please measure the length of your subject ammo to determine its actual C.O.A.L.

Hand loading is suggested if malfunctions occur, as mismatched ammo length is a chief reason that Lugers malfunction.


Sieger

The follower tilts to accept the rounds as they are loaded.
You probably know this, but unless you push in the little button on the side, you can't get the second round in.

Best to load two by hand and then place the loader on the drum, most loader/drum combinations will not press the button in far enough to allow smooth loading of the first/second rounds.

Both the 9 and 7,65 will fit in the same drum- and feed and work- I've done it; but one can shoot the expensive 7,65mm way too fast from a drum! :)

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the purpose of the "little button on the side"?

Stay safe
Richard

It operates the hold open feature.