My TM08kasten holds 5x7x16 or 560 rounds. The unloaders when examined all show signs of having been cut and welded. They are clearly modified loaders.
During the period of the Red uprisings in Germany (1918-1925) the police were frequently armed with MP18s. These first submachine guns were fed with the TM08. It is quite probable that these cops went out on patrol in their urban districts armed with fully loaded snails and speed guns.
As is the case today, these cops would have returned to the station, most often, with still fully loaded weapons. If a snail is left loaded for any time the spring is seriously weakened. Figure it out, cops unloaded their weapons.
During the war, I would imagine Stosstruppen would simply fire off 32 rounds to the west when they needed to unload. It's a pain in the ass to unload a full TM08 with the right thumb.
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