Loading - The Artillery Snail Drum Magazine

[Germanpistolman]

I would like to know if anyone can provide a fairly accurate account on how to load a Luger Artillery Snail Drum Magazine. If possible and for the record it would be helpful if the instructions could be (filmed) listed in order and posted to the Technical Information area for others to read and view. As far as I am aware there are no articles (in English) on this subject.

[George Anderson]

Look in the artillery section and you will see that the last topic presented there was the loading of snail drums.

[lugerholsterrepair]

Charles, These are George andersons directions to me for loading the German Luger 32 round snail drum.
Then my experiences with fireing it!

First turn the crank one full turn and lock with button. You may be able to hand load a few rounds while the crank is locked. I don't bother. Spray an ample amount of light oil into the magazine through the tube (you may want to do this a day before).

Next, lock the loader in place over the throat of the mag and begin feeding rounds into it you will quickly find that you need to push them down with the plunger after each round.

I would recommend that on the first go with each of your mags that you only go to 20 rounds. If they prove to function well then you may want to top them off.

After you have finished loading the mags and before you remove the loader unlock the crank and let it slowly return to a resting position. After folding the handle into place you should see that the end of the handle points to the number on the face of the mag that corresponds to the number of rounds loaded. With the loader still in place tap the magazine body a couple of times to get the spring to open and put full tension against the rounds loaded.

(You may want to spray more oil down the tube to lube the rounds a bit.)
This is the only part of George's directions that I think may be questionable...Personally I do not recommend lubing 9MM rounds. Oil on a round is often an obstruction in the chamber and a round fired that is lubed may not headspace properly. Just my opinion...

Remove the loader and you should be ready to go. Be sure to wear old clothes as there will be alot of oil splattering around the gun and mag. Have fun. geo


Those are great directions! First loaded the 20 rounds, no problems except for a small one. The drum is difficult to seat with the bolt closed. I suspect the tension is too great and will not push the top round down enough to lock.
Secondly, with the bolt locked back, the bolt will not go forward and strip a round...I could not detect why but if the mag is slightly lowered a round can be stripped, enter the chamber, the mag is seated and it fires all rounds without a hitch!
I first fired the 20, as you suggested, the mag handle pointed to the 20 as you said, then the 32 rounds were loaded and again the mag handle indicated the number loaded.
I fired it with the original stock and at around 100 yards it fired to point of aim. I did not re align the sight but shot over it rapid fire, I sure as hell would not want to be in front of that kind of firepower! This would be a good weapon to defend a machine gun emplacement or sweep a trench!
I thank you very much for the help George...Jerry

[Germanpistolman]

Thank you both George & Jerry for your reply. I've printed off the instructions and will endeavor to reload the Drum and let you know
when I've done it. I was a bit concerned (given the age) about overwinding not wanting to (sheer off) put any stress on the centre
screws which secure the winder to the body as I've known the screw
to snap sometimes! Its a pity no one yet has managed to make a small film mpeg clip of the loading process. Rgds Charles