Reproduction Snail Drum - progress

lugerholsterrepair · 07-23-2016, 05:51 PM

Ed, There's a sticky on Jans about loading...

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.

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

G.T. · 07-26-2016, 02:57 PM

Hi Ed, if it's one of the "GT" drums, please just send it to me, I will re-polish and test for N/C as long as it is one that "was supposed to work!" A few of the first ones released were not re-polished after "black oxide " coating and acid bath, (made them to rough" on the inside... They are ALL re-polished now!!!! One of those changes that we didn't realize when we scaled up... Send it to me, and I will make it correct.... best to you Ed, glad to be back, GT....

07-23-2016, 05:51 PM	#1
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Ed, There's a sticky on Jans about loading... 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. 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 __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-26-2016, 02:57 PM	#2
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,524 Thanks: 1,321 Thanked 3,707 Times in 1,012 Posts	drum trouble! Hi Ed, if it's one of the "GT" drums, please just send it to me, I will re-polish and test for N/C as long as it is one that "was supposed to work!" A few of the first ones released were not re-polished after "black oxide " coating and acid bath, (made them to rough" on the inside... They are ALL re-polished now!!!! One of those changes that we didn't realize when we scaled up... Send it to me, and I will make it correct.... best to you Ed, glad to be back, GT....