What to look for on a snail?

Big Norm · 07-19-2004, 02:23 AM

Henry,
I have only held one snail drum that I knew was a repro. I seemed that the edges were sharp as though the thing was recently punched out on a press or cut. Make sure that the thing holds 32 rounds. Some political places will not allow magazines that hold over 8 or 10 rounds. So people may have altered a real one to only hold the legal amount. The same holds for repro snails. Aside from that, follow Ed's good advice. Your not the first one to ask this question. Your price of $1300 falls within the range for an original snail drums. I hope that you got a dust cover with it. Its a nice addition but would not change the price. Is your snail drum a type 1 or a type 2?

I always feel more comfortable with a type 1 snail drum. It may be just coincidence, but I got it in my head that all the repros seem to be type 2's. If the darn thing looks too good, then I also worry just as I do when I find a Luger with a bore that looks too good for the condition of the gun. Or a Luger with a worn out bore but minty blue and grips.

I could be wrong, but I think that TomH said that he was able to load about 25+ rounds by hand. I guess that that would depend upon how strong your fingers are. But I think that if you get 20 rounds or so in yours by hand then you can be pretty well assured that it will hold the full 32 rounds that it is supposed to hold using a loader.
Big Norm

07-19-2004, 02:23 AM	#3
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Henry, I have only held one snail drum that I knew was a repro. I seemed that the edges were sharp as though the thing was recently punched out on a press or cut. Make sure that the thing holds 32 rounds. Some political places will not allow magazines that hold over 8 or 10 rounds. So people may have altered a real one to only hold the legal amount. The same holds for repro snails. Aside from that, follow Ed's good advice. Your not the first one to ask this question. Your price of $1300 falls within the range for an original snail drums. I hope that you got a dust cover with it. Its a nice addition but would not change the price. Is your snail drum a type 1 or a type 2? I always feel more comfortable with a type 1 snail drum. It may be just coincidence, but I got it in my head that all the repros seem to be type 2's. If the darn thing looks too good, then I also worry just as I do when I find a Luger with a bore that looks too good for the condition of the gun. Or a Luger with a worn out bore but minty blue and grips. I could be wrong, but I think that TomH said that he was able to load about 25+ rounds by hand. I guess that that would depend upon how strong your fingers are. But I think that if you get 20 rounds or so in yours by hand then you can be pretty well assured that it will hold the full 32 rounds that it is supposed to hold using a loader. Big Norm