Posted: 12/23/2012 1:09:34 PM EDT
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Drums are nice, but weigh a lot and jam if not maintained properly. The movie theater Joker guy had his drum jam, which stopped his spree. The North Hollywood shootout guys had a Beta-C, an AK drum, and body armor - but still were killed, the only 2 deaths at the scene. Just because you don't have to reload as often, doesn't make you invincible and unstoppable. |
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I've had the AK drum NIB after finding it at a good price years ago. Hadn't done anything with it, bought it low and figured I might sell high someday. I also didn't know how to load it and didn't want to mess it up. So with all this mag capacity stuff happening, like PMags selling for $50+ I figured I'd open the box and see how it ticked. I found a video on Youtube that showed how easy it was to operate and loaded it up. Then I manually stripped the rounds out simulating its operation - the bottom line is that it's simple to load and it seems to work just fine. I figure I can lawfully attach it to my Draco and transport it during an actual Zombie outbreak. The Beta-C is a pain to load compared to the AK drum, and I've given up on the steel drum... calypso just isn't in my blood. I also have a .22LR drum, which is handy for plinking because it's not heavy and .22 goes fast - always seems like you spend more time reloading a .22 than target shooting or plinking. I wonder what the 75-round AK drums are selling for now. My advice is wait until this storm blows over, it's nice to have but not worth hundreds of dollars. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I've had the AK drum NIB after finding it at a good price years ago. Hadn't done anything with it, bought it low and figured I might sell high someday. I also didn't know how to load it and didn't want to mess it up. So with all this mag capacity stuff happening, like PMags selling for $50+ I figured I'd open the box and see how it ticked. I found a video on Youtube that showed how easy it was to operate and loaded it up. Then I manually stripped the rounds out simulating its operation - the bottom line is that it's simple to load and it seems to work just fine. I figure I can lawfully attach it to my Draco and transport it during an actual Zombie outbreak. The Beta-C is a pain to load compared to the AK drum, and I've given up on the steel drum... calypso just isn't in my blood. I also have a .22LR drum, which is handy for plinking because it's not heavy and .22 goes fast - always seems like you spend more time reloading a .22 than target shooting or plinking. I wonder what the 75-round AK drums are selling for now. My advice is wait until this storm blows over, it's nice to have but not worth hundreds of dollars. Some stores had the Romanian ones for $129.99 new a few days ago, yet they may be sold out by now. I wonder what I could get for my Norinco 120-round AR drums? They're like the AK drums but have a neck on them since they have to deal with the deeper magwell. |
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Yes OP's is Chinese or a copy.
The problem with the Chinese drums is that the back can pop open while running with it, causing the quickest mag dump ever. They are originally used on RPK style fixed machine guns. Besides that they are stupid heavy. The 100 round in my pic above has never even been loaded. I have a Chinese 75 that has been used a fair amount long ago. |
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I think this is Chinese or that style, I could be wrong. I paid less than $200, it's worth that.... maybe. Looking at the AK drum versus the AR drum - if I had to depend on one, I'd choose the AK setup even though it's lower capacity. The wind-up key is Chinese-style, but some were made in that style in Romania and Bulgaria, though they ought to be marked as such. Does yours have a triangle with a number stamped on it? The Chinese ones are worth more since they're pre-ban. |
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Quoted:
Yes OP's is Chinese or a copy. The problem with the Chinese drums is that the back can pop open while running with it, causing the quickest mag dump ever. They are originally used on RPK style fixed machine guns. Besides that they are stupid heavy. The 100 round in my pic above has never even been loaded. I have a Chinese 75 that has been used a fair amount long ago. I just stick a large, industrial rubber-band around the middle of the drum body, but none of mine have ever shown any inclination to pop open. |
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Based on what was mentioned this has to be a Chinese copy. All it has is an arrow stamped above the winding key to denote which way to wind. I've seen those videos of these popping open while firing too, I'll be using a rubber band if it dumps on me but I'll see how it goes. It's on a milled receiver that fires very smooth, I might also get away without the band because it's new and the clamps seem to have a very positive fit. I appreciate the advice though and will locate a band to have ready just in case. I remember back when I bought it that there were a couple designs and these were supposedly the easier to load type. Feedback from other buyers at the time was generally good. I imagine on my Draco pistol it might be much more violent shooting and need that band though. |
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Quoted:
Based on what was mentioned this has to be a Chinese copy. All it has is an arrow stamped above the winding key to denote which way to wind. I've seen those videos of these popping open while firing too, I'll be using a rubber band if it dumps on me but I'll see how it goes. It's on a milled receiver that fires very smooth, I might also get away without the band because it's new and the clamps seem to have a very positive fit. I appreciate the advice though and will locate a band to have ready just in case. I remember back when I bought it that there were a couple designs and these were supposedly the easier to load type. Feedback from other buyers at the time was generally good. I imagine on my Draco pistol it might be much more violent shooting and need that band though. There are two Romanian types of drums. The pop-open and load types (Chinese copies) and the ones you load through the top where you have to push a little lever down as you load the rounds. Makes for a sore thumb. Apex had some military surplus ones. I like the pop-opens better because you can leave them loaded and apply spring tension later by winding the keys. |
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Quoted: I wonder what I could get for my Norinco 120-round AR drums? They're like the AK drums but have a neck on them since they have to deal with the deeper magwell. Those are probably worth some good money. I do like the Beta-C, but I don't think it's really combat rated and it's a bit wide. That aside, it's nice to have 100 rounds ready to feed - and I've used it several times without any hiccups. If I must have to run out of the house to meet a threat I'd have the Beta-C inserted with a PMag at the ready - but the reality is that's unlikely to ever happen unless someone goes berserk. |
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Quoted: There are two Romanian types of drums. The pop-open and load types (Chinese copies) and the ones you load through the top where you have to push a little lever down as you load the rounds. Makes for a sore thumb. Apex had some military surplus ones. I like the pop-opens better because you can leave them loaded and apply spring tension later by winding the keys. I suppose it's best to keep loaded AK drums without winding them until insertion then? It could be a year before I run the rounds out of that drum. There's no choice with the Beta-C, if it's loaded it tensioned. ETA - It appears you can also open the back of the AK drum and push the button to release tension and wind it up again later. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
There are two Romanian types of drums. The pop-open and load types (Chinese copies) and the ones you load through the top where you have to push a little lever down as you load the rounds. Makes for a sore thumb. Apex had some military surplus ones. I like the pop-opens better because you can leave them loaded and apply spring tension later by winding the keys. I suppose it's best to keep loaded AK drums without winding them until insertion then? It could be a year before I run the rounds out of that drum. There's no choice with the Beta-C, if it's loaded it tensioned. I keep mine unwound. I got my first Norinco AR drum from a guy I was buying tons of Chi-com mags from, back in the Nineties. Then the AWB went through, and when I called to order more stuff later he wanted to buy it back. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
There are two Romanian types of drums. The pop-open and load types (Chinese copies) and the ones you load through the top where you have to push a little lever down as you load the rounds. Makes for a sore thumb. Apex had some military surplus ones. I like the pop-opens better because you can leave them loaded and apply spring tension later by winding the keys. I suppose it's best to keep loaded AK drums without winding them until insertion then? It could be a year before I run the rounds out of that drum. There's no choice with the Beta-C, if it's loaded it tensioned. ETA - It appears you can also open the back of the AK drum and push the button to release tension and wind it up again later. My 75 round was loaded, but not wound up, for ~14 years. I recently wound it up and emptied it. No problems. |