simmoag Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 How do you safely unload a drum mag other than shooting it? I have the drum loaded and there is tension on the spring. We didn't shoot the drum before leaving the range. I would like to unload it but I am worried about removing the cover to the drum to expose the ammo when the spring under tension. Am I panicking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 (edited) The only safe way to unload a drum magazine if it's already been wound is one round at a time, through magazine feed slot. The cover should never be removed if the drum is wound. http://mikesmachineguns.homestead.com/sales/C-DRUM.pdf I'll sometimes load drum magazines before heading out to the range, but I wind them only immediately prior to shooting. Hope that this helps! Edited April 18, 2014 by TSMGguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCM Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I use a wood stick and just push them out one by one as if they are being shot from the drum. Then you end up with 50 or 100 loose rounds sitting on the bed, floor or wherever. As the drum unwinds it gets easier..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 You can hold a little tension against the key to make things easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 I load the drum , then give it two clicks . I wind it the rest just before shooting .Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simmoag Posted April 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Thanks for the info. Sounds like I should just go shoot it…lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CptCurl Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Certainly that is the most fun way to unload the magazine. Curl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 In the one of the manuals, it is recommended to put the drum in the gun, grasp the actuator, and run the bolt back and forth by hand until the drum is empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rader Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 Al, that will work untill the firing pin hits the primer and it fires the round, then hang on. Not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 I'm just stating what was recommended in the manual. Besides, the 1928 guns are hammer-fired, so as long as the bolt is kept under control, there should be no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Just in case anyone here considers unloading the drum in this manner, it would be considered EXTREMELY unsafe. Please unload the drum out of the gun. In what manual did you see this recommended? David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 I swear it was in Handbook of the Thompson Submachine Gun (link to pdf: http://stevespages.com/pdf/thompson_tommy_full_auto_1927.pdf). After looking through it, however, I think I am mixed up. Those instructions were for unloading the M1903 Springfield. They can be found on page 107 of FM 21-100 The Soldier's Handbook (link:http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM21-100.pdf) Sorry guys. I'm a bit under the weather and not thinking clearly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike in pa Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 I load the drum , then give it two clicks . I wind it the rest just before shooting .ChrisSame here. Load drum and a couple of clicks to tension the ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Remember , when the bolt goes forward , the hammer hits the frame and pivots , running the firing pin forward . With the M1A1 , the " firing pin " is always " forward " .With the firing pin removed , it might be rather safe then , but you would still have a chambered round in the barrel if it decided to let go.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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