This is why US troops didn't use drum magazines.......

[First Sergeant]

Always noticed that in Windtalkers as time went by so did the evolution of the Thompson and accessories Cage carried. Started with drums and a vertical grip, Then to horizontal and 20 rd mags and ended up with 30's carried in 20 mag pouches. The advisor on that picture seems to know his stuff about Thompsons.

[jpw43]

Always noticed that in Windtalkers as time went by so did the evolution of the Thompson and accessories Cage carried. Started with drums and a vertical grip, Then to horizontal and 20 rd mags and ended up with 30's carried in 20 mag pouches. The advisor on that picture seems to know his stuff about Thompsons.

It was similar in the mini-series "The Pacific."

I liked that attention to detail.

[DZelenka]

I was watching "the Devil's Brigade" the other night and noticed all of the guys with Thompsons were carrying their 30 rounders in 5 cell 20 round pouches. Way too many people with Thompsons in that movie. They basically gave them to everyone for the patrol.

 

Dan

[Frank Iannamico]

The writer obviously doesn't know much about Thompsons. Probably just repeating something he read someplace.

 

Closed bolt operated civilian semi-auto-only Thompsons need the Numrich "third hand" device to hold the bolt back so the drum can be slid in.

Of course open-bolt military Thompsons don't need the "third hand" tool. (small picture of the device)

 

Thompson 3RD Hand Auto-Ordnance

$7.00

[Merry Ploughboy]

 

The writer obviously doesn't know much about Thompsons. Probably just repeating something he read someplace.

 

Closed bolt operated civilian semi-auto-only Thompsons need the Numrich "third hand" device to hold the bolt back so the drum can be slid in.

Of course open-bolt military Thompsons don't need the "third hand" tool. (small picture of the device)

 

Thompson 3RD Hand Auto-Ordnance

$7.00

One doesn't need to use the 'third hand' to insert a drum in the semi Thompson. Just pull the cocking knob back with one hand and reach in the magwell at the back with the other hand and push the lever up; and gently release the bolt to latch the bolt back. It's when it's time to take the drum out and the bolt is in the forward position that a 'third hand' or some other implement is needed to push up the lever.

 

MHO, YMMV, etc.

Edited August 12, 2020 by Merry Ploughboy

[lamellarllc]

If I am not mistaken early M3 Lee and Grant tanks carried 2 1928 thompsons one next to the driver on his left and the other on the right next to the loader of the hull mounted gun, I think they carried around 15-20 50 round drums as per standard storage inside the tank.

[thirtyround]

Marines, Okinawa 1945 Thompson wielding Marine drum magazine in use...

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by thirtyround

[rpbcps]

Marines, Okinawa 1945 Thompson wielding Marine drum magazine in use...

 

Here is another photo of a US Marine with a drum mag fitted to his Tommy gun in 1942.

 

 

Stay safe

Richard

[thirtyround]

I have a lot of images of field Marines doing their thing, but this one, I haven't seen. Thanks !

[rpbcps]

Richard,

30 rd mags in a 5/20 mag pouch is the cats ass. Very fast and sure on the draw.

If worried about mags falling out, just bring the flaps around the side of mag and snap.

Competitive shooters do the same thing now, myself included.

Jim C

 

 

Jim,

I followed the link to the Autoweapons site , given in the 'WTB Vintage “L” Drum' thread, and noted the description for the USMC 5 cell 20 rnd pouch, dated 1942, that they have listed.

 

"U.S.M.C. W.W.II 1942 DATED 5 CELL 20 ROUND MAGAZINE POUCH... THIS IS A RARE NEW CONDITIONED W.W.II VINTAGE 5 CELL H&R REISING MAG POUCH.... THE POUCH DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARD 5 CELL THOMPSON POUCH IN THAT THE MAG FLAPS ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER THEN THE STANDARD POUCH FOR THE 20 ROUND THOMPSON MACHINE GUN MAG... THE H&R REISING MAG IS A BIT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SINGLE FEED MAGAZINE LIPS.... WHILE THIS POUCH IS SPECIFIC FOR THE REISING THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS, MAKING IT KIND OF THE FIRST "ASSAULT TYPE" POUCH IN W.W.II, AS SEEN IN FILE PHOTOS AND MOVIES ABOUT THE MARINES.... THIS IS A CHOICE UNISSUED ORIGINAL EXAMPLE W.W.II DATED AND MAKER MARKED"

 

"Flaps slightly longer than standard pouch", the pictures also show the pouch with five 30 rnd mags in it, but wow what a price tag $495!!!

 

Stay safe

Richard

[Bridgeport28A1]

 

 

Richard,

30 rd mags in a 5/20 mag pouch is the cats ass. Very fast and sure on the draw.

If worried about mags falling out, just bring the flaps around the side of mag and snap.

Competitive shooters do the same thing now, myself included.

Jim C

 

Jim,

I followed the link to the Autoweapons site , given in the 'WTB Vintage L Drum' thread, and noted the description for the USMC 5 cell 20 rnd pouch, dated 1942, that they have listed.

 

"U.S.M.C. W.W.II 1942 DATED 5 CELL 20 ROUND MAGAZINE POUCH... THIS IS A RARE NEW CONDITIONED W.W.II VINTAGE 5 CELL H&R REISING MAG POUCH.... THE POUCH DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARD 5 CELL THOMPSON POUCH IN THAT THE MAG FLAPS ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER THEN THE STANDARD POUCH FOR THE 20 ROUND THOMPSON MACHINE GUN MAG... THE H&R REISING MAG IS A BIT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SINGLE FEED MAGAZINE LIPS.... WHILE THIS POUCH IS SPECIFIC FOR THE REISING THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS, MAKING IT KIND OF THE FIRST "ASSAULT TYPE" POUCH IN W.W.II, AS SEEN IN FILE PHOTOS AND MOVIES ABOUT THE MARINES.... THIS IS A CHOICE UNISSUED ORIGINAL EXAMPLE W.W.II DATED AND MAKER MARKED"

 

"Flaps slightly longer than standard pouch", the pictures also show the pouch with five 30 rnd mags in it, but wow what a price tag $495!!!

 

Stay safe

Richard

Autoweapons description included THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS,

 

A 30 round magazines would fit if secured in this manner.

 

Flaps are the same length, location of the male studs are located higher on a Reising pouch. Standard 20 round Thompson web pouch on the left, Reising pouch on the right.

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by Bridgeport28A1

[rpbcps]

 

 

Richard,

30 rd mags in a 5/20 mag pouch is the cats ass. Very fast and sure on the draw.

If worried about mags falling out, just bring the flaps around the side of mag and snap.

Competitive shooters do the same thing now, myself included.

Jim C

 

 

Jim,

I followed the link to the Autoweapons site , given in the 'WTB Vintage “L” Drum' thread, and noted the description for the USMC 5 cell 20 rnd pouch, dated 1942, that they have listed.

 

"U.S.M.C. W.W.II 1942 DATED 5 CELL 20 ROUND MAGAZINE POUCH... THIS IS A RARE NEW CONDITIONED W.W.II VINTAGE 5 CELL H&R REISING MAG POUCH.... THE POUCH DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARD 5 CELL THOMPSON POUCH IN THAT THE MAG FLAPS ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER THEN THE STANDARD POUCH FOR THE 20 ROUND THOMPSON MACHINE GUN MAG... THE H&R REISING MAG IS A BIT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SINGLE FEED MAGAZINE LIPS.... WHILE THIS POUCH IS SPECIFIC FOR THE REISING THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS, MAKING IT KIND OF THE FIRST "ASSAULT TYPE" POUCH IN W.W.II, AS SEEN IN FILE PHOTOS AND MOVIES ABOUT THE MARINES.... THIS IS A CHOICE UNISSUED ORIGINAL EXAMPLE W.W.II DATED AND MAKER MARKED"

 

"Flaps slightly longer than standard pouch", the pictures also show the pouch with five 30 rnd mags in it, but wow what a price tag $495!!!

 

Stay safe

Richard

 

Autoweapons description of a Reising pouch characteristics is not accurate.

 

Flaps are the same length, location of the male studs are located higher on a Reising pouch. Standard 20 round Thompson web pouch on the left, Reising pouch on the right.

 

 

I guess the male studs being located higher on a Reising pouch, make it possible for the 30 rnd magazines to be fitted, as shown in the Autoweapons photo?

[Roland the Thompsongunner]

No 30 round mags will not fit

[Bridgeport28A1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard,

30 rd mags in a 5/20 mag pouch is the cats ass. Very fast and sure on the draw.

If worried about mags falling out, just bring the flaps around the side of mag and snap.

Competitive shooters do the same thing now, myself included.

Jim C

 

Jim,

I followed the link to the Autoweapons site , given in the 'WTB Vintage L Drum' thread, and noted the description for the USMC 5 cell 20 rnd pouch, dated 1942, that they have listed.

 

"U.S.M.C. W.W.II 1942 DATED 5 CELL 20 ROUND MAGAZINE POUCH... THIS IS A RARE NEW CONDITIONED W.W.II VINTAGE 5 CELL H&R REISING MAG POUCH.... THE POUCH DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARD 5 CELL THOMPSON POUCH IN THAT THE MAG FLAPS ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER THEN THE STANDARD POUCH FOR THE 20 ROUND THOMPSON MACHINE GUN MAG... THE H&R REISING MAG IS A BIT LONGER BECAUSE OF THE SINGLE FEED MAGAZINE LIPS.... WHILE THIS POUCH IS SPECIFIC FOR THE REISING THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS, MAKING IT KIND OF THE FIRST "ASSAULT TYPE" POUCH IN W.W.II, AS SEEN IN FILE PHOTOS AND MOVIES ABOUT THE MARINES.... THIS IS A CHOICE UNISSUED ORIGINAL EXAMPLE W.W.II DATED AND MAKER MARKED"

 

"Flaps slightly longer than standard pouch", the pictures also show the pouch with five 30 rnd mags in it, but wow what a price tag $495!!!

 

Stay safe

Richard

Autoweapons description of a Reising pouch characteristics is not accurate.

 

Flaps are the same length, location of the male studs are located higher on a Reising pouch. Standard 20 round Thompson web pouch on the left, Reising pouch on the right.

 

I guess the male studs being located higher on a Reising pouch, make it possible for the 30 rnd magazines to be fitted, as shown in the Autoweapons photo?

30 round Thompson magazine in a three cell USMC Thompson pouch and a USMC Reising magazine pouch. As Roland the Thompsongunner said they will not fit a Reising pouch and allow for the lift the dot snap to fasten on the stud.

 

Autoweapon comment THE U.S. MARINES DID USE THESE FOR NOT ONLY THE H&R REISING MAGS BUT ALSO 20 ROUND THOMPSON MAGAZINES AND THE LONGER 30 ROUND MAGS BY WRAPPING THIS LONGER FLAP AROUND THE BODY OF THE 30 ROUND MAGS, would allow a 30 round magazine to be used.

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by Bridgeport28A1

[rpbcps]

Thanks for that clarification.

 

Stay safe

Richard