Running 9 Para in a PPSh Drum?

[StrangeRanger]

Just got a drum cleaned up for use with my incoming Yugo 49/57. I did a trial fit of 9 Para rounds and tried to feed them pushing them out of the feed lips by hand. I had numerous failures mostly nose dives which appeared to be due to the .22" difference in length between the 7.62 Tok and 9 Para cartridges. I think I know how to fix this but I wanted to ask if anyone on the board had the same issue and how they went about fixing it.

 

My plan is to cut a disc of 7 ga. (.180") sheet metal that fits snugly inside the drum on top of the cartridges with a hole in the middle to clear the clockspring assy. This would hold the cartridges back in the drum and prevent them from nosediving. Does this sound workable? Does anyone have another solution?

[StrangeRanger]

A better solution:

McMaster-Carr sells 6" x 6" squares of 3/16" black nylon for $8.56 each.

Less weight, less rattle, less friction

[Roland the Thompsongunner]

I have used them with 9mm in my PPSH quite a bit. There is a difference in the length of the rounds but if the drum fits good they seem to overcome that gap and not dive. I do have a failure here and there but I have sorted my drums and some work better than others. My best working drum is a mint condition yugo drum. Has 01 markings. I have also welded a short ramp in a drum I was using for short blanks. It helped to guide them pretty well to the chamber

[Blanksguy]

Roland,

Do you have a clear/close photo(s) of that drum modification that you could post here for us (?)

 

TIA,

RichardS

US Army, RET

[Roland the Thompsongunner]

This mod worked pretty decent for the short 9mm blanks I used years ago. I also had a small guide welded on the inside to guide the shells behind the ramp

[BillyDixon]

ive made barrels in 9mm largo for ppsh,, works like new,,,no mods needed, just sayn

[Connor]

I too have nosediving issues in drums and stick mags. This was my solution for the drums. I drew up a quick .187 spacer that fit the profile of the feedlip, had a local laser cutter cut these out for me with extras. Welded them in place on the drum, and dremelled the feed ramp back to the point that looked right. I chambered about a dozen rounds and they all fed. Planning on some testing this weekend, hopefully with some good results, it looks like it should work. 
 

I don’t quite have a solution for the stick mags yet b/c you can’t weld spacers from the inside of the stick mag like you can with the drums. This spacer also doesn’t interfere with the drum follower… it would interfere with a stick mag. 
 

if they work, I’ll drop the file here incase anyone else wants to do the same thing. 

Edited May 8, 2024 by Connor

[Rekraps]

7 hours ago, Connor said:

I too have nosediving issues in drums and stick mags. This was my solution for the drums. I drew up a quick .187 spacer that fit the profile of the feedlip, had a local laser cutter cut these out for me with extras. Welded them in place on the drum, and dremelled the feed ramp back to the point that looked right. I chambered about a dozen rounds and they all fed. Planning on some testing this weekend, hopefully with some good results, it looks like it should work. 
 

I don’t quite have a solution for the stick mags yet b/c you can’t weld spacers from the inside of the stick mag like you can with the drums. This spacer also doesn’t interfere with the drum follower… it would interfere with a stick mag. 
 

if they work, I’ll drop the file here incase anyone else wants to do the same thing. 

Quite nice work!

[Roland the Thompsongunner]

That is a great idea will have to try it

[Rekraps]

I just thought about this, your guide piece is only centered on the feed ramp/lips area. What prevents the other rounds in the drum from sneaking outward, which will or may result in a blockage?

[MGMarko]

Just wondering how this mod actually worked out?

I was just thinking to convert my x25 Postie and so far the 9mm is running intermittently at best. I know it was done by the Germans but I have not had a lot of success so far.

Was thinking to try a flat/round filler like in the original post but was thinking Connor's solution might be more reliable with its feed lip.

Stick mags are another story.

I wish I bought a lot more of the x25 when it was cheap but running a MG on x25 is getting expensive...

 

On 5/8/2024 at 1:01 AM, Connor said:

I too have nosediving issues in drums and stick mags. This was my solution for the drums. I drew up a quick .187 spacer that fit the profile of the feedlip, had a local laser cutter cut these out for me with extras. Welded them in place on the drum, and dremelled the feed ramp back to the point that looked right. I chambered about a dozen rounds and they all fed. Planning on some testing this weekend, hopefully with some good results, it looks like it should work. 
 

I don’t quite have a solution for the stick mags yet b/c you can’t weld spacers from the inside of the stick mag like you can with the drums. This spacer also doesn’t interfere with the drum follower… it would interfere with a stick mag. 
 

if they work, I’ll drop the file here incase anyone else wants to do the same thing. 

 

 

[Roland the Thompsongunner]

Get one of the adapters to use MP40 mags it will run 100 percent that way. Drums can be finicky and the above mod will help that but it can be done without it . Drum spring tension comes into play too if it’s not enough it will cause misfires as well.