01-05-2022, 09:57 PM
Okay so an update on this experiment. I was able to acquire one of these AR15 7.62 AK style drum mags. I didn't try any brass cased ammo but I did load it with some steel cased Wolf. Bottom line is that it will not feed with the back cover closed. The cartridge OAL is too long and the friction between the case head and the back cover prevents proper cycling. However, with the back cover not fully latched... it does seem to feed just fine, at least with hand cycling rounds. So now the mouse wheel in my head is spinning up solutions to just increase the gap between the back cover and the drum body securely and reliably... and I think if I do that, it may just work great. LRRPF52 hit it on the head suggesting the COL was going to be the issue. I tried shimming the inside edge of the drum body where it meets the back cover with some folded aluminum foil, probably in the range of 0.02 in which is obviously not going to be enough. I'm not much on metal fabrication, so I think my first attempt will be to draw up and 3D print a new back cover. I'll follow up with any future developments, good or bad.