Anyone done an AK to AC drum mag conversion?

[garandman]

The Sept 04 SAR article talks about converting an AK drum mag for use with an AC556.

Looks like you just weld an AC mag feed tower on top of the drum mag.

Anyone ever tried it?

[John2]

While I haven't tried it, your biggest problem would be finding a 5.56 drum mag to convert. I have a chinese drum for AR/M16 that would work if they weren't so scarce. It works fine on my M16. I'd be hesitent to subject an AC556 to such heat. Abusive. I haven't seen any AK drums in 5.56. I don't know if the Chinese made any. They did make AKs in 5.56 but with conventional magazines. :heavy

[nayo]

why not just buy a beta drum i have one for my mini 14 gb and it works great

[garandman]

why not just buy a beta drum i have one for my mini 14 gb and it works great

1 . I like projects. Making your own stuff is fun and rewarding.

2. I thought I might be able to sava a buck.

3. I prolly will get a beta mag :D

[Vegas SMG]

I've got a factory, 120 round .223 ChiCom drum for my M-16. The tower was made using an AR type magazine and the drum opens and loads from the rear. These types of rear loading drums are highly desirable in both .223 and 7.62, and the cost is +/- $250.00 each if and when you can locate one for sale.

While I've never seen a .223 AK drum, they may indeed be out there. The price would on those would also be high enough that your proposed project would be too expensive to be practical. Simple economics today make the challenge unfeasible.

Necessity has always been the mother of invention and with the AWB still in effect when that article was written, it was probably built many years before the ban started in 1994 when the .223 round drums were readily available and inexpensive. That and the fact that Beta Co. only produced their drum mags for the AR-15/M-16 family led to adapting of this style drum being used.

Can you give us specifics on the drum used? I just can't imagine using a 7.62x39 drum with the internal winder being a different size for the larger bullets.

[garandman]

Can you give us specifics on the drum used? I just can't imagine using a 7.62x39 drum with the internal winder being a different size for the larger bullets.

All I know is what I read in the SAR article, and it seemed like a fun project.

But the hurdles you refernced all make me think in not practical to do.

Looks like a Beta is in my future.

[Vegas SMG]

That's what I'd like to know... EXACTLY what you read in the article. What type of drum was used? Take another look and see if they used a 7.62x39 drum or, (more likely), a 5.56 drum. The only AK drums I currently own are a pair of the 70 round Romanians, and I don't see a 5.56 conversion happening with one of these sealed drums.

More than likely it was one of the Chinese drums like the one pictured below. The 5.56 and 7.62 are made very much the same except for the bullet guides and the fingers on the sprockets that hold the rounds in place. Once again, due to the variation of the size of these fingers and their openings, it would only make sense to start with a 5.56 drum. I can certainly see some enterprising individual making the tower modification "back in the day" when the Chinese drums were cheap, and before Beta Co. starting making drum mags for the Ruger.

120 round Chinese made AR-15 ~ M-16 drum.

http://www.uzitalk.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11900&stc=1&d=1211211941

[JasonAC556]

That's what I'd like to know... EXACTLY what you read in the article. What type of drum was used?

Here is the article in question.

http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/AC556.pdf

It was the type of drum you posted that was used. There are a very few out there.......and I am sure their owners aren't about to give them up.

I used to have one of the MWG snail drums. I used it once and sold it. Big PITA. I would think that the Beta mag would be a better choice.

[panaceabeachbum]

I see them for sale quite commonly in my area, although I did sell somewhere around 400 of them at local gunshows years ago .

I believe capitol ord has some for aprox $300

[sswikinger]

I seem to remember that the Chi-Com .223 drums generally did not function 100% like the 7.62x39 ones.

-my 2¢-

[Vegas SMG]

I think you've got it backwards... The 7.62X39 rear loading drums were problematic IIRC.

At any rate, I'd go with a Beta C for the price, function, ergonomics, and factory support. They simply weren't an option for the Ruger "back in the day".

[sswikinger]

Vegas, I don't think I got it backwards. I've still have a 7.62x39 rear loader and have never had any problems, unless I forgot to wind it enough times.
I have a Norinco .223 AK and the main reason I passed on the .223 drums was what I was hearing from others at the time. Of course, this wouldn't be the first time my memory was wrong- goes with age. :(

[Vegas SMG]

I was thinking the .223 AR-15 drums, but they should be the same drums sans the magazine feed tower. As I stated in my earlier post, I haven't seen a .223 AK drum, but I'm sure they exist.

I'd still go with the Beta C drum and give up the extra 20 rounds for the reasons I stated above. You've got the added benefit of not losing a finger when you release the spring pressure on the ChiCom drums!

[nayo]

thats the truth vegas i know i wont release the spring pressure on my drum's without my piece of Broom handle. hell the sound that it make's is enough to scare my finger's off

[panaceabeachbum]

Yep the large chinese 556 ar drums were the problematic ones , the 100 rd chinese 7.62 drums were not the most reliable but the 75 rd ones were flawless. There were some 556 chinese AK drums , I have one somewhere and sold quite a few of them

[Vegas SMG]

Now I know... Thank you for the good information sir!

Is the 120 round 5.56 drum the same external size as the 100 round 7.62x39 drum?

[panaceabeachbum]

it appeared to be the same outer shell, I believe the 556 ak drum I have is somewhere just under 100 rds and looks to be the same size as the 75 rd 7.62 drum .
I think I still have some of the wood crates the ak drums were shipped in , I cant remember how many drums they hold , if memory serves it was 40 or 60. about 15 years ago I was buying them from kengs for around $28 apiece in qty of 120 or more

[panaceabeachbum]

there is an AK 223 drum for sale over on 1919a4.com , litle pricey and pretty beat but there are pics

[Vegas SMG]

Thanks. Here's the link to the $300.00 .223 AK drum for sale and the photos.
http://www.1919a4.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=17078

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff179/safelist/swalls/P7110275.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff179/safelist/swalls/P7110274.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff179/safelist/swalls/P7110277.jpg

[garandman]

I think I'll just get a Beta..... LOL

[JasonAC556]

Here is one on GB that started out at $255.....up to $300 now.

I still think the Beta would be better.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=104639524