This text first appeared on AmmoLand Information on December seventh, 2023, and seems right here now with recent updates.
Jim runs the Magpul D60 Drum Journal by a select-fire M4 rifle. Can the Magpul drum sustain?
Most drum magazines are rubbish – fortunately, the Magpul D60 isn’t most drum mags.
Once I first noticed Magpul announce the D60 a couple of years again, I used to be optimistic however nonetheless skeptical. Whereas it’s true that Magpul set the gold normal for reliability with their PMags, drums are a totally totally different beast. Plus, my private expertise with drum mags has been lower than reassuring, with most fashions examined experiencing a number of malfunctions each time they’re loaded.
Magpul D60 Journal
However this wasn’t the case with the Magpul D60 – with each gun examined save for one… however I’ll get to that in a second.
First off, in case you’ve already purchased one, take a second to learn the instruction handbook. The Magpul D60 doesn’t load like a conventional journal or most drum magazines available on the market, however reasonably an odd mixture of the 2.
The place Russian AKM drums are loaded from the rear and must be wound up earlier than use, the Magpul D60 is totally different. The D60 is loaded from the tower itself however requires the person to alleviate among the journal spring pressure by pulling a small lever on prime of the journal physique. That is really a ratcheting system that merely removes some stress from the follower and permits shooters to load about three rounds at a time.
That mentioned, it’s doable to maintain the follower depressed partially with one hand and crank the ratchet lever a second time which then permits roughly 5 rounds to be loaded at a time. Though I might advise towards it since doing so may doubtlessly permit a spherical to rotate incorrectly and jam up the journal. This by no means occurred in my expertise with the drum, nevertheless it isn’t past the realm of risk. Plus, drum magazines aren’t meant to be loaded shortly; their benefit lies of their capability.
Lastly, the rear of the drum does come off however ought to solely be eliminated for cleansing and upkeep each 1,000 rounds or so.
Reliability
Given the insane present costs of ammunition, I solely loaded (after which emptied) the D60 drum to capability thrice. As soon as in a SIG 516 Carbon TS piston AR, one other time in an IMI X95 bullpup, and at last in a select-fire authorities M4 assault rifle.
With the X95, the drum functioned flawlessly, however its bulk made the carbine operation considerably awkward. Nonetheless, this isn’t a shortcoming of the D60, however reasonably a symptom of mainly all bullpup carbines. The one situation I had with the X95, apart from ergonomic woes, was the problem of each inserting the journal on a closed bolt and eradicating it on one. The previous is sensible, however the latter was one thing I completely didn’t anticipate. However provided that the D60 encompasses a last-round bolt maintain open follower, this situation is remedied by merely pulling again the charging deal with on an empty gun.
The SIG, alternatively, with its standard structure, not solely functioned 100% reliably, however the ergonomics of the gun had been unchanged. That is my private residence protection carbine, and as soon as that has seen greater than 5,000 rounds fired by it (nearly all of which had been suppressed). This gun isn’t choosy concerning magazines or ammunition, and it actually chowed down on the 60-rounds of 5.56mm loaded within the D60.
And in contrast to the X95, inserting a fully-loaded drum on a closed bolt wasn’t troublesome in any respect. However I might nonetheless suggest shooters get within the behavior of the slap and tug affirmation technique, as the burden of the journal could make false insertions undoubtedly doable.
D60 Drum Journal Full-Auto Superior
Earlier than I begin on the M4, in case you haven’t watched the video linked above, go achieve this now.
Salivating? I don’t blame you – I want that gun had been mine and never a buddy’s standing behind the digicam, permitting me to movie with it briefly. However the purpose I selected that gun wasn’t just because I like capturing machine weapons (however I definitely do!) however as a result of it represents essentially the most taxing configuration I had accessible for the D60. A brief barrel full-auto carbine is inherently extra violent than a full-length rifle, that means the bolt’s elevated velocity is much less forgiving than magazines whose springs lack the right pressure to shortly feed rounds to the chamber.
The outcome?
A number of malfunctions over a full 60 rounds fired. The excellent news is that none of them had been magazine-related. Should you watch the video, you’ll discover each single malfunction was a failure to fireside the place the hammer itself didn’t absolutely reset. Should you look nearer, you’ll discover that I’m extracting an unfired spherical from the chamber each time I clear these malfunctions. This implies the Magpul D60 was doing its job simply positive. If something, it means I have to lubricate that M4 higher sooner or later.
So what’s the takeaway? Nicely, the D60 appears to be essentially the most dependable commercially-made journal for the AR-15 (or any weapon that accepts STANAG-pattern magazines) at present available on the market. It’s not low cost, however realistically shooters aren’t going to purchase 25 of those and cargo them up. As a substitute, the Magpul D60 makes a wonderful addition to a shooter’s loadout for prolonged vary plinking periods or an finish of the world as we all know it situation residence protection setup. As a result of what if 4 ninjas and a bear break into your own home on the similar time?
Specs:
Model: Magpul
Product Identify: Magpul D60 Drum Journal
Mfr Half: MAG576-BLK
UPC: 8 40815 11464 2
Product Particulars: The Magpul PMAG D-60 Drum Magazine is a sturdy, light-weight, extremely dependable 60-round polymer drum journal for AR15/M4 appropriate weapons.
Magpul 60RD PMAG D-60 223/5.56
Reside Stock Worth Checker
About Jim Grant
Jim is among the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who can wield a digicam with knowledgeable finesse along with his mastery of prose. He loves something and every thing weapons however holds firearms from the Chilly Conflict in a particular place in his coronary heart.
When he’s not reviewing weapons or capturing for enjoyable and competitors, Jim may be discovered mountaineering and searching along with his spouse Kimberly and their canine Peanut within the South Carolina low nation.
Product Evaluations:
I give the Magpul D60 5/5 stars for being essentially the most dependable, inexpensive AR-15 drum journal available on the market. ~ Jim Grant. How would you charge the Magpul D60 Drum Journal?
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