I posted this item earlier during my hello and I thought you guys might get a kick out of it. Basically, I bought 2 used Bazooka Bros American 180 drum adapters for $60 and modified them for various hosts including my new M&P 15-22. I've been using the contraption with E&L Mfgs 165 and 220 round drums. With the 17 spacer rounds necessary to lift the last round into the chamber, it will shoot 147 rounds from the 165 and 203 rounds from the 220 round drums. It has proven very reliable with both drums. I've has 2 FTF in the last 1500 rounds.

I'm not a manufacturer, just a garage tinkerer. I don't sell these but I'll try to have a instructional demo up soon when I get some free time. It should be possible for those with intermediate fabrication skills and tools. Most of the work was done with a hand saw, files, drill and a few moments on a TIG.

SWMBO said she likes...
that would same me time at the range as she goes thru mags as fast as i can load...

really what to see your demo vid...

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is it just me?

NICE!!!!

I need 4 of those....LOL

Definately want.........

Here's a quick run down of what I did while I have the time.

After I got the short 10 round S&W M&P 15-22 mag, I stripped it down, cut the floor plate tabs off with a hand saw. Then I removed more material at the depth of the adapter plate, so the mag would insert flush to the drum.

Next I welded .125" x .5" SS strap material perpendicular to the A&D plate to secure both sides of the mag. Then I filled the hollow voids in the bottom of the mag with JB weld for a solid area to use tension pins. I finished by drilling through the side plates and mag to insert the pins.

just took a look at Bazooka Bros website..
am i seeing it correctly that they have a ready to load version for 199.00??
just curious before i start gathering parts

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is it just me?

They do not currently make one for the M&P 15-22, just for other .22 kits. Although they might if they had the demand.

Don't forget you would also need the E&L Mfg drums $75-100 and winder $75. I'm always on the lookout for used so I can get them cheaper.

SWEET !!!!!! I'd love to have one of those.....

THAT IS SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!! .... Would luv to have 1 but don't have the means to fabricate one since I live in a condo unit and I don't have all the tools I used to have.

What a great idea, good job.

Very nice!

Do you live in Savannah Georgia? I saw a guy at the range today showing off something that looked very similar

Yes, that was me.

Four times the ammo compared to the bdm drum mag... which means only one thing: FOUR TIMES THE FUN!!!!!

Nice. Glad to see someone local I can hit up for advice. Haven't had much luck with the stores around here.

I have shot the original full auto 180...talk about a bullet hose....

Cool set up....thanks for sharing

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The American dream is alive

This forum has been a great help.

Thanks to info found here, I've made a barrel block (so I would not screw up my upper), barrel nut tool (conduit) and the 200 drum adapter.

I'm thinking of doing the $10 speed hammer mod and saving my 3# Timney FCG for another AR.

Membership here is great. Thanks all.

Wait, so are you saying that thing cost you nearly $350 to make?

Either way, you have no idea how bad I want one of those!

This one cost me $208 to make.

wheeewwwwww! Now thats commitment! If this was a commercial product I might just think about it though! Well done sir!

Strobro 32, may I ask where do you find all the parts to put something like that together? If I could gather up all the components for around the $200 mark I might consider taking on a project like that, since I'm retired I'm sure I could work this into my schedule. As you can see you have generated quite a bit of interest in this "Super Ammo Drum" and I'm sure there are other 15-22 enthusiasts out here that have enquiring minds also. just sayn.

You will need:

1- Bazooka Brothers 180 drum adapter(for the A&D Mfg plate)
17- Bazooka Brothers .22 LR dummy rounds (come with the kit)
1- S&W 10 round mag
1- E&L Mfg American 180 drum (they come in 165, 220 and 275 rounds)
1- E&L Mfg American 180 drum winder
1- .125 x .5 x8" SS strap
2- .125 tension pins

Sources:

Bazooka Brothers Mfg. new $199.00
I got 2 used for &60.00
E&L Manufacturing, Inc. - American 180 Parts and Accessories - Parts List
drums new are $75.00 -165, %100.00- 220, $125.00-275

I got them used around the net for $60-up but for this one I used his discount and got a 220 drum with shipping for $95.00

E&L Mfg. has a %15 discount if you use a USPS MO

Pick your favorite internet dealer for the mags and local hardware store for the SS and pins.

Thnx. strobro32

I did it to mine and was at Mission when you showed up yesterday to try it out. I noticed a difference but couldnt tell you how much.

How did I miss this thread?
Great idea! Looks fun

have you tried running these drums with a slidefire setup?

That looks like an absolute BLAST.

Nice job.

KBK

thats awesome.

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od: xd9 3"&4", 15-22, 1911 .22

I don't have a bump stick. I was thinking of making one once my stamp comes back for a SBR. Loosing 3/4 of the barrel will shed a few pounds and may make it possible. That is if the BATFE doesn't ban home made ones soon.

was there anything you needed to do to the drum itself to make it run better upside down?

thanks, and you should definitely look into a bump stock & I see you already have the Timney 3 lb trigger

No, just the adapter and the tower.

strob........ what state R you in

Georgia___

I actually contacted Bazooka Brothers and they have a prototype in the works for the 15-22, but I actually like the way you went about it using a S&W mag. Looks alot more solid and will probably feed much better.

Great display of Ingenuity.

has nobody tried one of these drums with a slidefire yet? Curious if the added weight will allow it to function.

I don't know if it will work with that stock. I have no plans to buy one. Once my SBR stamp comes back, my 15-22 should weigh about 4 pounds loaded. I think the reduced weight would help with the function of the drum. The only problem is my SBR will have a folding stock so I wouldn't be able to test it.

If anyone in Savannah GA wants to test the drum with their rifle and SSAR, feel free.

how much does the loaded drum setup weigh? I could probably add the additional weight to one of my mags and see if it can even function in bumpfire mode.

thanks!

Loaded with 203 rounds of 40 grain RN, drum, tower and winder, it weights 3 pounds, 8.8 ounces.

WOW, that's 60 percent of the weight of an unloaded, unmodified 15-22.

Don't forget that about a third of that weight is the weight of the ammo itself. And the weight of standard magazines with that capacity is almost a pound more than the 200 is. Pretty efficient, actually.

Didn't say it wasn't efficient, just that the combo add 60 percent to the weight of the firearm.

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I put that 200-round drum in the same category as the SlideFire ...

True, but it gets about 1 1/2 pounds lighter as you're shooting it! lol!

I love it! Can I buy yours?

Every time I sell one of my prototypes, I regret it.

You did start me thinking about what materials and configurations would make it lighter and easier to produce.

That is true!

thanks! I will run some weight tests with my setup to see if it will work.

Can I ask why wouldn't u just make the adapter it looks like there is nothing to it if you have all the messurements. If u wouldn't mind would you send me a drawing with all mesurements I am sure I could make this with out any problem. Thank you

Just very nice!!
Sure it's only a 22, you want to stand in front of it while it rains lead.
I love it!

The adapter plate is the patented by A&D and licensed to Bazzoka Brothers to make the towers and sell. I would be stepping on some toes if I posted specs.

I imagine if you are technically capable of make a drum adapter then it will only take you 5 minutes to figure out the angles. Believe me, if this information was not owned, I would be producing them.