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  /  Firearms   /  Magazines   /  The KCI USA Glock Drum – An Angry Hive of Bees

The KCI USA Glock Drum – An Angry Hive of Bees

KCI USA is a magazine manufacturing company that’s been producing Glock, AR, and AK magazines for quite some time. They’ve also been doing it at a very affordable rate. While Glock, AR, and AK mags can seem like a dime a dozen the KCI price makes them affordable training magazines that you can beat the hell out of. Not only that, but they also produce the most affordable drums on the market and I’ve had my hands on the KCI USA Glock Drum for over 6 months now and I’m continually impressed.

Drums are typically expensive, but this 9mm Glock drum is surprisingly affordable. It’s also very easy to use. The KCI Glock drum holds 50 rounds of 9mm and will work with any 9mm Glock, or rifle that takes Glock magazines. On a handgun, it’s admittedly a little ridiculous, but it works. Toss the Glock KCI drum in a rifle and it makes a lot more sense. Drums in 9mm SMGs were popular in WW2 for a reason. If you are using a lower-powered pistol round in a long gun platform you might as well have a ton of them.

Glock,

The KCI Glock Drum is essentially an angry bee nest full of shiny, 115 grain 9mm bees.

The KCI USA Glock Drum

Loading this drum is very easy. It requires two hands essentially, but the built-in lever system never makes it a strain. It’s easier to load this drum than it is a stiff magazine. You simply push the lever up , which brings the follower down. Drop a round in and release the lever. Repeat the process until the drum is loaded. It’s quick to load fifty rounds and absolutely pain-free.

It’s got Gen 4 magazine cuts so it does work if you swap your magazine release. The drum itself is made from polymer and features a heat-treated chrome silicon wire spring.

In A Handgun

I’ve personally tested the function of the KCI Glock drum in a Glock 17 Gen 4, a Glock 19 Gen 4, and a Polymer 80 80 percent lower Glock with gen 3 parts. In a handgun, you do get a very odd and distinct look. It’s not only goofy looking but somewhat nonsensical. In a Glock in a Roni kit then it starts making more sense.

It runs without issue but is rather odd in terms of recoil. As the gun recoil backward and up the drum is moving forward. Because it weighs more, especially when loaded, the drum creates more rearward movement and causes upward muzzle rise. It’s odd for sure, but it works.

The only issue is the fact you can’t load a full drum on a close slide. You have to download by a few rounds or load with the slide locked to the rear. The drums absolutely eats through any rounds I put through it. This includes Tula and Winchester Forged, which is low-quality steel ammo.

In A Rifle

Oh in a rifle things start to make a lot more sense. The Kel Tec Sub 2K is the only rifle I currently have that feeds from Glock magazines and the design brilliantly balances out with the KCI Glock Drum. The rifle houses the magazine in its pistol grip, which puts it directly in the center of the weapon. This ensures that even when fully loaded the gun is well balanced and comfortable.

Even if the mag well was forward of the pistol grip I doubt it would be uncomfortable or unbalanced. The KCI Glock drum works just as reliably in the rifle as it does in a handgun. It also still has the issue loading with a full drum and a closed bolt.

The drum is wide but not much longer than a standard 33Rd stick mag. Getting into the prone isn’t an issue in any way and I can get just as low with the drum as I can a stick mag. It may snag when moving through close quarters, but this isn’t a weapon or magazine I’d be using in house to house fighting anyway.

Yay or Nay?

A big fat Yay as far as I’m concerned. KCI USA magazines are a ton of fun, reliable, looks cool, and is easy to use. Best of all it’s super cheap. It will certainly get you a look or two at the range and that’s hard to beat.

About the Author /

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine gunner who served with 2nd Bn 2nd Marines for 5 years. He deployed in 2009 to Afghanistan and again in 2011 with the 22nd MEU(SOC) during a record setting 11 months at sea. He’s trained with the Romanian Army, the Spanish Marines, the Emirate Marines and the Afghan National Army. Today, Travis serves as an NRA certified pistol instructor and teaches concealed carry classes.

Comments(3)

  • Carl Levorter

    September 22, 2019

    KCI USA has really stepped up their game. I have had very good luck with their stick mags for Glocks and the MP5. The drums look like a lot of fun.

  • Bob

    September 25, 2019

    KCI USA has really stepped up their game. Best value for magazines on the market.

  • Steve

    September 26, 2019

    I just got one of the KCI USA Glock drums for my Keltec. So much fun…

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