Isn't drum reloading supposed to be faster?

Hello bajtársak and fellow forum dwellers!
Quick history lesson: weapons like the MG42 and RD44 are drum fed, but if you look closely you can see that it’s not the drum feeding the gun, it’s the chain of bullets, the belt that is doing that while the magazine is more or less just holding them in place.

RD-44

This wasn’t wasted resources because reloading with drums was faster than just the belt because the drum was more convenient to carry and hold, not to mention that in case of just the belt the crew had to check the “loose” belt if it was caught up in something.

A friend of mine realised it not long ago that drums don’t always reflect this tactical advantage.
Here is a quick comparison.

Guide to magazines:

magazine: M1918A2, Colt Monitor, Lewis, DP-27, SIG KE7, M1941 Johnson LMG, DT-29, Bren Mk I 100, Fedorov MG
drum: MG13 (drum), MG34, MG34 Patronentrommel, MG42, MG42 early, MG45, MG15, AN/M2 Stinger, RD-44, Maxim-Tokarev, Type 100 MG
belt: M1919A6, Beltfed DP

BR3
Handheld Machine Guns Unlocked BR 10m 100m Velocity Magazine Reload Alt Reload
MG 13 with drum magazine Premium III 13.2 11.9 750 75* 2.6 1.95
MG 34 74000 XP III 13.2 11.9 750 50 4.8 -
Browning M1918A2 100000 XP III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.0 1.8
Colt Monitor Premium III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.1 1.79
Lewis Gun Premium III 13.2 11.9 815 47 3.3 2.72
DP-27 48000 XP III 13.2 11.9 815 47 3.2 2.6
SIG KE7 58000 XP III 13.2 11.9 750 25 2.0 1.7
BR4
Handheld Machine Guns Unlocked BR 10m 100m Velocity Magazine Reload Alt Reload
MG 45 Premium IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 3.8 3.40
MG 42 Early Premium IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 4.5 4.08
MG 42 105000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 5.6 5.1
MG 34 Patronentrommel 110000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 750 75 4.8 3.4
M1941 Johnson LMG 115000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.5 1.9
DT-29 118000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 815 63 3.28 -
BR5
Handheld Machine Guns Unlocked BR 10m 100m Velocity Magazine Reload Alt Reload
MG 15 120000 XP V 13.2 11.9 750 75 5.66 -
Bren Mk I 100 (BP 14) Gold Order V 13.2 11.9 760 100 3.8 3.80
AN/M2 Stinger Event V 13.2 11.9 830 200 4.8 3.40
Browning M1919A6 120000 XP V 13.2 11.9 830 100 5.5 5.5
Fedorov MG Premium V 12.6 9.8 660 25* 3.2 2.21
Beltfed DP Premium V 13.2 11.9 815 100 3.2 2.63
RD-44 122000 XP V 9.9 7.9 720 100 5.1 -
Maxim-Tokarev 126000 XP V 13.2 11.9 815 100 5.53 5.53
Type 100 MG 118000 XP V 26.4 23.8 750 50 (+50) 4.8 3.4

Normal/small magazines have quicker reload, completely realistic and balanced, but drums are all over the place, premium MGs have much quicker reload, the amount of bullets don’t seem to be a consideration anymore either since the Stinger is reloaded faster than the MG42, Browning M1919A6 and RD-44.

In my opinion reload time for MG42, MG34 and Maxim-Tokarev are too harsh while Stinger reloads too fast in comparison, TT drum reload time should be similar to premium reload time. Japan needs a BRIV MG and belt fed guns with “loose” belts need have slower reload than other guns.

What do you guys think?

3 Likes

All stats for nerds:

Handheld Machine Guns Unlocked BR 10m 100m Velocity Magazine Reload Alt Reload Rate of Fire Vertical Horizontal Recoil Control Vertical Horizontal Dispersion ADS Hipfiring Visual Recoil Recoil Dir ADS Speed Recoil Offs Weight Additional Info
MG 30 Premium II 13.2 11.9 700 25 2.6 1.95 630 27 17 0.9 24 15 0.37 14.0 45.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 25/75
Browning wz. 1928 Premium III 13.2 11.9 750 20 2.1 1.79 660 34 11 0.9 31 10 0.30 12.0 20.0 0.3 0.0 0.65 0.1 10.0 20/80
MG 13 with drum magazine Premium III 13.2 11.9 750 75* 2.6 1.95 660 25 18 0.9 23 16 0.32 18.0 45.0 0.8 0.1 0.22 0.1 13.0 75/75
MG 45 Premium IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 3.8 3.40 1650 15 13 0.75 11 10 0.40 10.0 30.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.0 50/100
MG 42 Early Premium IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 4.5 4.08 1060 11 14 0.7 8 10 0.40 15.0 45.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 50/50
Lathi-Saloranta M/26 (BP 9) Gold Order II 13.2 11.9 815 20* 2.0 1.55 500 43 18 0.9 39 16 0.35 8.0 15.0 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.5 10.0 20/80
FN Model 1930 (BP 9) Gold Order III 13.2 11.9 750 20 2.1 1.79 770 32 19 0.9 29 17 0.27 12.0 20.0 1.0 0.0 0.65 0.1 10.0 20/80
Knorr–Bremse MG-35/36 (BP 13) Gold Order II 13.2 11.9 750 25* 2.5 1.78 550 24 20 0.85 20 17 0.32 17.0 45.0 1.0 0.0 0.45 0.1 10.0 25/75
Breda Mod. 30 32000 XP II 13.2 11.9 670 20 2.7 2.1 530 33 22 0.9 30 20 0.31 14.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 20/80
MG 13 34000 XP II 13.2 11.9 750 25* 2.6 2.0 660 28 20 0.9 25 18 0.32 17.0 45.0 0.8 0.0 0.25 0.1 13.0 25/75
ZB-26 48000 XP II 13.2 11.9 750 20 2.7 2.1 830 35 20 0.9 32 18 0.31 12.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 20/80
MG 34 74000 XP III 13.2 11.9 750 50 4.8 - 880 15 19 0.9 14 17 0.40 15.0 45.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 13.6 50/50
MG 42 105000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 750 50 5.6 5.1 990 15 16 0.9 14 14 0.41 15.0 45.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 13.1 50/50
MG 34 Patronentrommel 110000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 750 75 4.8 3.4 880 13 18 0.9 12 16 0.40 15.0 45.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 15.1 75/75
MG 15 120000 XP V 13.2 11.9 750 75 5.66 - 1320 23 15 0.9 21 14 0.36 17.0 45.0 0.7 0.1 0.25 0.1 13.0 75/75
Colt Monitor Premium III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.1 1.79 660 36 12 0.9 32 11 0.35 10.0 15.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.1 6.0 20/80
W.A.R (BP 9) Gold Order III 13.2 11.9 830 20* 2.4 1.96 640 29 14 0.6 17 8 0.21 13.0 20.0 2.0 0.15 0.75 0.6 7.25 20/80
Chatellerault M24/29 (BP 13) Gold Order II 12.9 11.6 790 25 2.7 2.13 590 35 20 0.9 32 18 0.37 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.4 25/75
Bren Mk I 100 (BP 14) Gold Order V 13.2 11.9 760 100 3.8 3.80 540 34 17 0.9 31 15 0.38 17.0 35.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 12 100/100
Charlton Automatic Rifle Event II 13.2 11.9 760 30* 4.7 3.23 430 47 28 0.9 42 25 0.30 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.65 0.1 7.5 30/60
Besal Events II 13.2 11.9 760 30 3.8 2.89 660 39 18 0.9 35 16 0.30 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.8 30/60
Vickers Mk.I No 2 Event V 13.2 11.9 760 100 4.3 3.59 1040 31 20 0.9 28 18 0.36 13.0 30.0 0.7 0.0 0.5 0.4 9.5 100/100
AN/M2 Stinger Event V 13.2 11.9 830 200 4.8 3.40 1190 9 19 0.7 6 13 0.34 13.0 30.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 11.0 200/0
Vickers-Berthier 32000 XP II 13.2 11.9 760 30 2.4 1.9 480 31 17 0.9 28 15 0.33 0.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.4 30/60
Bren Mk I 34000 XP II 13.2 11.9 760 30 2.1 1.8 530 35 20 0.9 32 18 0.30 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 8.33 30/60
Bren Mk II 48000 XP II 13.2 11.9 760 30 2.1 2.1 530 35 20 0.9 32 18 0.31 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 30/60
Browning M1918 58000 XP III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.1 1.9 660 41 15 0.9 37 14 0.33 11.0 20.0 0.3 0.0 0.65 0.1 7.25 20/80
Browning M1918A1 74000 XP III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.1 1.8 660 38 15 0.9 34 14 0.32 12.0 20.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.1 8.8 20/80
Browning M1918A2 100000 XP III 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.0 1.8 660 34 15 0.8 27 12 0.31 13.0 20.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.1 8.8 20/80
M1941 Johnson LMG 115000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 830 20 2.5 1.9 990 40 12 0.9 36 11 0.32 10.0 25.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.1 5.9 20/80
Browning M1919A6 120000 XP V 13.2 11.9 830 100 5.5 5.5 550 13 15 0.9 12 14 0.34 13.0 30.0 0.6 0.0 0.24 0.1 14.0 100/100
Chauchat Premium II 13.2 11.9 630 20 3.0 1.87 300 41 23 0.9 37 21 0.21 13.0 35.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 20/80
Lewis Gun Premium III 13.2 11.9 815 47 3.3 2.72 560 32 19 0.9 29 17 0.39 14.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 47/94
Fedorov MG Premium V 12.6 9.8 660 25* 3.2 2.21 570 43 13 0.4 17 5 0.16 0.0 15.0 1.1 0.2 0.7 0.4 9.0 25/100
Beltfed DP Premium V 13.2 11.9 815 100 3.2 2.63 610 47 17 0.9 42 15 0.38 12.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.0 100/100
RPK 1943 (BP 13) Gold Order II 13.2 11.9 815 15* 2.4 2.04 500 52 16 0.75 39 12 0.27 8.0 15.0 1.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 7.2 15/90
Breda Mod. 30 Unobtainable II 13.2 11.9 670 20 2.7 2.13 530 33 22 0.9 30 20 0.31 14.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 20/80
Madsen 32000 XP II 13.2 11.9 815 25* 2.7 2.0 500 30 30 0.9 27 27 0.33 14.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 11.0 25/75
DP-27 48000 XP III 13.2 11.9 815 47 3.2 2.6 610 41 17 0.9 37 15 0.38 12.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 11.8 47/47
DPM 110000 XP III 13.2 11.9 815 47 3.06 2.6 610 42 15 0.9 38 14 0.37 11.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 47/47
DT-29 118000 XP IV 13.2 11.9 815 63 3.28 - 610 33 19 0.9 30 17 0.37 15.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.0 63/63
RD-44 122000 XP V 9.9 7.9 720 100 5.1 - 830 31 13 0.5 16 7 0.34 15.0 45.0 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.1 7.4 100/100
Maxim-Tokarev 126000 XP V 13.2 11.9 815 100 5.53 5.53 660 14 25 0.8 11 20 0.32 13.0 30.0 1.0 0.0 0.24 0.1 15.5 100/100
FN Model 1930 (BP 9) Gold Order III 13.2 11.9 750 20 2.1 1.8 770 32 19 0.9 29 17 0.27 12.0 20.0 1.0 0.0 0.65 0.1 9.6 20/80
Hotchkiss M1922 (BP 13) Gold Order II 13.2 11.9 750 30 2.4 3.23 500 34 14 0.9 31 13 0.26 13.0 30.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.2 30/60
Type Hei LMG Premium IV 13.9 10.8 660 30* 3.4 2.90 790 43 18 0.3 13 5 0.22 0.0 15.0 0.3 0.2 0.55 0.3 10.0 30/60
Type 11 LMG 32000 XP II 12.3 11.1 730 30 3.2 2.9 550 36 24 0.9 32 22 0.32 14.0 35.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 10.2 30/90
Type 97 LMG 36000 XP II 13.2 11.9 710 20 2.4 2.0 610 43 19 0.9 39 17 0.26 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 12.4 20/80
Type 96 LMG 48000 XP III 12.3 11.1 730 30 2.6 2.2 610 41 17 0.4 16 7 0.26 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 9.0 30/60
KE7 58000 XP III 13.2 11.9 750 25 2.0 1.7 610 43 15 0.9 39 14 0.28 12.0 20.0 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.1 9.0 25/75
Type 99 LMG 74000 XP III 13.2 11.9 710 30 3.0 2.6 880 35 21 0.9 32 19 0.31 13.0 30.0 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.1 12.0 30/60
Type 100 MG 118000 XP V 26.4 23.8 750 50 (+50) 4.8 3.4 660 32 19 0.9 29 17 0.00040 15.0 45.0 0.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 16.0 50/50
3 Likes

Irl in the end of the day the main difference is that you either attach a drum to the gun or place a box/belt on the ground near it. Every other action is identical or very similar for both types of belt holders.
So imo from realism pov there is not much difference.
The only real issue is weight as more bullets require more strength /time to lift. But enlisted soldiers are ubermensh who can shoulder fire 20kg 2cm AT canon so I’d say it’s not a concern.

From the gameplay perspective it makes complete sense to make guns with more ammo reload longer. Every upside should have a downside imo.
I guess it can be solved by adding starter tabs for belt MGs with less ammo:
image
Germans used them for sure, I don’t know about other nations. We can always find some obscure thing soldiers improvised from random trash.

4 Likes

All fair and clear, but where is that box or the end of the belt?
s-l1200
00-mg42
These guys have it hanging on them okay, but in game it’s just 10-20 bullets in the air.
Besides, these guys will have to make sure that belt they carried are not stuck in their clothing once they load it in, beltfed reload is slower.

2 Likes

Ohohohoh,

That makes you the Robin of… The Parrotman!!!

2ed7e71ad6ee883004febae3d59acc66

(Most won’t get it)

3 Likes

Joe on his way to roast people and contribute nothing to the discussion.
Legend
I_Tip_My_Hat_to_You._One_Legend_to_Another

1 Like

Nah, no roasting today. Just a wink about that table I’ve seen “somewhere” already :smile:

1 Like

:thinking: You did? But I just made this half an hour ago.

1 Like

Typically you would have your belt in the ammo box. (Or at least you should in the ideal circumstances.)
So it’s a difference between

  • place down the box, open it and pull out the belt (much faster with the help of assistant gunner)
  • take the container in hand (maybe extract it from the carrier device), attach it to the gun, pull out the belt

In the end both require quite a lot of actions before being able to fight and the main factor is the experience of the gunner.

But I’m just guessing like the internet gremlin I am.
Ideally someone who was MG3 gunner should be asked.
(MG3 specifically as it still uses 50r drum holders unlike for example M240, so it’s relatively close to what we discuss.)

2 Likes

13c9fd79-2582-480a-8fd2-e796d7c8aa28
“Proud of you I am, my valorous disciple”

5 Likes

But there is no box since there is no ammo carrier though…

His even Grey too!! :joy:
Screenshot_20240906_154240_com.opera.browser_edit_2787618503465785
He isn’t dead, he even liked my post today.

1 Like

Irl there is.
But in game soldier pulls the belt from his ass. So I guess we can end the “realism” part of the discussion here.

1 Like

He has for the past two months been constantly sending me private messages- he is still reading here in the forums, he just stays quite for no reason.

Actually I told him like 20 times that he should stop sending me private messages, even a forum moderator got involved.

Parrot is planning something, he kept talking about some weird masterplan to make some sort of a big come back… honestly I don’t know whats up with this dude, all I know is that he loves that “big action mod gamemode” or what ever it was called… so yeah, the parrot is still here, he just refuses to talk to us.

1 Like

Truly a big loss.

2 Likes

He is more popular than MG realism, no one cares about that but Parrots? He is still spoken about months after his last post.

2 Likes

Because he is meme. Memes are always popular.

2 Likes

here fixed that for ya.
image

4 Likes

Yeah - was about to say - its not 20kg but actually 50kg.

An unprofessional comparison

1 Like