Only have had AKs for less than a year now, so I've never picked up a drum mag. I'm only wanting to pick one up while I can so what would be the one to get? I don't mind holding out for one that's hard to get or what it costs, as that's part of the fun searching for it and getting a good price on it as well. Only want it if it's considered to be Highly Reliable. TIA

I have an early Chinese 75 rd drum with the two latches and spring winder. It has been 100% reliable from day one. I leave it loaded but unwound. When its needed give it about 4-5 turns and it's ready to rock. Has no markings other than an arrow showing which way to wind it up and four numbers on the back. It is the design that has a minimal cant to the feed tube relative to the body of the drum

Have had it for so long that I don't remember where I got it. But I got it back in the 80's and don't think we were importing from behind the Iron Curtain at that time. That is why I am sorta certain it is Chi-com.

But hey, I've been wrong before.......

As the others said Chinese .

^ this

I own a couple ChiCom 75 rounders for the AKs and they run like a raped ape

Also have 2 similar AR15 .223 Chicom 120 rounders and they are very reliable but have failed a couple times mid way ( could be ammo issues vs mag failure )

Are the new/more recent production Romanian Drums GTG?

Yes, and although they're marked 'Made In Romania' it's been discussed many times before that they were rumored to be made in China and then imported to Romania where they were resold.

I have one of the 'Romanian production' back loading drums, runs fine in both my WASR & Draco pistol. Still easy to find new for not much more than the Korean drums.

Got a link to a decent priced Romanian drum?

Look at all of the usual guys Apex, Aim, What a country .Atlantic and I am sure a few others

Thanks, I was able to find a new Century Arms Romanian 75-rd drum for $69 on sale. There was a 3% upcharge for using a credit card and shipping is unknown until it ships with a $15 minimum. Hopefully the shipping is reasonable and I don't have to dispute it.

Note, there are also Romanian 75 Round top loaders.  I bought two on sale a while back from Apex Gun Parts for ~$100 each (I think) and just ran them two weeks ago (so loaded full for a few months).  No need to wind them and they ran 100% (only 75 rounds through each though) for me.  They are always ready so I like that option.  I also have the marked Romanian/Chinese back loaders, great as well.

If I could only have one it would be the top loader. They apper to be alot more durable. I don't think I could break one if I tried. I have a couple "Romanian" back loaders too and they are nice. They just don't have that tank like feel the top loader has.

The Romanian top loaders are more durable they are just harder to load than the China made Romy back loaders.

Apex still shows the 'used but very good condition' Romy top loaders in stock for $125. No listing for Romy back loaders.

I've had one of the "Romanian" drums for over a year and have never used it.

Get an Eastern Bloc Top Loader Drum. As others have stated, they are much better made. Also, see my other post regarding issue with the Romanian drum fitment. The top loader I just bought is very well built and I like it much better than the flimsy Romanian back loader.

X2 on all of the Romanian/Russian top loading surplus recommendations.  I have 3 and they have all been 100% every time I have used them and sometimes they are kept fully loaded for months at a time.  

Plus I think they look a whole lot better than the back loaders.

Romanian and Chinese back loading drums are not the same.  Romanian drums uses thinner gauge steel.

This is my observation from comparing 4 Romanian and 25+ Chinese drums in my possession.

Romy or Russian (if you can afford it) toploaders.

Ok you guys.  I certainly am no expert on AK drums.  However, I do know that my Chinese /36\ has been 100% reliable.  Also, that Romanian drums have been considered a good choice as well.  And also that the Romanian drums have been rumored to have been made by the Chinese.  Who knows for sure?  A post above claims that the Romanian drums have "thinner guage steel" according to his "observation".  Now, that got me curious since I have both.  This is not intended to prove anyone wrong.  I just wanted to post what my measurements came out to be for both sheet metal thickness as well as weight.  I used a set of Starrett micrometers with ball attachments for the thickness measurements, and a cheap digital kitchen scale for the weight measurements.  Here are my results:

CHINESE:  nominal thickness  0.028"     Weight:  959 grams
ROMANIAN:  nominal thickness  0.032"     Weight:  1008 grams

Sure, there will be variances on which one might be more oily, but they are both very lightly oiled and look pretty much the same.
Other variances could be the spindle inside, or tower construction.  But they look the same to me too.

Conclusion?  I'd say the Romanian drums are built on par, quality wise as the Chinese drums.  But, to me anyway, differ enough that I doubt they were made by the Chinese.  But that's just my opinion.

I have had a Russian 75 rd top loader for many years and it has been 100% good to go. I used to have a Chinese back-loader type many years ago, and it too was 100% reliable. Both seem durable enough but I find the smaller size and better ergonomics of the Russian top load style more to my liking. Plus the Russian drum looks better in my AKMS clone...

Can't comment on the new production stuff out there, as I have no experience with them.

Top loading Russian or Romanian. Absolute tanks and 100% reliable. There is a reason Magpul's D60 operates similar to them.

Romy