The Return of the X-Series Drum Magazine — And the History That Made It Inevitable

Some products don’t disappear because they fail.
They disappear because the world around them changes.

The X-Series Drum Magazine is one of those products.

Its return isn’t a re-launch—it’s a continuation of a story that started when high-capacity drum magazines were bulky, unreliable, or simply impractical for most shooters.

To understand why the X-Series matters—and why its return matters now—you have to understand what existed before it.

Before the X-Series: Two Real Options—and Both Had Problems

For decades, the drum magazine market was essentially a dead zone for serious shooters. There were only two mainstream options:

1. The Beta C-Mag
   Iconic, yes—but far from perfect.

• Required lubrication to operate reliably
• Sensitive to dirt, grit, and real-world conditions
• Bulky, wide, and awkward to store or move with
• Excellent on paper, inconsistent under sustained use

It was a system that could work, but only if you treated it delicately—and combat-reliable equipment should never require special care to function.

2. Imported 75-Round AK Drums
   Built like farm equipment and designed for a completely different platform.

• Stamped steel
• Long reload times
• Zero adaptability to modern AR-style rifles
• Crude, functional, and outdated

They worked—but they had their quirks making them unreliable. 

That was it.
No compact, high-capacity, purpose-built drum for the AR platform or any other platform existed in the mainstream market.

The Problem No One Had Solved Yet

High-capacity drums had a reputation problem—and for good reason.

Shooters assumed drums were:

• Heavy
• Unreliable
• Over-complicated
• Novelty items, not tools

The challenge wasn’t just making a drum that held more rounds.
The challenge was making one that:

• Fed reliably without lubrication
• Stayed compact
• Could survive hard use
• Didn't compromise the shooting position
• Integrated naturally with the firearm platform

That’s where X Products entered the picture.

The Breakthrough: A Compact Aluminum Drum—Done Right

X Products changed the category by doing something no one else had done:

We built the first all-aluminum, compact, high-capacity drum in 2009.

The design was inspired by a proven military concept—the German G8 drum developed for the HK91—but re-engineered from the ground up for modern American rifles with rotating bolt heads. 

Key differences that mattered:

• All-aluminum construction instead of polymer or stamped steel
• Compact geometry that stayed tight to the rifle
• Dry operation—no lubrication required
• Reliable feeding under sustained fire
• Patented Tension Relief Device - Patent

This wasn't an adaptation.
It wasn’t a clone.
It was a design evolution based on real mechanical principles—not marketing.

The result was the X-Series Drum Magazine.

Why the X-Series Became the Benchmark

Once shooters got their hands on it, the reputation changed quickly.

The X-Series proved that a drum could be:

• Compact enough to run naturally
• Durable enough for real use
• Reliable without constant maintenance
• Practical—not just impressive

It became the reference point.
And quietly, it became irreplaceable.

Why They Disappeared in 2022

July 1 2022, shifting state regulations in Washington forced hard decisions across the industry. Like many manufacturers, we paused production—not because demand disappeared, but because responsible compliance matters. 

Rather than rush compromises or half-solutions, we stopped.

And when production stopped, something interesting happened.

The Secondary Market Told the Real Story

With no new X-Series drums available:

• Used units began selling for $500–$600
• Condition barely mattered
• Shooters who owned them didn’t sell unless they had to

That price wasn’t hype.
It was proof.

When something has no real substitute, the market notices.

Why the X-Series Is Back—Now

The return of the X-Series isn’t accidental.

• Nevada-based assembly and compliance
• Controlled, intentional production
• Refined manufacturing processes
• No shortcuts

We waited until we could bring it back the right way.

In 2026, there will be only two production runs of the X-Series:

• X-25
• X-25 Skeletonized
• X-91 
• X-91 Skeletonized
• X-14 
• X-14 Skeletonized
• X-15 
• X-15 Skeletonized
• X-CZ-9 Pending 
• X-CZ-9 Skeletonized Pending

No promises beyond that. These will be small batch runs sold directly through X Products and select retailers.

Originals Matter

There are always imitations.
But original engineering shows itself under stress.

The X-Series isn’t lighter because it’s thinner—it’s lighter because it’s designed correctly.
It doesn’t feed reliably because it’s over-sprung—it feeds reliably because the geometry works and like all of our products it's backed by a lifetime no-hassle warranty.

That’s the difference between a novelty and a tool.

Who the X-Series Is For

The X-Series is for shooters who:

• Value function, and flash over price
• Understand mechanical reliability
• Want proven equipment—not experiments
• Buy once, not twice

Collectors will recognize it.
Serious shooters will use it.

The Bottom Line

The X-Series didn’t come back because trends changed.

It came back because nothing ever replaced it, adn the demand is still there.

Two runs production runs for 2026.
That’s it.

If history has taught us anything, it’s this:
When the X-Series is gone, it doesn’t stay affordable—and it doesn’t stay available.

We didn’t rush it back.
We brought it back right and now you can own one - brand new - while supplies are available.