The "Gurttrommel" was designed to be clipped to the left side of the gun and was not a true magazine but held a curled 50-round belt and corresponding starter-segment preventing it from snagging, twisting and getting stuck during mobile assaults. Vollmer also increased the rate of fire. The MG 34's double crescent trigger dictated either semiautomatic or fully automatic firing modes. The capability to use the previous 75-round "Patronentrommel 34" saddle-drum magazines (with a simple change of the feed cover for a "Trommelhalter" magazine holder) was retained. All 75-round "Patronentrommel 34" fed MG 34s had been withdrawn from infantry use by 1941, with some remaining in use on armoured personnel carriers.