So there's 20-30 and 40 round mags out there. There's magazines from Hungary, Russia, China, Romania, Bulgaria, etc. Are there any to stay away from ? Any that are better than others, any to look out for. Most of the AK mags I've seen are very sturdy and "overbuilt" the feed lips are amazingly thick compared to the USGI aluminum mags. Are the Bulgarian polymer mags okay to use ? Thanks for all you knowledge.
Can we talk about AK magazines
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janobles14
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I've found that its hit or miss within each type and country. Russians and romys are generally the best imo. Chinese are the most varying in quality.
I'm no expert but just what I've noticed
I'm no expert but just what I've noticed
nalioth
Member
Any AK magazine made by a communist country for use by their military forces is g2g.
The only differences are in how they're finished (cosmetics).
Bulgarian polymers are most excellent magazines.
Stay away from AK magazines NOT manufactured by commies (or former commies). This includes South Korea and US made varieties.
The only differences are in how they're finished (cosmetics).
Bulgarian polymers are most excellent magazines.
Stay away from AK magazines NOT manufactured by commies (or former commies). This includes South Korea and US made varieties.
Quentin
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I've bought quite a few surplus Romanian 30rd mags. Rated in very good condition and had definitely seen hard use but work fine. Those steelies are nearly indestructable but sure weigh you down.
docnyt
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The Romanian and Bulgarian steelies are OK. I've had fitment issues with a Tapco.
Glockman17366
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I have about a dozen. Most are East German and run fine. BTW, just because they were East German surplus doesn't mean that's the country of manufacture.
Z-Michigan
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Exactly this.
The recent Korean mags look pretty but do not work as well as commie surplus.
If you must have US-made mags for 922(r) compliance, TAPCO mags are OK. Avoid Promag.
musick
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Thirded.
I have mags from China, Bulgaria (poly), Russia and Germany and have had problems from none of them. Its worth repeating two points - stay away from AK magazines NOT manufactured by Communist (former or otherwis) countries and you will be more than happy and avoid US made mags for this platform.
jojo200517
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I agree, stick with the steel ones from commie countries. I have heard of issues with the korean ones.
I avoid promag like the plague. Ever drop a loaded mag in mulch and seen the top break off below the lips? Know what that spring does to the 30 rounds its compressed behind? If you guessed throws them all down the shooting range you guessed correctly. Not worth saving a few bucks, and with the specials some places like aim surplus has its more expensive to buy them than the surplus ones.
If you need a few compliant parts that a US made mag would normally supply you could pick up a US made furniture set or something.
I avoid promag like the plague. Ever drop a loaded mag in mulch and seen the top break off below the lips? Know what that spring does to the 30 rounds its compressed behind? If you guessed throws them all down the shooting range you guessed correctly. Not worth saving a few bucks, and with the specials some places like aim surplus has its more expensive to buy them than the surplus ones.
If you need a few compliant parts that a US made mag would normally supply you could pick up a US made furniture set or something.
The steel magazines of all types rust a lot easier than any magazine known to man, thing is they'll still work. It's one of the reasons the Soviets turned to bakelite for the 74.
I picked up some steel East Germans from CTD before their ammo price gouging stint, which put them on my "do not buy from them ever" list.
Cleaned them up with some hot soapy water and a shot of Rustoleum. They work great and I've not had an issue with any of them.
(I had one issue with ammo and stove pipe jams, and confirmed it was bad ammo.)
Kris
Cleaned them up with some hot soapy water and a shot of Rustoleum. They work great and I've not had an issue with any of them.
(I had one issue with ammo and stove pipe jams, and confirmed it was bad ammo.)
Kris
My WASR likes the Bulgarian "bullet side" polymers-- and, believe it or not, the cheap weird gray South Korean metals....To tell the truth, I have had zero issues with the 4 or 5 different mfgs of mags on mine, even the crap Pro Mags work great--- just wobbly...
YMMV
YMMV
chris in va
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I'm quite fond of my 20rd Hungarian mag. Long enough to hold plenty, short enough not to be awkward for general plinking or HD use.
jojo200517
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EDIT: woopsy double tap
EDIT:2 to make it worth while
I do have a 5 round mag I picked up with a spare cleaning kit for 10 bucks at a pawn shop. Sure makes it easier to shoot from a bench at a range. Sure seems to be a pain in the ass to put in also.
IF you want mass volume of firepower and it to not stick out so far a drum might be a nice option. I sure love mine. I ordered 2 of the 75 round Romanian drums, the new style Chinese copy that the back opens. No issues with either, the feed part looks thinner than normal mags but when I looked up older drums they looked thinner, or were the old style Romanians that you had to load 1 round at a time thru the top. Only complaint with these is they sound like a piggy bank half full of change being shaken by a kid when ya walk with them.
EDIT:2 to make it worth while
I do have a 5 round mag I picked up with a spare cleaning kit for 10 bucks at a pawn shop. Sure makes it easier to shoot from a bench at a range. Sure seems to be a pain in the ass to put in also.
IF you want mass volume of firepower and it to not stick out so far a drum might be a nice option. I sure love mine. I ordered 2 of the 75 round Romanian drums, the new style Chinese copy that the back opens. No issues with either, the feed part looks thinner than normal mags but when I looked up older drums they looked thinner, or were the old style Romanians that you had to load 1 round at a time thru the top. Only complaint with these is they sound like a piggy bank half full of change being shaken by a kid when ya walk with them.
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Kind of Blued
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Never seen a drum mag for a 5.56 mm AK, but 120 rounds? Seriously?
smince
Member.
Used to be accurate, but I think these may change that statement a bit:
http://www.us-palm.com/
Supposedly equal to the Bulgarian Circle 10 mags, according to independent testing.
I prefer the CHicoms . THey dont have the back rib which can be uncomfortable to handle.
The Romys which are so plentiful do have the backribbed. They can be sharp to the touch.
The only one i would get with backrib are the East Germans and Bulgarian steel mags. I got some and are really smooth and well made.
The Romys which are so plentiful do have the backribbed. They can be sharp to the touch.
The only one i would get with backrib are the East Germans and Bulgarian steel mags. I got some and are really smooth and well made.
rd2007
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I picked up a 30-round Hungarian steel magazine at a gun show here for $10 and it functioned perfect. I'm not a big fan of the plastic stuff and think the steel with wood furniture keeps it looking more authentic.
sv51macross
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Question, the Tapco magazines, are their only issues with breaking/cracking upon magazine drops, or have they exhibited feeding problems as well?
Z-Michigan
Member
My experience with the TAPCO mags is that they feed very well. They are fairly large so guns with tight magwells might have issues with them. I'll repeat that if you need a US-made mag they are pretty good. If you don't, they are more expensive and less durable than a commie steel mag.
nalioth
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Independent testing? Really?smince said:
These mags are not user maintainable. They are made with a sealed mag body (no changing springs or followers).
They are also non-existent on the market at this time (iow, vaporware)
rklessdriver
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There is ALOT of second hand internetz crap talking about the steel Korean AK mags sold by Amercian Tactical.
I own two of them (30rounders). I bought them becasue they were cheap and wanted to try them out against the perfect working Chicom and Hungarian mags I already own. I picked my two randomly out of a box of 100 that were all seald in little plastic zip lock type bags at a gun show about 7-8 months ago.
I'm just one guy... but I'm one guy who actually owns these things so here is my observations.
Slightly thinner metal stamping than either the 30rnd Chicom's or my 20rnd Hungarians.... but they don't buldge out or anything when you load them. They seem very solidly made. The springs feel like they have the correct tension as compared to my others.
Fit in mag well of my Norinco NHM91 perfectly. No looser or tigher than the others.
Feed/function perfectly. A day at the range bump firing and just regular firing (couple hundred rounds in all) went fine with 0 failure to feed out of any of my mags. Ammo fired was TWC FMJ, Barnhaul JHP and some Romanina Surplus FMJ I bought back in the mid 90's. I didn't do any stupid crap like try and mono pod the rifle on the mags... why do something proven to casuse a FTF in any mag?
Personally I don't have any problems with the Korean mags. They worked out of the plastic bag they came in and were only $9.00 a piece. How they hold up over the long term I don't know but I'm looking forward to finding out.
Will
I own two of them (30rounders). I bought them becasue they were cheap and wanted to try them out against the perfect working Chicom and Hungarian mags I already own. I picked my two randomly out of a box of 100 that were all seald in little plastic zip lock type bags at a gun show about 7-8 months ago.
I'm just one guy... but I'm one guy who actually owns these things so here is my observations.
Slightly thinner metal stamping than either the 30rnd Chicom's or my 20rnd Hungarians.... but they don't buldge out or anything when you load them. They seem very solidly made. The springs feel like they have the correct tension as compared to my others.
Fit in mag well of my Norinco NHM91 perfectly. No looser or tigher than the others.
Feed/function perfectly. A day at the range bump firing and just regular firing (couple hundred rounds in all) went fine with 0 failure to feed out of any of my mags. Ammo fired was TWC FMJ, Barnhaul JHP and some Romanina Surplus FMJ I bought back in the mid 90's. I didn't do any stupid crap like try and mono pod the rifle on the mags... why do something proven to casuse a FTF in any mag?
Personally I don't have any problems with the Korean mags. They worked out of the plastic bag they came in and were only $9.00 a piece. How they hold up over the long term I don't know but I'm looking forward to finding out.
Will
Yepp -- what I was getting at. I have heard the 40 rounders were crap, but I have zero personal experience. My 2 30rounders were $9.99 a piece and besides the wierd gray color, they have been flawless...
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