SAIGA issue with milsurp AK mags

[GWARGHOUL]

So I recently bought some 30 and 40 round steel mags for a standard AK.

I have a converted SAIGA (7.62x39)...with the bullet guide.

I know on my stock SAIGA mags, and my pro-mag SAIGA polymer mags, I just had to grind down the front end of the mag by the bullet tips to get it to fit.

However, it seem more like I need to grind the mag latch on the rear side of the mag a littler thinner on there, as they lock good int he front, but have too much metal on that tab to lockup in the back.

Any input?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[TurtlePhish]

Maybe you could file it a little bit until it fits. Not too much at a time, though.

 

[The Sarge]

Yup. You must grind/file just a tad off the mag latch. Just a bit then try it. Bit more till it snaps in. Easy breezy.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

The mag latch on the mag though, not the gun right?

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd say the latch on the gun, actually. Clearly the problem is with the gun, not the mags.

 

[The Sarge]

No the top of the mag latch on the gun. The catch on milsurp AK mags is a bit thicker than the saiga mags.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

That seems a lot simpler. I'll take it down real slow. I don't want to not be able to use the SAIGA mags I already have.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Ok, its done. Now ALL of the SAIGA mags wobble like crazy. And one of the milsurp ones a little bit.

Is this just the nature of the beast, or does it affect reliability and such?

Considering just getting a whole new trigger guard and latch. I think I saw a bolt in.

 

[M1key]

Your Saiga mags are thinner at the locking tab and will wobble more now that you have cut down the latch. Stick with Standard AK mags. They will vary a bit in tolerances but should generally lock-up solidly. Try loading some rounds in the mag. Should lock even tighter...

M

 

[GWARGHOUL]

As for the wobbly SAIGA mags.. will they still fire?

Guess I'll stock up on metal AK mags. the two I have (one 30 and one 40), seem to be just right.. minimal wobble.

I noticed the slightly different tolerances between the two already... one took some working in to lockup good, while the 40 round was locking up good as soon as I barely took the dremel and started grinding down the mag catch lever.

Thanks for your help.

 

[M1key]

If the Saiga factory mags have metal locking lugs, some guys have added a bit of JB Weld or something similar to build up the tab for a tighter fit.

Good luck

M

 

[GWARGHOUL]

I ordered a new catch kit from Dinzag. I should have taken it out to begin with. I realized I went to far on it. It has the two corners that its locking up on, and those will eventually wear, and EVERYTHING will wobble.

So, I'm going to just pickup a file sears or something, and take it down nice and slow for real next time. I need to keep my dremel away from this thing.

So again though... will wobbly mags generally fire pretty well though?

 

[fatcat4620]

922R?

 

[GWARGHOUL]

What?

Yes, its 922R compliant.. fully converted.. has more than enough US parts, I can use any foreign mag that I want too.

 

[fatcat4620]

cool, not trying to be a dick but that is the first thing that poped into my head when a saiga is having issues with hicap mags and converstion is not mentioned.

 

[M1key]

With a looser mag, as long as the bolt picks up the cartridge and loads it into the chamber it should be fine.

M

 

[gotboostvr]

I have personally fired some AK's with some serious mag wobble, maybe a half inch to either side at the base of the magazine, and they just kept asking for more ammo.

 

[Girodin]

The mag latch on the mag though, not the gun right?

IMHO it makes much more sense to do the gun once than every single mag. Just get all the mags you have (or go buy five or so if you don't have a number on hand) and then grind a little bit of the latch until they all lock in. Take off as little as possible while still allowing them in.

As for the wobbly SAIGA mags.. will they still fire?

In my experience mags that would fire before still did after.

 

[WardenWolf]

Unless the magazine rides so low in back that the bolt can't pick up the round as it passes over it, it will still feed just fine. AK's feed by indexing on the case taper to get proper alignment with the breech. Because of this, it allows for significant variation without loss of reliability. A slightly loose or wobbly mag won't hurt.