AK mag not fitting

[Mikee Loxxer]

I purchased what looks to me like a 30 round AK-47 magazine from a local shop yesterday. My intent was to use this magazine with my Century Arms Yugoslavian M-70B1 rifle. The problem I ran into when I got home is that this magazine will not fit in the rifle like my other magazines will (Yugoslavian and East German).

The top of the magazine is too long. When I use the term “long” I am referring to the axis parallel to the bore axis if it were installed in the rifle. It will not fit past the magazine catch in front of the trigger guard when rocking it into place as the axis parallel to the bore as it is too long. I would post a picture illustrating what is going on but I am technologically challenged.

I used a caliper to measure this length and compare it to that of my Yugoslavian mags. The length of the Yugoslavian mag is something line 2.645 inches whereas this unidentified AK mag I bought yesterday is something like 2.687 inches.

Please note that I am sure this magazine is intended for a 7.62X39 cartridge as they will readily fit in it. Also this magazine does have the rib along its back that Norinco mags do. It is also shorter (would not extend out from under the rifle as far) than the Yugoslavian magazines that I purchased with the rifle.

Does anyone have any ideas on what rifle this magazine is meant for? There is the possibility that it may have been modified by having some of the metal removed around where the magazine catch is (with a rotary tool) supposed to engage it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CommanderPoopyduX]

Any chance on getting a picture of the mag?

 

[MudPuppy]

Could be a Saiga mag?

The 7.62x39 mags have a good curve to them, the 5.56 and 5.45s are much straighter.

 

[Chipperman]

SKS mag?

 

[HorseSoldier]

Being too long makes it sound like an AK-74 magazine to me, but if you're certain that's not the case, I'm personally kind of stumped.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Its certainly not an SKS mag, could be a Saiga mag. I will work at getting a picture of it posted

 

[benEzra]

I'd see if you can return it or exchange it. It should fit readily if it's the right magazine.

 

[nalioth]

7.62x39 will fit fine in an Ak74 mag or a .223 Ak mag (to a point). Just 'cuz it fits, doesn't make it work.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Thats a good point nalioth.

ben,

I will probably go try and return it tomorrow when the shop is open.

 

[MudPuppy]

I'd try and determine what it is first.

Maybe its a Yugo 223 mag and you can get twice what ya' paid for it.

 

[Prince Yamato]

Could it be a VZ-58 mag? They look like AK-mags, but are different.

 

[[email protected]]

I was thinking VZ-58 as well. I bought a bunch of AK mags about 6 months ago and I got one VZ-58 mag in the bunch. I was stumped as well until I went online and asked what it was for. It wouldn't fit my AKs but it was for a 7.62x39mm so that sounds like a possibility.

If you posted a pic, you would have your answer before you knew it.

 

[Coronach]

1. Polymer or metal?

2. If polymer, is the body a "continuous curve", or is there a rib in the front (inside of the curve, towards the front of the rifle) that is made of a series of straight secions with shallow angles between them, which gives an approximation of the standard AK "continuous curve" magazine shape?

I think you have an AK-74 magazine, off the cuff. If you have no use for it, PM me. If I can confirm that it is a mag for 5.45x39, I might buy it from you. I'm a little short of -74 mags.

Mike

 

[MisterPX]

Could be a bad mag. Made in the USA?
You could also trim the mag down to fit, assuming it feeds

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I still don't have a way to put a picture up.

It is steel and curved. It will accomodate a .223 cartridge. At this point I would guess that it is either a .223 AK mag or an AK-74 mag. I had ruled out the AK-74 as I thought they were all a brown bakelite bodied mag but I am probably wrong. I will try and get a picture up in another day or two.

 

[MudPuppy]

Here's a link to a '74 magazine guide:
http://www.ak-47.us/Article_Detail.php?g=content1153191494


A 5.56 will "fit" in a 5.45 magazine with no problems (and feed properly with minor modifications)

Poland made steel "tantal" magazines in 5.45. Yugoslavia made M90/95/85 steel magazines in .223 (actually mismarked 5.56, iirc). The yugos are a touch hard to come by or are relatively expensive (surplus 5.45 mags are available for $10 or less, the yugo 5.56's are $30ish).

Not sure about chinese steel mags in 5.56, but I think they made them too?

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

That was a very helpful link MudPuppy. My bet is that is a Polish Tantal mag.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Upon getting home I took a look at the magazine again. It appears to be a Romanian AK-74 mag. I have no use for it. I wonder what its worth.

 

[Coronach]

Can you take a picture? I can tell you how to post or PM it. If it is, in fact, a AK-74 mag, I might be interested. I'll look into finding out fair market value.

Mike

 

[nalioth]

Keep in mind Century sells what it calls "high cap WASR-2" mags. This might be one of those (since original Romy metal 5.45x39 mags are pretty rare) and the Century redundancies aren't.