AK Mags: Steel Surplus or Polymer?

[Packman]

Which do you prefer, and why?





Edited to add: I included an "other" option, just in case someone is making aluminum mags, or something like that, and I haven't heard of it.

 

[4thPointOfContact]

There are some good polymer magazines (Bulgarians, I've heard) but I don't think they're a proven design yet.

 

[AK103K]

The surplus steel are cheap and always work, even the abused ones. They are also a weapon in their own right.

 

[Packman]

I like the Steel myself. I found a shop locally that has them for 9.95 each, and they're in excellent shape. I bought 2, I think I'm gonna go get some more. That's the cheapest I've seen. Ever. even the gunshows around here have them for like 18.

The polymers look funny to me. Plus, they're pricier, and I don't like them.

 

[45Fan]

Steel works, they are cheaper, and they are quite a bit more sturdy. Steel mags also bend instead of breaking, so there is a chance I can repair one instead of just throwing it away if it hits the ground hard. I think I paid something like $20 for a four pack with a pouch a few years back, the plastic mags were running about that each at the time.

 

[nalioth]

There are some good polymer magazines (Bulgarians, I've heard) but I don't think they're a proven design yet.

The Bulgarian polys (with Circle-10 arsenal markings) are as bullet-proof as their steel cousins. They are fully milspec. If it doesn't have the circle-10 on it, it's commercial grade (see below)

It's the US-made polymers that are cheaply manufactured and have issues.

 

[Bushido81]

I have also heard good things about the Bulgarian Polymer "Circle-10" mags. In so far as non steel mags go, apparently the Circle-10 is the beginning and the end of polymer mags. There is a great primer on AK mags on another site from a well respected trainer/member or something. As memory serves the overall theme of the thread was metal. Metal locking lugs, metal feed ramp lips, metal body and/or lining. The Circle-10 mags supposedly have these features. From the research I've done I have found you cant go wrong with the steel com bloc ones with the fin on the back. I think those are also Bulgarian in origin. I have yet to actually see or hold a genuine Circle-10 yet. Although at the most recent gun show I went to I'm pretty sure I saw some counterfeit Circle-10s. Two of the three features I listed above, missing from the mag I held at the show. Looked and felt 100% plastic. The four 40 round new korean made Bulgarian pattern mags I found for $50 made up for it though. I guess the moral of my rant is do your homework, eat your vitamins, say your prayers and know what your buying vs what your needs are.

 

[walking arsenal]

I bought some used steel mags recently and they where in pretty good shape yet. I like the steel mags so I'll keep using them.

If Magpul made AK mags though I'd buy polymer in a heartbeat.

 

[Hanzerik]

I never had a surplus steal mag fail me; Chinese, European, or soviet block. They are very well built and robust. even rusted mags can be cleaned up and function just fine. The only thing I would do when getting a steal mag is take it apart and clean the cosmoline/crud out of it.

 

[-v-]

Steel Mags all the way. Circle-10 is the only polymer magazine I would recommend. I am curious to see where the US PALM magazine will go, since they also seem to be very rationally designed with proper stainless steel inserts to withstand AK-level abuse. But, at $20 for a single US-PALM mag vs $10-12 for com-block steel surplus...well.

 

[tkopp]

I guess I'll chime in for Tapco mags. I bought some of their 20-rounders and they work fine. The weight is substantially less than a 30-round steel mag, even before the ammo difference, which can be felt when shooting a Draco pistol. That said, I also own plenty of surplus steel mags. At those prices, why not?

 

[CrazyWella]

I guess I'll chime in for Tapco mags. I bought some of their 20-rounders and they work fine. The weight is substantially less than a 30-round steel mag, even before the ammo difference, which can be felt when shooting a Draco pistol. That said, I also own plenty of surplus steel mags. At those prices, why not?

With that said... load up your Tapco mag with ammo and go drop it on the concrete from shoulder high and report back to us. I'd throw my surp steel mags at the concrete fully loaded with no fear of damage to the mag... a round going off, thats another story.

 

[philpost]

Like others have said, Comm-bloc steel or Circle-10 polymer are the way to go. I would avoid US polymers, though.