Ak (saiga) Mag Question (opinions welcome)

[mountaindrew]

I am (still) preparing to do my pistol grip saiga conversion, and have a major decision to make: What mags to use. My Saiga is in .223, hence the problem. sure, 7.62 mags are a dime a dozen, so the mag conversion makes sense, but the only .223 mags I have found at all are old norinco models that cost $30 anyway, so if I can get 30 rd Saiga mags from EAA, why should I do the feed ramp thingy?

I know my options are to convert 5.45 mags to .223 with new folowers but with 5,35 mags costing $15 and then the followers costing a few bucks, and then they are that ugly yellow/brown color. doesnt seem worth it.

Galil mage I have heard work with the conversion, but they fit loosly and rattle around.

Right now I am leaning toward just sticking with saiga mags and my one norinco mag (that works without the feed ramp mod).

Tell me what y'all do.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

what about 25 dollar vepr 233 mags?
http://www.ak47.com/

 

[roscoe]

Rumor is that 30-round Saiga .223 mags are still on their way from Russia. They are listed as for sale on the EAA website, although I don't think they are really available yet.

If I hear that anyone has purchased any, I am going to go that route because of reliability. I don't like the idea of fooling around with feed lips, etc. The magazine is the main cause of autoloader problems, so why cause more complications than necessary. You don't want a jam when fending off the zombies.

http://www.eaacorp.com/parts/Magazines/smag.shtml

 

[762x51]

Harry Tuttle:

The .223 Vepr mags are simply Bulgarian 5.45 mags with the conversion he spoke of above already done. Robarm follower and material removed from the area contacting the trunion. It's a bit cheaper to do it yourself.


mountaindrew:

You can get black Bulgarian 5.45 mags to convert for about $10 a piece from K-var.

http://www.k-var.com

 

[MAKOwner]

I've heard of a couple people who converted them to use Weiger .223 mags (used for the SAR-3 mainly) over on the gunsnet.net AK forums. Interordnance sells those 4 for $60 or so last I checked... Do a search and I'm sure you'll find it...