Compatibility between 5.56 AK magazines

[groda]

I've got an Arsenal SLR-106, and am pretty happy with it--except that I don't have enough magazines. Right now, I know of two options: nice Bulgarian magazines and cheaper Promag ones.

I have seen there are a few other 5.56x45 AK's and AK clones out there--specifically the Galil, SAR-3, WASR-3, and some Norincos--and what I was wondering was, are their magazines compatible or modifiable? What makes them different?

Also, I might need to get some 5-round magazines in the future. Some of them are single-stack. Would these feed just as though they were double-stack?

 

[nalioth]

Galil mags are not compatible with AKs.

The chinese .223 mags were made for specific rifles (and don't even interchange well between those)

The .223 Bulgarian waffles will work fine.
The Pro-Mag will theoretically work fine.
Weigers (sometimes known as Eastern Europe .223 mags) will work, too.

Check out http://www.centuryarms.biz for some 30 round .223 AK mag options

 

[Deer Hunter]

Galil mags can be made to be used with the Saiga .223 carbines quite easily.

 

[nalioth]

Galil mags can be made to be used with the Saiga .223 carbines quite easily.

I did not want to confuse the issue with "if you convert a Saiga, you can---". I was trying to answer his question directly.

Saigas are not AKs, unless you mechanically change them into one. They are based on the AK design. His question concerned the SLR-106 and that is what my answers were directed toward.

 

[groda]

Thank you, all.

 

[Grayrider]

Be aware that the clear Bulgarian mags are a bit fatter than the black ones, so you may find fit more snugly in your rifle. I have found inserting/removing them repeatedly will tend to work away enough excess material to take care of this. Milled Arsenal 5.56 AKs do not have this issue.

I seem to recall that the Weiger magazines do not fit my guns, but I am not sure I checked as I have plenty of Bulgarian magazines.

John

 

[briansmithwins]

Weiger and Galil mags require modification. I haven't seen Weigers or good Galil mags that were cheaper than Bulgy mags, so it was a moot point for me. With Bulgy mags being $25 new, it just isn't worth it to have to modify mags to get them to maybe work. Bulgy mags JUST work.

Promag has to bad of a reputation for me to ever buy anything from them. To quote a friend 'Those boys couldn't fix a sandwich'. BSW