Dragunov/Tigr and Romanian PSL magazines.... help!

[marktx]

So I bought a Tigr for the bargain basement price of $800 and now that I have it home and give it a closer look it has a Romanian PSL mag in it. Tried chambering a round and sure enough it doesn't work as is. If I push the rear of the magazine up a bit it seems to work just fine so it appears that with some minor modification I could use the relatively inexpensive PSL mags and forget the Dragunov/Tigr type mags which seem nearly impossible to find or are really damn expensive.

My first inclination was to mod the mag by adding some material to the mag catch so it would sit a little higher in the rifle.... I'm just not sure how to do it in a long lasting way. I could take it someplace and have it welded up and then grind it to fit but that seems like a lot of work.

So I'm looking at this thing a little bit longer and the mag catch sure looks a lot like a regular AK mag catch. Start measuring a bit and it seems to be almost the same except the AK catch is slightly longer which would seem to solve my problem quite nicely and it could work with any unmodded PSL mag. Just punch the pin out and install an AK catch with a hex head bolt so it looks good and the thing can be returned to stock.

Anybody have experience with this? Should I mod the mags or the rifle? Is there some place to get regular Dragunov/Tigr type mags for a reasonable price?

 

[Jeremy2171]

For the steal you got on the rifle cough up the dough and get a correct mag or two then sell the FPK mag.

My drag shoots well but I wouldn't think of messing with it just so I could use a mag that costs 1/2 of what correct one costs.

JMHO.....

 

[marktx]

I wouldn't mind buying the correct mags but the only one I have been able to find so far is a new in wrap w/ paperwork collectible on gunbroker and the seller is asking $250. For $250 I would much rather have 10 PSL mags and a slightly modified rifle that will use something that is readily available.

If I had a real collectible proper Dragunov SVD I might spring for it but for a basic Tigr I'm not really interested in spending that much for one mag. I have looked a bunch of the usual online dealers and haven't been able to find anyone selling them.

If I have somehow missed them for sale someplace I would really appreciate a link......

 

[Ash]

The magazine can be modified to work if you are patient. Don't modify the Tiger, though if you can do something that is reversable, then by all means have at it. You might provide some handy info.

Ash

 

[elmerfudd]

I'd take it back to whoever I got the rifle from and complain. "Now look here. I paid $800 for a $1800 gun and you shafted me on the mags! What gives?"

 

[Jeremy2171]

Check gunbroker as they have had used ones for about $80 ea in the past.

Also rusmilitary.com has them for about $70 but that doesn't include itnl. shipping.

 

[marktx]

Also rusmilitary.com has them for about $70 but that doesn't include itnl. shipping.

Definitely thinking about ordering up a few from them..... Now I'm wondering what restrictions there might be on ordering up mags from outside the country. Anybody know?