Fixing a bum AK mag

[AZAviator]

Ok so 1 of the surplus AK47 mags I got from AIM is not doing too hot. I tried loading it and around 20 rounds it gets a little sticky (feels like the spring doesnt want to go down any further) then around 28-30 rounds it feels like the spring is getting stuck. When I try to unload the mag at 30 rounds the spring gets stuck and after the first few rounds come out all the other bullets fall out lol. I tried taking the bottom off and the spring flew out at me. I cleaned the spring lightly with a brush and oiled with gun lube - but its not really helping.

Moot point or fixable?

 

[MarineOne]

Check inside the mag for dirt, spots where the follower would hang up, etc., and then check the follower. Compare it with another mag's follower to see if your problem is there.



Kris

 

[CornCod]

Wow, an unreliable AK mag! That's pretty rare.

 

[benEzra]

Check for dried cosmoline or rust inside the mag body or on the sides of the follower. Sounds like the follower is sticking inside the mag body. The spring probably isn't the problem.

 

[berettashotgun]

Easy way to fix it is to hit it with a hammer.....
More than likely some crud inside body.

 

[Jeremy2171]

Wow, an unreliable AK mag! That's pretty rare.

Not really....

 

[briansmithwins]

Have you checked for dents?

I've had 2 AK mags that were dented enough that they didn't work.

44mag.com sells replacement mag bodies for $5 each.

BSW

 

[HorseSoldier]

+1 on previous suggestions. Bad AK mags I've seen either have dents in them that cause the follower to bind, or are so full of mummified cosmoline and other junk that the follower can't move freely. Cleaning them is a pretty easy fix; dent pulling is a little more complicated. I think there's a thread here on THR from a while ago where a guy posted an AK armorer's kit from East Germany he'd picked up somewhere, and tools for knocking dents out of mags were a big part of it.

 

[H2O MAN]

Get yourself one of those Bulgarian Circle 10 polymer waffle mags, load it and use your bum AK mag as a target.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

the inside is probably full of crud, use some brake cleaner and blast out the inside, also blast the follower and spring.

 

[jaholder1971]

Take it apart, clean it well.

If it still won't work, get rid of it. It's just not work tinkering with.

 

[wally]

Check for small line shaped dents that interfere with the follower. I got a few like this in a batch from AIM, but they were cheap enough I figured it was worth it for the spare springs, followers and base plates. But then on a rainy afternoon I noticed that a Craftsman 1/2" socket drive extension was about the exact diameter as the AK mag body spacing. I drove it in a few times and the dents ironed out enough to now feed fine. They are my #1 range mags and no problems since in several AKs.

The AK armorer's kit has a dent removing mandrel that gave me the idea of "ironing" them out.

--wally.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Replace the whole mag for $10 or just the body for $5 (44mag.com like BSW said). Fixing it isn't worth your time.

 

[wally]

Fixing it isn't worth your time.

Probably true unless you are really, really broke, but I consider trying good SHTF skills practice and a great excuse to go out shooting again to test it

If you fail you've still got a spare spring, follower, and base plate.

--wally.

 

[AZAviator]

Nice replies! I agree its easy enough to replace the mag for another $10 but I consider this a test of my skills. Oh yeah and I'm a starving pilot that doesn't get big pay checks like you'z guy'z.

 

[smince]

Wow, an unreliable AK mag! That's pretty rare.

Not really....

Yeah, there are tons of ProMag and TAPCO's out there...

 

[Brenjen]

If you have more than one you can take the guts from a good one & put them into the suspect body. If it works, it's the guts & if not it's the body & go from there.

If you oil the inside of a mag you're asking for problems, use a dry lube like graphite & use it lightly.

On a side note, out of all my AK mags (all steel no plastic or knock offs) I've never had a single problem of any kind from the 7.62's or the 5.56's....or the 75 rnd drum which I fully expected trouble from.

 

[JHansenAK47]

I got a Australian Lithgow that was unissued and I couldn't figure out why they sold it until I loaded the magazine. When the follower was two rounds from the top it would bind. I took some pliers and opened the mag body up just a little bit. That gun is flawless now. I had another enfield a 2a indian in 762 nato where the mag spring broke. I took a FAL mag spring cut it down and bent it to shape. Point being you can probably fix your magazine and I know I enjoy little projects like that. Might be entertaining and if it doesn't work out you got extra parts.

 

[ThePants]

+1 on the Kvar Polymer Waffle Mags, they cost a little more, but I've never had a problem with any of mine.

 

[jojo200517]

Take it apart clean it out with somethin(i use carb cleaner). I spray a smidge of dry lube inside mine.

Watch that spring especially if the follower is stuck down in there, it will be under quiet a bit of force. Even empty it will be a few inches worth of it compressed.

Check for dents while ya at it.

You may be like me, I picked up a couple mags at a local place a while back was loading one got to 27 rounds and no more would go. Stripped them out, removed bottom plate and a hand full of sand fell out.