Trade Saiga .223 in for AR?

[6x6pinz]

Yes, my mags are going to hit the ground training during various drills. I might also go prone quickly while wearing mags on my chest rig. GI mags simply do not hold up as well to hard use. I don't think that is really even debatable these days. GI mags in an AK may make sense for some but they certainly do not for me.

not wanting to upset anyone but you answer you previous question

I just don't get why someone would want to use USGI mags in an AK.

in this statement.

You see just like you we have our own style or way we use our firearms. It does not line up with your way and that does not make either way wrong just different.

I don't go throwing my mags on the ground or lay, sit, stand.... on them so the GI's work great for me and yes I do use them in my AR's without problems. This does not make me right either just correct for my intended use. I realize the Pmags are more durable in adverse conditions (which I don't do).

 

[Hacker15E]

I have seen ARs fail for multiple reasons and some were indeed gummed up on lacquer build up from using Wolf, so believe what you will...

Well, believe what *you* will, but I go with empirical data.

When you look at the melting point of the lacquer that Wolf (and other Russian ammunition makers) used to coat the cases, and the temp that is actually generated when firing (and the duration it persists for) it's just not realistic that chamber extraction issues were caused by "gummed up" chambers because of "melted lacquer."

There was a related issue with the red sealant that some of the Russian producers placed around the necks and primers -- this DID come off during shooting, and introduce foreign matter into chambers, bolt faces, etc,...which contributed to the *actual* issue at hand:

This is the accepted issue: carbon buildup due to the differing heat expansion properties of steel and brass.

http://theboxotruth.com/docs/edu18.htm

It's just not the big boogey man that many people (and the internet) have built it up to be.

As for extractors...two points.

#1 Steel cases are very soft; significantly softer than the hardness of extractors. Is it possible that steel cases increased the wear rate? Certainly...but it's folly to think that extractors are significantly damaged by the use of steel or that they wear out at an obscene rate.

#2 Based on the price difference between most Russian steel-case ammo and most brass-case plinking ammo, you could buy two new premium BCM AR-15 extractors and springs for each 1,000-round case of steel you shot, and still pocket some money left over.