Which AK mags should I buy??

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fakename

member
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
8
Hi,

I think I have settled on choosing my 1st AK. I am probably going to go with a Lancaster Polish Underfolder w/1.6mm receiver I found here - http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=360

I wanted to stock up on some new mags for this. Which ones should I get? I don't mind paying an extra couple dollars or so for some better ones, if that is the case. Unless I'm mistaken, I think polymer mags would not look good on this AK, so I would probably want some ribbed steel ones right? Also, whos got the best prices and customer service for this sort of thing? Thanks in advance for your help. :)
 
Last edited:
I wanted to stock up on some new mags for this. Which ones should I get? I don't mind paying an extra couple dollars or so for some better ones, if that is the case. Unless I'm mistaken, I think polymer mags would not look good on this AK, so I would probably want some ribbed steel ones right? Also, whos got the best prices and customer service for this sort of thing? Thanks in advance for your help.
Click to expand...

new mags will probibly be polymer, and by my limited experience and understanding, id stick to steel especialy if the plymers are US made promags. steel mags all seem to function about the same.

Copes Dist has a wide selection of mags http://www.copesdist.com/ak47.htm

theres plenty of places to get mags still in cosmo.
 
Get the least expensive steel european mags you can get. Even if they're ugly as all get-out, they'll work fine.

If you don't like the way they look, refinish them :)

Aim Surplus has some now really really inexpensively priced.

AK mags are like skillets, new ones cost more, but the old ones work just as well.
 
thanks. but i want to get brand new mags. are the bulgarian ak 47 steel mags from copes good to get? they are 14 each if bought in packs of ten. i was looking for 20. or, silly question, should i look for polish mags to go with the polish rifle? also, i should be looking at 30rnd mags, right?
 
I have never really given this too much thought.

I have mags from varied sources (Chinese, East German, Russian) for my AK and they all work.

I kinda figured that the way the AK is designed that it would pretty much work with anything you stuff in it, as long as it fits.

AK mags are pretty cheap - buy one and see if it's what you want, and if so, buy a bunch more of the same.
 
ok i should have asked which are the best ribbed steel mags to buy. if i was buying an arsenal AK i think the waffles would look cool and fit nice and tight. but i think they would look like ass in this polish underfolder. i know, i know, but i care about aesthetics.
 
If you want some excellent condition (almost new!) Polish mags to go with your new Polish AK...Arms of America had some on their website for $14.99/ea...which is a great deal!...if they still have them. I bought several for my Polish AK, and all were in A+ shape. Shipping was a bit slow on them though...so be ready. Here's their site:
http://www.armsofamerica.com/magazines/ak47mags.html

The new Bulgarian Waffle Polymer mags also look pretty good...although I didn't think they would at first though.

If you go with the Bulgarian Waffle Mags...Copes Distributing seems to always have the best deals that I've been able to find...and they're a great company to do business with...I've used them many times. Have fun with you're new AK!!!
 
The waffle mags are nice, as are the old standard steel mags. But I prefer the 20 round Hungarian mags. They are make the gun a little easier to maneuver and go prone with.
 
as far as new steel mags go, are those hungarian ones from copes the best deal?

also, will the stock still fold around a 30 round mag?

thanks.
 
Either copes or here at Dan's http://www.dansammo.com/odds.asp If your getting a 10 pack they are 13. a piece and as new as they get. The romanian mags from AIM http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Romanian_30rd_Steel_Magazine.html are like new and a really good deal if buying in bulk. Here is the best price around for the 20 rounders with pouches http://www.worldwarsurplus.com/product.sc?categoryId=53&productId=4

The folder will work fine with a 30 round magazine. Bend the butt of the folder straight out and fold it up, it will pass by the mag.

Oh and you're right about this being your "1st" ak type. Noone can have just one and your addiction will be out of control in no time. Have fun and happy shopping.
 
I prefer Yugoslavian Bolt-Hold-Open (Yugo BHO) mags. They're a good way to let me know when the mag is empty. Not sure if "new" ones exist. The used ones I got work just fine.

As for 30 round mags, they're a pain to shoot off a rest. Get one of the short 5 or 10 rounders if you plan to do anything like that.

Stay away from American-made mags (i.e., Pro-Mag)
 
I honestly think you are not gonna find a "brand new" steel European Ak mag for any reasonable price. Most of these mentioned here for sale are surplus and vary from "never used much" to "holy cow, what mud hole did those come out of" condition.

If you have to have a brand new magazine, you can buy brand new in the package East German mags (if you can find them) for 3 or 4 times the going price of "like new, not used much" grade steel Euro mags.

I personally buy the rusted ones that pop up on the larger vendors sites from time to time and refinish them. They work just fine.
 
Any cheap Commie 30-round mag seems to work just fine. Kinda funny how a mag made in a depressing Eastbloc "People's Factory" outperforms one made in a nice ISO-certified US plant, huh? :D
 
fakename

all steel magazines will work the same. any fit or wobble issues will be rifle dependant.

polymer magazines tend to be a slight bit thicker. or so is my understanding

US made Mags tend to suck

best thing to do is buy cheap surplus ones, and lots of them. new mags wont work any better than old ones, and if looks are what is important then refinish em with some spray on finish.
 
I have some pro mag waffles and some yugo LRBHO magazines. The plastic mags are lighter but I don't like the waffles because the horizontal bars catch on each other and on the pouches. The Yugo magazines are steel which is more durable and heavier but I like them better because they do not have horizontal ribs and IMO just look more "authentic".
 
Lancaster told me that polish or romainian steel work fine. I used both and they work fine, imagine that.

I bought some of the bulgarian waffles and they fit a little too tight front to back, I just used a wire brush and brushed away the excess coating on the magazine's rear locking block. They've fit and run fine ever since.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
I'm going to order and AK today, please help with one final decision.
Replies
10
Views
784
rangerruck
R
T
  • Locked
Vector AK or other... ?
Replies
14
Views
685
kcmarine
K
H
  • Locked
Which 5.45 AK?
Replies
15
Views
711
HighRoad
H
S
  • Locked
Lancaster Arms/Consulting AKM-47
Replies
16
Views
2K
goon
G
E
  • Locked
how is this 223 AK?
Replies
1
Views
405
nalioth
N
Back
Top