NAIL ON THE HEAD on all accounts.
I used to buy Bulgy 5.56 mags from Kvar. Expensive as hell. I praise AC-UNITY for bringing high quality 5.56 mags compatible with Bulgarian 106's and at a great price. Anyone looking must try them.
Metal or Polymer Mags?
This is one of those basic questions about what to get like AK47 vs. AK74. I would not be asking except for a video by the Kalashnikov Group about the AK 103. In that video they said the polymer mag was better in every way to the metal mag. Is this true in your experience? Tell me what you think.
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I used to buy Bulgy 5.56 mags from Kvar. Expensive as hell. I praise AC-UNITY for bringing high quality 5.56 mags compatible with Bulgarian 106's and at a great price. Anyone looking must try them.
As long as the AC Unity mags for the 5.56 are more like the VZ 58 mags (which are not bad) and NOT like the AC Unity AK (7.62X39) mags which are total junk.
They are a short second only to the Bulgarian 5.56 mags when comparing poly's. Only because well, Bulgarian and the feed lips seem unlined and poly base plates. Front and back lugs are metal reinforced well.As long as the AC Unity mags for the 5.56 are more like the VZ 58 mags (which are not bad) and NOT like the AC Unity AK (7.62X39) mags which are total junk.
If you have a Bulgarian or Yogo/ Serbian 5.56. You must try these out.
WW3, post apocalypse, this is the last magazine you will ever have, and your life expectancy drops to zero when it breaks...
Steel.
Going to the range, don't want to scratch the rifle, there's a peg at the gun store full of more of the same to buy when one breaks...
Plastic.
The AK "Rock and Lock" style magazine puts a lot of stress on the slot and tab that hold the magazine into the rifle. That's a weak spot for anything other than steel.
I can weld plastic, which is basically just melting two pieces together, or melting and building up material where a piece is missing, and filing it back down to match the piece that broke off and was lost. I have to have access to the equipment, 110 volts, and it helps if someone is not shooting at me while I am working. I also have to have some of the same material being repaired to stick the pieces together, or it has to be a known material that is available off the shelf. Magpul isn't telling anyone their proprietary plastic. Probably not Pro-Mag, either. I don't know if anyone compiled the exact plastics and usable filler rods for Eastern Block plastic magazines.
Steel.
Going to the range, don't want to scratch the rifle, there's a peg at the gun store full of more of the same to buy when one breaks...
Plastic.
The AK "Rock and Lock" style magazine puts a lot of stress on the slot and tab that hold the magazine into the rifle. That's a weak spot for anything other than steel.
I can weld plastic, which is basically just melting two pieces together, or melting and building up material where a piece is missing, and filing it back down to match the piece that broke off and was lost. I have to have access to the equipment, 110 volts, and it helps if someone is not shooting at me while I am working. I also have to have some of the same material being repaired to stick the pieces together, or it has to be a known material that is available off the shelf. Magpul isn't telling anyone their proprietary plastic. Probably not Pro-Mag, either. I don't know if anyone compiled the exact plastics and usable filler rods for Eastern Block plastic magazines.
I have both, polymer is more cheaper then metal. And my guess for pro’s and cons is metal mags can take more abuse then polymer mags as in like dropping them, throwing them around and what not. Polymer is still very good, cheaper and therefore you can stock up on them a little faster. Metal is just a couple dollars more but better as far as they can take more abuse. I have more polymer mags then metal, and I like the metal ones better.
Some gunstores sell used beat up and scratched up metal mags that still work at the price of a polymer mag sometimes less so you can get some good deals on them from time to time.
Some gunstores sell used beat up and scratched up metal mags that still work at the price of a polymer mag sometimes less so you can get some good deals on them from time to time.
In 7.62 go comm block steel surplus for hard core use. Bakelite for beauty/show, polymer for range toys.
I have both. The magpuls I got with the guns, and they work fine, but I could see them not surviving a loaded drop or two. I prefer the steel mags, but I’ve found that you have to be ok with “adjusting” feed lips and catches, depending on the firearm. Ymmv
I still stand by what I posted in reply #10 last year.
In short military steel mags are the way. Bakelite are a close second. Quality poly mags with steel reinforcements are not a bad choice. I don't care for aftermarket steel or poly mags for other than range use or practice drills.
Military drums are always cool no matter how impractical outside of a fixed position.
In short military steel mags are the way. Bakelite are a close second. Quality poly mags with steel reinforcements are not a bad choice. I don't care for aftermarket steel or poly mags for other than range use or practice drills.
Military drums are always cool no matter how impractical outside of a fixed position.
Steel is cool and I have an S load of them, but the Soviets ditched them for good reasons. Rust, dents, and weight. Their reasons are just as valid now as they were then. Polymer is lighter, can't rust, if it fails structurally it fails and it's obvious. A steel mag can have a very subtle dent and you won't even know it's affecting follower travel until you try it. Polymer is also a lot cheaper to make, especially the modern ones. ((10)) has made zillions of 545 poly mags from exactly 4 molds. Sure, the molds were expensive to machine but they last a long time and can make a lot of mags on a super low price per unit basis.
Polymer mags are lightweight and mostly run great. However, I love steel mags for AK. I am pretty traditional and like wood furniture more than polymer as well. What do you like?This is one of those basic questions about what to get like AK47 vs. AK74. I would not be asking except for a video by the Kalashnikov Group about the AK 103. In that video they said the polymer mag was better in every way to the metal mag. Is this true in your experience? Tell me what you think.
Have some of most mags discussed here and 👍This gets asked once a week, so I'll copy paste what I always saythere are tons of good mags out there.
Best..
Better.
- Surplus Steel. If it in good-great condition these are your best bet. Time tested, excellent mags. Make sure they're from a country that fielded AKs... don't get Korean or Croatian mags..places that never even fielded the gun and are notoriously shitty
- Bakelite. HOWEVER, I don't actually recommend them unless you know what you're getting into. They're just as reliable as surplus steel, but they're now pretty much collector's items and going for STUPID money. They're basically 1960s plastic mags that are now highly sought over because there isn't as much of them anymore. If you find a steal on them ,sure. but if you just want a good mag then there are way better options for better prices out there.
- next on the list is the best of the best Polymer mag... the Bulgarian Circle 10 mag. $50 a fucking mag, but excellent battle tested polymer AK mags. PROBABLY the best out there.
Good
- Now there's a host of commercial mags out there that are EXCELLENT, even if they were not fondled and blessed with holy water by Mikhail K. himself. One of the best is Bulgarian new production steel mags (usually you see them at Atlantic or Gunmagwarehouse)
- Bulgarian polymer mags with steel reinforced feed lips and lugs. These are made by ISD, the same company that makes the new production steel mags as well. Be careful they also make a version WITHOUT steel lugs and only steel feed lips too.
- Pmag gen 3s... very good mags with steel lugs (front and back) but no steel feedlips. Great mags, work extremely well, and as long as you don't drop them on their feedlips in some sort of brutal torture tests, will work FANTASTIC.
- I know I'll get some hate for this, but PSA made a polymer mag that is a clone of the Circle 10 mags. Full steel reinforcements and built like tanks. The gen 1 waffles are sold out, but they are making a gen 2, and they also make a 103 slabsides mag that is fully reinforced. Same mag, just slabside vs. waffle.... We've been beating the hell out of them at the files and myself personally and I love these things to death. They're my go to at $20-$25 each.
- X-tech Tactical steel reinforced mags and U.S. Palm steel reinforced mags. Same thing, really good commerical polymer mags and some of the best polymer mags on the market. Mabye not battle tested, but hold up REALLY well by high volume shooters
- Toth Toole waffle mags. Another clone of the Bulgy Circle 10. These were GREAT when they were $25, but now at $45 they're barely cheaper than OG Circle 10 mags so their value to cost isn't as good as they could be like the PSA mags
- Serbian new production steel mags. you can get em from Zastava direct, or from Lead-Star arms in 10 packs for like $125....
The Bad
- Now we have the "good" ones that are solid range mags, but not AS durable or as high speed low drag as the rest. Starting it off is the ISD Polymer bulgarians with steel feedlips. No steel lugs, but otherwise the same. Solid mags, just don't rip them in and out of your gun. The ones with steel lugs AND feedlips usually are only a buck more than these so I don't recommend simply because you can get better for so cheap
- Gen 2 pmags. No steel reinforcements anywhere. Honestly, for 99% of people these are still good, but at their price you can find the steel bulgys and the polymer bulgies on sale for nearly the same price, so unless you're given, traded, or get them dirt cheap I don't reccomend spending coin on them (though if you get them with the purchase of a new gun don't throw them out.. use those bitches)
- Tapco Slabsides. I know they're out of production right now, and Tapco isn't usually synonymous with high quality, but their slabsides mags just WORKED. basically Pmag gen 2s from Tapco and looked like 103 clone mags. I still have 51 of them in deep storage and beat the hell out of them because I got them for $5 or less. Never a malfunction in years that wasn't my own fault or just a fitment issue (seriously, I can count on one hand the malfunctions I've had with tapco slabsides in years of using them)
- U.S. palm mags without steel reinforcements or the X-tech tactical without steel reinforcements. Like the rest, good mags, but no steel reinforcements at ALL makes them not really worth it when you can get other better options for a few bucks more (at most)
- Croatian mags. Some people get them to work well, others have to file on them and still get issues.
- Korean mags. They're OOOOOK but not something I'd every trust except as a disposable mag.
- A/C unity gen 1 mags. They're ok, but pure chinzy range mags. Ironically they make a gen 2 mag that gets good reviews so far, and their 5.56 and VZ.58 mags are actually rather good. I just wouldn't get their regular 7.62x39 AK mags
I'm sure there's more I missed, but this is a general idea based upon the majority of generally accessible mags out there.
First off ANY magazine can fail given enough use or abuse. I have been watching these torture test videos of different AK mags and they are borderline absurd. Examples of what I have seen guys do so far. Bake mags in an oven, shoot mags in the body, drop mags, drive over mags, smash them with a hammer, use them as a hammer, pull them behind a car, pack them with mud and dirt and the list goes on and on.
I watched a guy do AK push ups on a Tapco mag trying to break the feed lips. Guess what, they didnt break...
Also, for just about any magazine in existence, there are videos saying they are great, and videos saying they suck... And everyone wants to talk about SHTF situations...LOL. If your SHTF preparations consist of an AK and you live in North America, then you already lost that imaginary battle.
IMO, a magazine test should consist of verrifying the mag fits in the AK, and the mag consistantly feeds ammo. Thats it. You just need to except that over time you will have wear and tear on your equipment, and buy accordingly. Never decide that magazine X sux because you saw a video about it. Especially an absurd torture test video. Try the magazine in YOUR AK before you decide it sux. Same goes for declaring that a magazine is GREAT. Make sure it is great in your AK.
Find the cheapest magazine that meets the above criteria and buy as many as you can afford. Then buy a few less of the more expensive offerings that prove to be slightly more durable. The kicker is that mags that fit in one AK, don't always fit in another AK. And that dosen't always apply to just different manufacturers. Two different AKs from the same manufacturer can have opposite results with the same magazine.
And then there is the kewl factor. Exotic rare mags like the ones with the French symbol on them...How come nobody is smashing those with a hammer on YT? Or smashing an aluminum Russian waffle mag?
I have 92 AK magazines that I have tested in all 4 of my AKs and verrified that they fit. I have function tested 50 or so and will test the remainders soon. I discovered 2 that wouldn't feed ammo in one of my AKs but worked in the other 3 so I removed them from the range circulation and will keep them for parts, or let me buddy try them in his AK. (He only has 1)
I watched a guy do AK push ups on a Tapco mag trying to break the feed lips. Guess what, they didnt break...
Also, for just about any magazine in existence, there are videos saying they are great, and videos saying they suck... And everyone wants to talk about SHTF situations...LOL. If your SHTF preparations consist of an AK and you live in North America, then you already lost that imaginary battle.
IMO, a magazine test should consist of verrifying the mag fits in the AK, and the mag consistantly feeds ammo. Thats it. You just need to except that over time you will have wear and tear on your equipment, and buy accordingly. Never decide that magazine X sux because you saw a video about it. Especially an absurd torture test video. Try the magazine in YOUR AK before you decide it sux. Same goes for declaring that a magazine is GREAT. Make sure it is great in your AK.
Find the cheapest magazine that meets the above criteria and buy as many as you can afford. Then buy a few less of the more expensive offerings that prove to be slightly more durable. The kicker is that mags that fit in one AK, don't always fit in another AK. And that dosen't always apply to just different manufacturers. Two different AKs from the same manufacturer can have opposite results with the same magazine.
And then there is the kewl factor. Exotic rare mags like the ones with the French symbol on them...How come nobody is smashing those with a hammer on YT? Or smashing an aluminum Russian waffle mag?
I have 92 AK magazines that I have tested in all 4 of my AKs and verrified that they fit. I have function tested 50 or so and will test the remainders soon. I discovered 2 that wouldn't feed ammo in one of my AKs but worked in the other 3 so I removed them from the range circulation and will keep them for parts, or let me buddy try them in his AK. (He only has 1)
Well said Doorkicker.
+1 on the torture test that have now run amuck in absurdity. As a former soldier I can atest, few if any of those things would ever be relevant in the real world., SHTF or otherwise.
For me a mag, a weapon, hell even a wife is a Go/No-Go.
I'll work on a gun that shows promise, to get it running right, but not a mag, or a nag!
+1 on the torture test that have now run amuck in absurdity. As a former soldier I can atest, few if any of those things would ever be relevant in the real world., SHTF or otherwise.
For me a mag, a weapon, hell even a wife is a Go/No-Go.
I'll work on a gun that shows promise, to get it running right, but not a mag, or a nag!
Hey Yoda, been with my Old Nag for almost 44 years. I'm always testing with the Go/No-Go Gauge. With well over 10,000 rounds, she's still a runner.Well said Doorkicker.
+1 on the torture test that have now run amuck in absurdity. As a former soldier I can atest, few if any of those things would ever be relevant in the real world., SHTF or otherwise.
For me a mag, a weapon, hell even a wife is a Go/No-Go.
I'll work on a gun that shows promise, to get it running right, but not a mag, or a nag!
44years, that is most impressive Sir! Well done!Hey Yoda, been with my Old Nag for almost 44 years. I'm always testing with the Go/No-Go Gauge. With well over 10,000 rounds, she's still a runner.
< going on 8 with the current issued equipment, so far she's still serviceable,
myself on the other hand....
Whatever works reliably in the gun is my choice. Steel comblocs and Circle 10’s for 7.62 and Circle 21’s for 5.45 are my go-to’s.
The military has a testing regime. The Soviets did load-in-rifle drop tests from military truck bed height...because sometimes grunts drop shit getting out of a truck. In their tests, even AG-4, which is a brittle plastic by today's standards, destroyed steel mags in their durability tests. Something like an AK103 mag or a Bulgarian waffle is demonstrably more durable than the old skill surp stuff. It might not be as cool, or it might not be what you like to collect/buy/run, but they are measurably superior. For range fun, that might be irrelevant to you personally. I've got thousands and thousands of $ in AK mags, but the Tavor is my SHTF gun, so in a way it really doesn't matter how durable my AK mags are. If you're in a similar position, then just buy what makes you happy. If it is your SHTF gun, then you'd want to run modern polymer mags like the aforementioned.
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