[The_one]

beercan ready. What kinda pouches are you using? Any issues with the tab on the back of mag wearing it out or getting caught up ?

 

[The_one]

Mind elaborating on what beer canning is? I’m having a hard time picturing it.

Sure. Beer canning is where you grab the magazine like a beer can. Usually about in the middle of the mag with the grip running horizontally on the mag. For aks the back of the mag (with the tab) is forward in the mag pouch. As in the mag curves toward the back. Like i have setup in the image. I guess imagine (for a right handed shooter) the left hand pouring out a beer on your left hip with knuckles being to the rear, palm facing torso. The other technique i mentioned is Indexing. Which isnt really used for rock and lock AK mags. True Indexing is pointer finger running along skinny part of mag (usually ar type) forming an L with palm (which is cupped around bottom part of mag) and you pretty much point the mag right into mag well (not compatible with aks). But what i was getting at with indexing was mag orientation. the tab would be to the rear and the mag would curve towards the front or belt buckle. If its hard to imagine, try youtube. AOU has a video titled "hsgi taco mag problem with ak". He essentially has the mags set up like one would with the Indexing technique for AR mags. Key difference is with the mag setup for what im calling Indexing (its still beer canning with the ak)the knuckles would be towards the front (belt buckle) and thumb wrapped around the back (think palm facing away from torso) when you go to grab a mag from pouch. Its still beer canning cause your grabbing mag about mid way with grip being horizontal. While with true indexing the entire hand is mostly south with only the index finger sort of running up the front of an AR mag to somewhat guide it in.

 

[The_one]

So correct me if im wrong, but the trend im seeing is most are using some variation of a taco mag pouch (bungee chorded together) for their ak mag. I understand that you have yours set up true beer can with bullets in mag facing away when in pouch or what you said was mag curved to right side (for left handed shooter). Ive had resistance/ material being shredded off of my pouch (its kydex/polymer ) and get stuck on the tab portion on the back of the mag, when i have my mags set up that way. The plastic is then transferred from the tab on the back of mag on/into the locking lever or what locks mag into the rifle. It hasnt caused any issues yet. I originally had my mags setup (from your perspective as LH) curving to left. This presents the smooth part of the mag when drawing vs the tab on the back of mag.

(Below) abrasive rear tab of mag forward in pouch. You can see where it has pulled off some of the material/ damages the sidewall of pouch .

(Below)Smooth front mag knub? forward in pouch no damage no hanging up.

 

[The_one]

I load AK mags into "taco" style pouches with bullets upward with tips to the front opposite to my AR mags which are facing bullets down.
I grab my AK mag as close to the top with my weak hand and then my index finger is touching the receiver of the gun to help me load the mag.

The same when I'm using shingle pouches - bullets upward, tips facing to my strong side.

You mean bullets exposed like this?

 

[The_one]

This is probably more a function of the material my mag shingle is made out of rather than anything I do, but I haven’t had that issue. I think that’s cause the side walls of my shingle are part of the same single piece of fabric as the rest of the pouch. No breaks in it and no harder plastic on the sides. And after a couple times of doing it, I could tilt them out pretty smoothly. I think the curvature of the 7.62 mags helps that a lot too. But, this is what mine basically looks like. Actually I have my mags stored almost just like in pic except facing the opposite side, and my actual shingle is weaved in a bit more to the right than just straight centered like in that pic.

https://www.beezcombatsystems.com/images/AK47%203%20mag%20shingle%20left%20side.jpg

https://www.beezcombatsystems.com/AK47-3-Mag-Shingle-BCS-AK47-3MS-1000.htm

I will say though that I have had the mags (back locking tab to be specific) get caught once in a while on the bungees while taking them out. I think what I did to remedy that was loosen the tension a little bit on the bungees, and I don’t remember that happening since.

Thanks for the info. Ive had some ar tac tailor pouches with bungee like that, they didnt work out to well rear locking tab ripped through them (it was too tight). I may have to order some of those AK specific beezs and give them a try

 

[The_one]

Yeah i like the 🌮 so far for ak mags. I thought it was one of the better options. But i have noticed slower draws and slight catching when bullets are down facing rearward

 

[The_one]

Itll be hard to get over mentally ive always been taught/told bullets up is blasphemy. Unless theres some secondary measure to keep dirt and debris out of the rds. Even with the bungee loose the general form of the polymer is tight enough to cause draw resistance. I dont think its too serious. I mostly wanted to see how everyone was setup/ running. So far im comfortable with bullets down, rounds forward. It keeps all the operational low light training on the ar applicable. Its just different in how you manipulate the mag (wrist movement) twist to feed. And the standard bullet down rounds rearward,besides not being ideal in my polymer taco, is pretty easy to grasp. I'd just prefer to keep my setup as close as possible across multiple platforms.