Best Mag for AK-47

[Expat]

If someone was going to put some extra AK mags away right now, what would you be buying?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

47 or 74?

 

[Expat]

47 or 74?

fixed the title. but 47....

 

[JasonCountry]

I did a little reading a couple weeks ago and from what I gathered people really like these Bulgarian AK-47 7.62x39mm 30-Round Steel Magazine from Gunmag warehouse for $20. I bought 10x but haven't tried them out yet.

It might depend on what AK you have too, some like different mags from what I read.

 

[JasonCountry]

I don't really know where the 922r compliance really comes into play either, but apparently some AK's you need a US made magazine to be compliant.

 

[Brandon]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/unissued-croatian-30rd-steel-ak-47-magazine-black.html

 

[shadow64]

I have used tapco magazines they have been reliable in all three of my ak’s . The metal com bloc magazines were very loose fitting in 2 of the ak’s . magpul is also a good choice .

 

[Kirk Freeman]

fixed the title. but 47....

I have a dog's breakfast of stuff but I really like steel, Bulgarian. Nice strong tab.

I have Koreans (the gray ones) too. I know some guys do not like them, especially the SHK mags, but I use them, even in class and training, no problems.

Have had good luck with the Hungarian 20 rounders. Very handy off benches, e.g.

Only had problems with the Magpul 20 rounders, no metal tab, especially with my Yugo ZPAP. However, the Magpul 30 rounders with the metal tabs are fantastic.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

OMG, have you guys seen the prices of those East German AK-74 mags? I have stacks of those still in the double bags. Mother of Pearl.

 

[SarahG]

The Bulgarian made steel ones from GunMagWarehouse run well. Bakelite if you're feeling fancy and hate money.

 

[Ggreen]

Circle 10 Bulgarian waffles are consistently the best. I do have an akm that just loves magpul though and it has shot enough matches to prove they feed fine under stress. The tabs can be an issue though.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

https://palmettostatearmory.com/unissued-croatian-30rd-steel-ak-47-magazine-black.html

I've got a few of these and they work, but I had to do a lot of filing on the tabs to get them to lock into place in my Maadi.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

My personal favorites have been the Bulgarian slab-sided polymer mags, but I mostly have combloc steel mags.

 

[indykid]

OMG, have you guys seen the prices of those East German AK-74 mags? I have stacks of those still in the double bags. Mother of Pearl.

I remember when these were $5 apiece and you couldn't give them away!

 

[indykid]

Worrying about 922(r) during a SHTF situation? Really?

Suggest any European surplus metal mag, Chinese metal mags. If push came to shove surplus military are usually as reliable as they come. Just make sure there are no dents and any rust is taken care of because they are surplus after all.

 

[AmmoManAaron]

I always liked the Chinese flat-back mags, but those bring a bit of a premium now.

 

[snorko]

Ordered some of the Bulgy steel mags. Since I have sold off several AKs I think this weekend I am going to drag out the tupperware bin and test fit every mag in my remaining rifles. So anyone peeping in my living room window and watching me cycle mag after mag while watching Red Dawn, don't worry.

 

[Alamo]

I bought a bunch of Bulgarian steel mags years ago, half of them still in wrappers and preservative. The ones I did break out and run with worked very well.

If the mag kind of swings left-to-right, it's not necessarily a problem other than being annoying, a lot of AKs have that characteristic. They should not rock back and forth inline with the gun, though, that will lead to misfeeds. But before start filing and fiddling with the mags, make sure the magazine release widget has correct dimensions. My WASR from way back when let the mags rock forward and back (with doublefeeds resulting) because the tab on the release widget was too short - it kept the mag from falling out, but didn't hold it in place. I ordered a new one, fitted it (took some filing on the tab), and it's run like a champ ever since.

Then I bought a big pile of Bulgarian metal mags and lived happily ever after.

 

[johntheplinker]

Eastern European or Chinese. Never had a problem with either. I've heard a few reports of the U.S. made mags having issues on occasion. Not to mention the Euros are so stout you could bash somebody's skull in with one.

 

[DadSmith]

Best mags I've has were my 1950's Russian steel magazines iirc Tula stamped, then the Bulgaria mags and a toss up between pmags and Croatian mags.

I had to replace replace the 71+ year old Russian mag springs with new Wolff springs. Man what a difference in performance they made.