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Posted: 11/21/2006 6:03:58 PM EDT
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OK, I'm not a big AK knowledge guy, so can I get some advice? I had a Polish Underfolder built for me awhile ago, but hadn't shot it much until recently when I found that the steel mags I have fit very tight, both on the sides and front to back. On one mag I have it's almost impossible to get it to lock up. I have been planing to open up the mag well just a bit to help with the side-2-side snugness, but had no idea what to do about the front-2-back issue. Now a couple days ago I bought an Arsenal SA-M7, it came with a bunch of the polymer waffle mags, and a few steel mags. So I tested the polymer mags in my underfolder and found that while still slightly snug, the fit almost perfect, slide right in and lock up easy. Then I tested the same polymer mags and my steel mags in the SA-M7 and found the same thing except that the steel mags fit a bit better, no problem locking up, just snug. This seems strange to me since I used calipers and found that the polymer mags are actually just a very tiny bit bigger. So here's my dilemma, Do I open up the underfolder so that it fits the steel mags, or just ditch all the steel mags and use only polymer mags? I don't like the idea of limiting my mag supply, but I also don't want the polymer mags to be too loose. |
I knew this much, which is why I was asking. Right now about 50% of my steel mags are VERY tight, but workable, the others are too tight with 2 of them not able to lock-up. I just noticed something else. The SA-M7 is missing the safety lever stop, that means that means that when inserted the mags sit about 1/8th higher into the receiver than they do in the underfolder. |
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Ok you can loosen it up for fit and not make the mags wobble. Here is how. Look directly above the mag release and you will see the back of the mag well. This is the part that is making it tight. You will see what looks like a small tab in the middle of that area. If you file A LITTLE off of that it will allow the front to back to load easier. The pressure from the mag release will keep the mag from wobbling. I have done this operation about 15 times and it works every time. If you want to make the left to right a little looser then just emery down the paint on the sides of the mag well and keep it oiled. Good luck and you are welcome. |
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The waffle mags if they are Bulgarian should be the tighter fit. Don't open the magwell up at all until making sure the front of the mag is locked up correctly. Even then I don't think you need to do it. I found some Chinese 5 rounders in my garage the other day and decided to try them in a SAR-1 rifle that I use Bulgarian waffle mags and all kinds of steel mags in with no problem. At first I thought they were so out of spec that they wouldn't fit at all. It took me several tries to get the 5 rd Chinese mags to lock up in the rifle. I had to make sure the front locking lug on the mag was inserted correctly. Check to make sure you are inserting the front of the mag correctly, otherwise it may not clear the mag catch lever. With 30 rd mags I had no problem doing this at all. An Egyptian metal mag inserted into the rifle has a bit of side to side wobble. A Yugo bolt hold open mag locks up tight with no side to side play at all. A Bulgarian waffle mag has slight side to side movement. There is going to be a slight bit of difference in any mag not made on the same equipment or with a slightly different design. If the mags are being inserted correctly and still don't fit well in that rifle just put them aside for use in the other rifle if they work in your other with no issues. I like mags that lock up tight. If it is just one or two mags not clearing the mag catch lever and they are otherwise inserted correctly, file down the rear locking lug on the mag a bit at a time and see if they lock in then. Side to side tightness should not be an issue as long as they go in. If it is just a few mags that don't lock up in both rifles, get rid of them if the above does not work. |
That ramp is normally the culprit. That is why I say to file down the correspinding tab on the mag well a bit. It will NOT make your other mags loose. The spring on the mag release holds them tight. |
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Sure sounds like you may have inserted them wrong at the front like I did yesterday and many others have done and posted similar questions about. The only mags I have ever had that were too large on the sides to fit into a magwell were some Bulgarian AK-74 mags of the higher mould numbers. |
| Most mags are a little loose in my FEG. The best-fitting ones are the Polish black plastic 'slab-sides', although I like the real Bulgarian 'waffles' too. Original steel Hungarian mags have a little side wobble, but they all lock easily and work fine. I would carefully check the underfolder mag well, looking for anything out of the ordinary, including thick, baked-on paint. |
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After buying a bunch of mags from SG, a number of them needed fitting to go into all my AKs. The catch on the mag can be dremeled on the underside to ease the catch into lock. But there is an easier way. I found the reason for problems is the mag doesnt fit far enough forward and as a result does not dop in for a lock. On a firm surface and carefully with a hammer, tap down the front of the mag, the part that goes into the magwell first, the area where the bullet head is. Just a very little narrowing will have the mags locking right in. Just be careful not to take in so much as to interfer with the follower. No problems to date, and mags I though I coud never use work great. |
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