A buddy of mine just bought a new GF three and was asking what magazines fit best in mine. I have found P mags to consistently be the best fit whereas my Bulgarian ones (both steel and waffle) all seem very tight where they essentially get stuck in the Mag well
Wondering if I could get some other input with others experience?
AK magazine fit is mostly determined by the relationship between the magazine catch and the size of the lug on the back of the magazine.
Since AKs do NOT have a military Specification on precision sized parts, often hand fitting is required………as a result when AKs are built after the trigger guard & magazine catch are installed……magazine fitting is tested and the top edge of the catch might have to be “Hand Filed” in order to perfectly fit the desired magazine.
Like AKs….AK magazines also have no precise military specific size that manufactures all follow……they are all close enough….and good enough….however they all have minor variations.
That said…if your AK fits your Pmags and your happy with them….your fortunate……cause they are inexpensive and plentiful.
If however you prefer Bulgarian mags and they fit tight……a little bit of “hand filing” can give you the perfect fit. You could hand file the catch
which is also going to affect the fit of your Pmags……but if you just have a couple of Bulgarian mags……and mostly Pmags….then you could opt to “Hand File” the bottom of the rear lug on the magazine to get your perfect fit.
With this method you can get most any magazine to fit and operate reliably in your AK.
I caution you…… to closely examine the fit of the parts you may be working on……and Understand how and why it’s too tight or binding. Then the use of a file and some sandpaper is usually all that’s needed to fit almost any parts on an AK. Avoid the temptation to use a dremel tool ! !
That dremel can easily remove too much material…too quickly …… In fitting AK parts….good, small sharp files and some sand paper work for almost everything.
in less than one minute….it fits perfectly now…it catches comfortably…no wobble or wiggle front to back or left to right.
*Never file on the TOP of the lug. The top of the lug keeps the magazine alignment straight.
I love that little mag….because it fits the whole box of 20 rounds……I don’t have to open another box to get 10 more.
Really stretching for an excuse to just buy another mag….
Thank you for the replies. Yes I myself have had to take files to some of my magazines to make them fit as well. I found my arsenal a case, both Russian and Bulgarian seem to be the most forgiving with any of the AK magazines. Palmetto State seems to be a little tight but yes definitely a little hand filing on the magazine can make anything fit.
My son and I both received the new PSA Waffle mags with both of our new PSA AK purchase’s.
That new mag is a HOME RUN ! Metal feed lips, notch and lug….this is one of the best mags we have.
