Orange mags? WTF?

[uncle_mike]

It seems that the reasonably priced magazines for the SAR-2 are orange Bakelite. Bakelite doesn't bother me, but who the hell designs an orange magazine for an assault rifle? While you're at it, why not have your troops wear blaze orange uniforms?

Is there a cure for this? Has anyone tried spray painting the orange mags, or covering them with black electrical tape?

------------------

[Tomac]

I've heard (rumor) that they're orange so they aren't confused w/7.62 mags. A number of people have masked off the upper part of the mag where it fits into the mag well and then painted the rest of the mag flat black with different paints like radiator & BBQ grill paint. Supposedly baking after painting makes for a more durable finish. Haven't tried it on my 5.45 mags yet but have got a couple of "range mags" I may have to experiment with...
Tomac

------------------

[uncle_mike]

That's interesting, Tomac. Got any idea how long and at what temperature the Bakelite mag should be baked? I'm a little weak on materials science, and would hate to turn a perfectly good mag (usable, anyway) to jello.

------------------

[trotsky]

The EGs should survive the 325 F temperature required for something like "Baking Laquer" - but a better choice for these would probably be a non-thermoset like Brownells Aluma-Hyde ... cheap, effective, sticks to plastic VERY well. It takes a week to dry, though.

------------------

[backblast]

As for the color of the mags, the Russians do things for a reason. For example, how mant different types of bdu's do they have. I think they have a different set for each week of folage change. Same with the mags, a different color for different seasons. I believe there are actually 4 different colors of mags. Orange, plumb, dk orange and black. There is a reason.

cya

------------------

[Jimbob]

I sort of like the color but it does stick out. Though not any more than the orangy wood stain or fiberglass SKS jungle stocks of Chi fame go figure sometimes military's make little if any sense! If you are concerned about it there is always paint and bow tape, they are certainly cheap enough to play with (~$4.99 at CDNN). Keep your eyes open for steel 5.45 mags they pop up at shows for around 30 from time to time and are built just as sturdy as the 7.62 mags and should outlast the gun barring abuse. Good luck enjoy your gun.

------------------


[This message has been edited by Jimbob (edited 09-26-2000).]

[ValmetM76]

It's been a while since I painted plastic, but the secret is to use a water/alcohol based acrylic enamel overcoated with a clearcoat.

The acrylic paint will actually shrink-fit onto the plastic, the overcoat protects it.

Regards,
Mike

------------------


[This message has been edited by Valmet M76 (edited 09-26-2000).]

[Jimbob]

Cool, when I get one (if I get one so many guns so little time) I will have to try that. Was thinking Gel Coat (works on fiberglass) as I have a friend who paints cars as a 2nd job and usually has some relatively "quiet" colors left over. Just as an expirement black, or forest green or such.

Take care good luck! Camo tape is still a good quicky no mess alternative though.

------------------


[This message has been edited by Jimbob (edited 09-26-2000).]

[Tantal]

Many examples of German bakelite is also a tannish orange marblized color, in fact very close to early Russian magazine appearance. Early examples of Russian bakelite mags are much darker than the later stuff. I have several very early examples which are almost a walnut brown. In other words, the mags, over a period of maybe ten years, gradually became slightly redder and lighter. A large amount of it is no more orange or bright as the golden orange stock finishes of the rifles they are used in, and in fact very often, the magazines almost match the finish of the stocks, even as far as the marbling in the plastic. They certainly do not look out of place, and blend into the look of the rifle. It would not be fair to compare the German mags to Russian, as they are for the large part a much lighter color, often being a tan or yellowish orange. German mags slowly changed from a Russian style reddish-brown to a tan or pumpkin orange. I have spoken to some who have actually talked with German management at production facilities in the former East Germany, and they report that they tried making the plastics dark and even tested black, but the black pigment granules made the plastic too soft and it was too low a melting point for firearms usage. ie it didnt meet specs. This was the early days, and of course today, such things as modern polyamide and polycarbonate stocks have made this a viable option. I can see the point, as we know low tech US manufacturers have a hard time making US AK black plastic handguards that do not have heat problems. On another note, many countries do have traces of orange and red in their camo uniforms, it has been determined that small traces of these bright colors do improve concealment. Do I think the Russians used the mags as a camo feature? hehe No.

------------------

[uncle_mike]

The stocks on my SAR-2 are a moderately dark brown. The single 30-round Bakelite mag that came with it seems only one or two shades lighter than the blaze orange vest I wear for quail hunting. I'll probably buy more Bakelite mags because they're cheap and try some of the suggestions y'all have posted.

------------------
Personal weapons are what lifted mankind out of the mud. The rifle is the queen of personal weapons. - Col. Jeff Cooper

[Malyshx]

Uncle Mike, you have received some great answers here. I want to address a comment by Tomac. The 5.45x39 cal. bakelite(AG-4 plastic)magazines definately were not made in orange color to differentiate them from the 7.62x39 cal. magazines. The Russians also produced the AKM magazines in the same "red bakelite". The 7.62 mags will not fit in an AK74 magazine well due to a larger cross section at the front of the magazine because of the thicker bullet diameter compared to the 5.45x39 bullet. You could place a 5.45 cal. mag in the mag well of a 7.62 AKM or AK-47 but it would not function. I monitored the Yahoo website all during the 99-00 Russia Chechnya war looking at AP and Reuters photos. The Russian Interior Ministry troops were by and large equipped with AKMSs, usually with red(orange) bakelite mags, much less frequently with steel mags. Oddly, most also exibited the older laminated wood pistol grips instead of the well known maroon bakelite grips, prooving once again that the Russians waste nothing.
Whoever asked about ribbed steel AK-74 magazines...InterOrdnance in N.C.has been selling these items at least 2 years. I do not have current prices, but I have noticed they were reduced from the amount I paid then.You can find an ad from them in every issue of Shotgun News. The steel 5.45 magazine is standard issue for Romanian AK-74 rifles. They do not make any in bakelite or polymide.
BTW:...this is not for Tantal, as he already knows this :-)...did you guys know that at one time the Russians used steel 5.45x39 cal. magazines in some experimental AK-74 models? They never became standard issue.
Examples of this can be found in the Kalashnikov Arms hardbound book on pages 90 and 91 . Both models as shown look the same at first glance, but the one on page 90 is
25 mm longer due to an experimental muzzle device which did not see production.

------------------
Malysh

[LAgunman2K-3]

why are barns painted red? red is the cheapest color
is orange cheaper in russia?

never know about these things http://www.ak47forums.com/biggrin.gif

------------------
Ted Nugent for President in 2000

get out the marshmallows and throw another SUV on the fire -- Welcome to LA