Mag Wobble and Advice

[REBEL WOLF]

Getting ready to buy my first AK's in a while
(been messing with AR-15s) but now I realize I'm an AK MAN!! Anyway I have a question? Is it normal for all AK mags to wobble around in the mag well? I had 2 MAK-90s years ago and they both did it. Also other than bent sight assy's,and bent gas tubes what little problems should I look for? I'll most likely be going with Legends from Tennessee Guns but maybe SAR's.......... Oh boy ...Here I go again.

[Polyak]

Hi Bowjager, glad to hear you've seen the light, so to speak. I too have an AR15 (Bushmaster 16" post ban), but there is just something about these inexpensive rugged and reliable AKs that I just don't get in the AR.


I have only 2 AK's right now. My SAR2 (5.45x39) takes all the mags I have with out any wobble whatsoever. I have aobut 15 or so mags for it, and they all fit perfectly. My Polytech (7.62x39) was a little finicky with the tightness of mags. It seems that most Chinese made mags are a little thicker than the Bulgarian or East German ones. All my CHinese mags fit tightly, but several of my E. German ones did wobble a bit. I say did, because I installed an MTK side rail mount on the side of the receiver of my Polytech. The front screw for the mount protrudes a little into the magwell. I had to file it down a a couple of hairs to where all my mags would fit, but now all my mags fit wih out wobble. The screw supports the top of the mag in the mag well and keeps it form rocking, it was a nice unexpected bonus.

It is very common, expecially for 7.62x39 Ak's, for some mags to wobble. It does not take anything away from reliability in the weapon. The only downfall of a wobbly mag is noise, that's it, they will work just as good as the tightest fitting mag will.

What to look for: someone else can probably offer a little more than I can here. All these parts rifles (SARs, Misrs, and the TG Legend types) did have a problem with bent front sights assemblies and such a little while ago. I think for the most part, the mojority of the newere ones no longer have this problem? I purchased my SAR2 last year and it looks great. I'm a pretty big supporter of the SAR rifles (especially the SAR2 in 5.45x39, AWESOME CALIBRE!!!!), mainly because they are so inexpensive right now. These AKs will work the same as any of the more expensive AK's out there. SOme of them may not look as good as some of them, but if you are willing to spend just a little time on them they can become real gems. Refinishing the furniture is very easy, and even some here have GunKoting there own rifles with the spray cans and their home ovens. The money you save buying a SAR IMO can be better spent on accessories, mags or ammo. I think the best thing to do with the money saved is to purchaes a Kobra red dot collimator sight. The SARs already have the side rail mount installed on them from the factory, so the Kobra (which is used by the real Russian SPetnaz special forces) just slides right on. For about $130 delivered to your door it can't be beat! Tantal is the person to buy from, he has fast and excellent customer service ( http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/ ).

HTH,
Polyak

[REBEL WOLF]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by polyak:
Hi Bowjager, glad to hear you've seen the light, so to speak. I too have an AR15 (Bushmaster 16" post ban), but there is just something about these inexpensive rugged and reliable AKs that I just don't get in the AR.


I have only 2 AK's right now. My SAR2 (5.45x39) takes all the mags I have with out any wobble whatsoever. I have aobut 15 or so mags for it, and they all fit perfectly. My Polytech (7.62x39) was a little finicky with the tightness of mags. It seems that most Chinese made mags are a little thicker than the Bulgarian or East German ones. All my CHinese mags fit tightly, but several of my E. German ones did wobble a bit. I say did, because I installed an MTK side rail mount on the side of the receiver of my Polytech. The front screw for the mount protrudes a little into the magwell. I had to file it down a a couple of hairs to where all my mags would fit, but now all my mags fit wih out wobble. The screw supports the top of the mag in the mag well and keeps it form rocking, it was a nice unexpected bonus.

It is very common, expecially for 7.62x39 Ak's, for some mags to wobble. It does not take anything away from reliability in the weapon. The only downfall of a wobbly mag is noise, that's it, they will work just as good as the tightest fitting mag will.

What to look for: someone else can probably offer a little more than I can here. All these parts rifles (SARs, Misrs, and the TG Legend types) did have a problem with bent front sights assemblies and such a little while ago. I think for the most part, the mojority of the newere ones no longer have this problem? I purchased my SAR2 last year and it looks great. I'm a pretty big supporter of the SAR rifles (especially the SAR2 in 5.45x39, AWESOME CALIBRE!!!!), mainly because they are so inexpensive right now. These AKs will work the same as any of the more expensive AK's out there. SOme of them may not look as good as some of them, but if you are willing to spend just a little time on them they can become real gems. Refinishing the furniture is very easy, and even some here have GunKoting there own rifles with the spray cans and their home ovens. The money you save buying a SAR IMO can be better spent on accessories, mags or ammo. I think the best thing to do with the money saved is to purchaes a Kobra red dot collimator sight. The SARs already have the side rail mount installed on them from the factory, so the Kobra (which is used by the real Russian SPetnaz special forces) just slides right on. For about $130 delivered to your door it can't be beat! Tantal is the person to buy from, he has fast and excellent customer service ( http://tantal.kalashnikov.guns.ru/ ).

HTH,
Polyak</font>

Thanks Polyak for your help.I think you answered my mag question. The mags I had back then were all East German so that sounds like the problem. This Kobra site sounds like a good deal. How do they stand up? Also what is this Gunkote? Is it a rugged finish you can apply yourself?



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Do not go quiet into that
good night, rage,rage against the dying of the light.

[DaveN]

My Chicom 30 rd mags wobble pretty good in all my AK's even my Polytech..the Bulgarian 30 rounders fit a bit tighter but they still wobble...I think thats what there designed to do..if the mag well ever gets dirty in combat conditions or you drop a mag in the mud, it won't fit if its a tight fitter because of all the dirt and sht on it..The entire design philosophy of this weapon is around larger gaps between parts to make it less likely to fail because of dirt and grime..

Dave

Dave

[This message has been edited by DaveN (edited 01-17-2001).]

[Polyak]

I think DaveN has a good point about the loose tolerances. All the mags, wobble or not, will work just as good as the other. I really don't have a preference between ribbed back and not either. Actually, I am rather fond of the new Bulgarian waffle polymer mags from Progressive Arms right now, lightweight and just as strong.


The Kobra sight is IMO a must have addition to any AK. The iron sights on the AK are lacking a little. The Kobra makes up for them in a big way. You can keep both eyes open using this sight and target aquisition is lightening fast. The sight can be mounted and dismounted in a matter of a couple of seconds, and it will retain it's zero time after time after time of being removed and remounted. Go to Tantal's site and check out his section deveoted to the Kobra, he goes into detail about the unit. You won't be disappointed in it, and compared to similar units available for the AR15 this thing is dirt cheap in price, but is still extremely rugged.

As far as the Gunkote goes, I haven't done it to my SAR2, yet. There are a couple of threads around here right now about how to do it at home. Tomac has thread in the General Discussion area on how he did it, and I think there is another thread in the Build It Yourself are too right now. Depending on how you decide to apply it, it is relatively inexpensive, and you get a very tough finish, that can't help but look better.

HTH,
Polyak

[REBEL WOLF]

Thanks Polyak and DaveN for the help.Thats right, they were made to be reliable and rugged,and thats just what they are.After I get mine I'll let you know how it does!!!

------------------
Do not go quiet into that
good night, rage,rage against the dying of the light.