New E-German 30rd AK mags inferior to older versions ?

[cltshrty]

I bought 8 new East German 30rd AK mags in new pouches from Clearview Investments last week. While comparing them to some older ones I have found these discrepancies:

1--The finish on the new ones(mag body,follower,floor plate) seem to be painted, the older ones are blued/black.

2--The springs are .002" smaller in diameter(you can actually feel the difference with your fingers).

3--When you push the follower down with your finger, the newer ones are alot easier to compress.
4--The lower spring keeper on the newer ones do not have the 1.300" tall post that is spot welded on that keeps the spring from binding/crisscrossing? when you are loading the last 2 or 3 rounds. On almost every new mag that I loaded, I had to shake the mag down & up several times to get the last few rounds to load.

As far as using them, they all functioned flawlessly in my Maadi misr SA, even while doing the fake full auto-(bump method)!

Has anyone else had these problems ? I am thinking about making my own posts & spot welding them on the new mags.
Anyone else have any other/better ideas

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cltshrty

GOA JPFO COA SAF NRA

[International Black Man]

While I can't vouch for the particular situation which you mention, I have bought 3 new-in wrap sets of E.Ger. (DDR) 5.45 Bakelite mags (12 30 rounders, total,) & noticed that on 2 sets all the followers are black plastic, while the other set has all STEEL followers, painted black. the steel ones seem more sturdy. No two mags out of the 12 total have the same number (manufacturers code number?) on the bottom, either. All mags shades also vary in color, from light terra-cotta color, to more bright orange, to almost pure red, with different swirls of other shades mixed in. No 2 are exactly alike! Who knows if one type of follower is indeed more desirable than another?

[ValmetM76]

Sounds like the ones you have are arsenal (or somebody else) refinished.

A few years ago new EG mags were really nice.

Regards,
Mike

[sparkky]

I have some, about 17 to be exact, of the older, blued style EG 30 rounders I will sell if anyone is interested. I need $15.00 each for them. I know you can find new ones cheaper, but probably not the blued ones. These are BRAND NEW with the usual handling marks.
good luck.

sparky1776@hotmail.com

best wishes,,,,,,,,,


[This message has been edited by sparkky (edited 06-01-2000).]

[speedy223]

cltshrty, I think classic arms is selling the old type east german mags in like new to new condition. You should give them a call.

[OMC]

Originally posted by speedy223:
cltshrty, I think classic arms is selling the old type east german mags in like new to new condition. You should give them a call.


Classic sent me “Surplus EG mags” @ $9.95 ea. Their condition ranged from 50% to 90% and some with rust and dents. All seem to function, but I wasn’t really happy. I wasn’t aware that “Surplus” meant VERY USED.

Buyer beware ----- especially now days.

OMC

[cltshrty]

Thanks for all of the reply's guys! http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif
I think I will give Classic Arms a call & see what they have to say. Like I said they work fine but I do like the blued style better.

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cltshrty

GOA JPFO COA SAF NRA

[arcom]

I don't think the East Germans have actually made steel AK47 mags in 7.62X39 in close to 20 years. Certainly not since 1990 when EG ceased to exist. I've never seen them in anything but blued steel with ribbed backs. I'm not sure they even made 7.62X39 in bakelite.

[cltshrty]

OMC-- I almost did'nt see your reply, I finished my last post about 30 minutes after I started it. My daughter lost a tooth, time for "DR. Daddy". When I call Classic Arms I will ask for NIW & see what they have to say. I would not have been happy with what they shipped you either. Thanks for the warning!!

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cltshrty

GOA JPFO COA SAF NRA

[Packrat]

I got 3 sets of the Clearview mags. I didn't notice any difference in the springs; I don't remember ever seeing the piece you mention on the lower spring keeper (and I have about 30 E German mags). However, I checked the mags carefully and had no problems loading or using any of them.

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Packrat

[ValmetM76]

Classic has been OUT of NIW East German mags for a while.

If you want NEW mags, I know that CDNN has Bulgarian 30 rd, 4 in a pouch for $49.00.
There are also a lot of Romanian mags out there that are new for about $10 each.

The German stuff has dried up fellas. Except for the 5.45 AK-74 mags.

Regards,
Mike

[stoat]

the e german mags i got from classic arms a few weeks ago were fine... i ordered a bunch of them (200) and out of the lot there were maybe 4 mags with no handling marks whatsoever, and 3 mags with noticeable rust spots, the others were all 85-95%, very happy with the order... but now i have a problem, only 1 ak and 200 mags... Hmm. guess i'll have to get a few more http://www.ak-47.net/akcgi/smile.gif

[Dan44]

Just this week I got in some "E-German" mags from Wholesale guns (old Burns Bros) they are not the same as my other E-G mags I got years ago. These are black painted with diffrent weld spots as my older mags. But for $10 each not bad, no rust or scratches, look new. I'll call and get some more.

[cltshrty]

Hey stoat, are the 200 mags you received from Classic Arms the blued or painted black style ?. I went to the Indy 1500 on Saturday & found some blued E. German mags but they were in about 50% condition & $15.00 each, I passed on them.

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cltshrty

GOA JPFO COA SAF NRA

[ValmetM76]

No foolin guys, the good East German mags are gone. The only place you're going to find the good ones is from individuals or at gunshows.

The mags you guys are describing sound all the world to me just like the current ROMANIAN refurbished mags that are currently flooding the market, being called GERMAN mags because they will sell better.

The best deal out there for new mags right now IS the CDNN deal for 4 Bulgarian mags in a 4 pocket pouch for $49.00. These are NEW mags made just like the German mags but they are a little heavier duty and have a heavy parkerized finish.


Regards,
Mike

[Tantal]

It is my experience that every AK part that comes in through the European military surplus trading house capital, Germany, is labelled as 'made in Germany"maybe so the paperwork is easier, since it would be coming from a "friendly" and in the case of magaizines, would have to had been made prior to 1989. And in fairness to distributors and retailers, not very many people can tell the difference anyway, between the magazine manufacture of different AK parts producers. I would guess that all new old stock DDR magazines are basically sold out and we are now getting magazines from Romania and elsewhere, just as Valmet has said.