Report on 20-rd Hungarian Mags from CDNN

[dadx]

The 20-rd Hungarian mags from CDNN arrived today.

They have a poor finish.

Instead of the nice, blue finish on my Norinco and German 30-rounders, these magazines have an ugly coat of flat black paint that has a texture similar to sandpaper. Maybe some of you would like it, but its not my cup of tea.

I reworked the magazines with 00 steel wool and Breakfree. After scrubbing with steel wool, the finish is much nicer. Smooth, and more of a satin gloss. However, the bare steel does show through a little in sort of speckled look.

The bottom line is that although these magazines are advertised as "new", in my opinion they have been refinished. Even after the thorough scrubbing with steel wool, the sides are somewhat pitted. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but there are also subtle dents and dings here and there that suggest these magazines were redone.

Now, the springs look good. And don't get the wrong idea. I'm happy to have the magazines. But I don't think for a minute that they are new.

[atlas366]

To each his own I guess, but the Hungarian magazine finish is not designed to be visually appealing, it is designed to be functional. I don't know by what standards you judge blueing to be superior, but in all practical matters: durability, rust resistance, ease of application, etc. blueing is inferior, and certainly obsolete, especially from a military point of view. All of the Hungarian magazines, both 20 and 30rds that I own have the powder coat finish you describe, and I find it to be a most excellent coating, especially for a former com-bloc nation. It is a shame that your concern for the aesthetic well-being of your 20rd magazines so overwhelmed you that you found it necessary to decrease their rust-resistant ability by exposing bare metal. No offense, I was raked over the coals by many, several years ago for having the audacity to have perfectly good pre-89 Maadis turned into an AK-74M and a AKS-74U before there was a reliable supply of ammo around or anyone had heard of 5.45x39. We all have our quirks and I won't pretend to be wholly practical when it comes to firearms.

[dadx]

I'm not really concerned about rust. I have never had any of my stuff rust, because I don't run around in the woods in the rain.

If these mags should get some rust, then it can be easily removed. If I have to, I can ship them off and have them completely refinished in any way I want. After all, like all AK mags, these guys are built like tanks.

If the black paint is the original finish, then why is the metal pitted underneath it?

[GrimFacts]

I have one 20-rd hungarian. I forget who I bought it from. It was a little beat, and will only feed 17 rounds. Number 18 gets stuck. Haven't had time to take it apart yet.

[RangerSXT]

I bought 8 of these mags from Global trades and have had zero problems and they are all new with the black powder coat finish which is typical for the 30 round mags also. The finish was applied at the factory for rust preventive purpose. You do not have to run around in the woods just simply the oil from your hands is acidic enough to cause rust on these mags. I have had no signs f pitting on any of the mags nor any dents.

Sorry about your taste in finish but it is functional and is what the tank squad guys used in there AMD AK.

These were offered by Tennesse guns also in used condition which a friend of mine ordered and it came in the mags pouch with cleaning equipement and oil bottle and they still looked good with some of the powder coat worn off but no pitting or rust.

[dadx]

You can't see the pitting, because it is hidden by the black paint.

I am not convinced the black paint is an original, factory finish. It just looks plain cheap. I can just see some enterprising individuals figuring out that what with the high-capacity ban it now becomes economic to get some old magazines and slap on a quick coat of cheap black paint to try and make them look "new".

[dadx]

One other thing about these "new" 20-round magazines.

They have 30-round springs.

Thus my contention is supported. To wit, these "new" magazines are rusty old surplus which were re-finished and fitted with new springs.

Has anyone out there been able to load and feed a full 20 rounds through these things?

[SemperFi]

DAD: Sorry about your luck with those mags. Maybe you should return them and buy them from Global as Ranger has said.

RangerSXT: I too have bought mine from Global Trades and have had no problems with them they came FACTORY NEW and not refinished. The only ones I have to say I bought that were refinished were advertised as such and they were hungarian 30 rounders. They came spray painted flat black. but no rust. I removed the black paint and found no rust and no pitting then had them teflon finished.

I to have bought the 20 rounders from tennesse guns in the four mag cell pouch and they were used but not abused or dented in anyway. Sounds like CDNN got a bad batch.

[dadx]

The mags CDNN are selling were bought from Global Trades.

[JOEZETA]

i just got in 6 of the 20 rders from Global....a couple were real nice with the powder coated finish and appeared to be new...most were marked made in hungary but a couple had a horrible shiney paint job, chipped off paint, couple of dings, not marked....i wouldnt mind this so much but the ad said that these were new......bad enough they tack on a Credit card surcharge.

[JOEZETA]

ok, i just looked them over good....3 seem new with the nice flat powder coat finish...the other 3 look like a bad refurbish job....WORST OF ALL?? 2 of them will not even fit in ANY of my ak's.....im gonna give Global a call....

[RangerSXT]

JOEZETA: You must have got the bottom of the crate. I have doubled checked my six NEW mags and have found them to be new. I have looked at the used ones bought from Tenn. Guns and they are used but no diongs or dents or pitting. The finish on th eused ones is more of a blue/black finish vs. powder coat.

[AKshooter]

dad...

I don't run around in the rain with my AK, either, BUT....I just got back from a 5-day OPFOR, and with all the humidity, 95* temps and sweat, my SAR-1 would start to rust just by looking at it, mags included. This is ONE area where an AR BEATS an AK...LOL!

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'Happiness is a warm AK!'