Is it true that some AK (tanker)? magazines will hold the breach open after expending the ammo? If this is true what are the physical differences? Do they come in 30 round capacity?
They are Yugoslavian mags which essentially have bolt hold open followers in them, after the last round the bolt holds back because it is hitting the follower, as you can imagine, once you remove the magazine the bolt will obviously slam forward.
What are the physical differences to look for? Are the magazines any harder to remove from the rifle because of this feature? I think this could be a good feature. Any pictures? Thanks Jim
J&G has some, I used to see them for $15-20, but they want $30 they are identical to standard steel magazines, i believe the only difference is the follower. you will have a hard time seeing the difference in pictures, unless it's a close up of the follower. AK-47 steel 30 round Yugo magazines with bolt hold open. Very good condition.
Wow, $30.00? Thats more than double a regular mag price. Is it because of the 'hold-open' feature? Thanks for the link!
avoid them... the M1 carbine mags had a similar feature for a while, while it may be nice that the bolt holds open it keeps the magazine from dropping out properly. (because the bolt is pressing against the follower of the magazine, it locks the bolt open, and holds the magazine in place) If a regular AK mag was $15, I might give someone $5 for one... I had some of these years and years ago, and I hated them. It sounds like a neat feature until you actually go to use it.
Thanks for the 'insite'. Thats why I have found them for as low as $9.95 apiece? I have a Romanian WASR 10. Tapco's won't even fit inside the rifles mag well. I'm looking for a source for good quality spare mags. Suggestions?
You might be able to find the followers on a parts site and swap them into your mags - no guarantees on how well another follower will work in your mags though... And if you're in the mood to tinker and have a mag you don't mind giving the fugly treatment or don't mind notching your selector...
Some Saiga mags do the whole bolt hold open thing after the last round, it's more annoying than useful.
I will admit to having limited experience in this field (seeing as how I sold my last AK over 10 years ago), I can't tell you what mags will work, but I can tell you which mags you don't want. Back when I bought a crapton of mags I was buying yugoslav surplus mags and they worked really well in my MAK90, and I think I was getting them for about $5 each at the gun shows. I also had a bunch of chinese mags that also worked flawlessly *BOGGLE*
try these mags they are good quiality for the money AK-47 762x39 30rd Metal Lined Synthetic Mag New Bulgarian
Modifiable Chinese 'Smoothbacks' $12.95 New production, smooth-backed, Chinese 30rd AK magazines. These are hard to find and quantity is limited! Excellent condition with a "square-back" follower. These magazines can easily be modified to function as a bolt hold-open magazine. Chinese Smooth-Backed 30rd AK Magazines - $12.95 : Military Gun Supply, Your Source for Military Guns and More!
I think for something to qualify as "easily modifiable" means probably a dremel, a hacksaw or a file.
i googled this.. Sticky: Making AK "Bolt Hold Open" Magazines - Gunco.net Making Bolt Hold Open Magazines - AR15.COM Lite
Thanks Weezil_boi!! BTW A.I.M has a smok'in deal on NEW, Bulgarian, 30rnd Mag's. http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=MAK47Bulg&groupid=15
Surplus European Steel AK47 7.62x39 30rd Magazines Chinese smooth backs via Yugoslavia.... Ordered some of these a couple of months ago, NICE mags.
