Help... my AK mag is stuck

[Flogger23m]

Well I just brought home my first rifle today, which is an AK. I got one mag for it, and tried putting it in. It worked quite a few times fine, but on my five or so try the mag got stuck in the rifle. I am pretty sure it is just me doing a poor job of placing the mag in correctly. That mag felt real tight when I did insert it the first few times.

Here is a pic of the mag in the rifle:
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/796/magstuck.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magstuck.jpg)


When I try to push the mag release forward, it will not budge. So, how much damage did I do? :D Anyone know of any way to free the mag from the rifle?

[scotthmt]

brute force is your friend

[ty423]

sucks man...what kind of AK is it and what mags?

[AlexBreya]

If the mag is actually locked into the gun (it could feed the ammo), then its just a tight mag, and i dont know what to do. if its not all the way in the gun, just push the mag forward with some force, and it should pop out. Do you have a monsterman/featureless rifle? if not, you could drill out the mag release (assuming you were gonna put a maglock on it).

good luck

[Flogger23m]

brute force is your friend

Yeah, I just wanted to see if there was any better suggestions before I smashed the crap out of it. :p

sucks man...what kind of AK is it and what mags?


NDS-3 with Romanian G kit. Mag is some steel 10/30, not sure where it is from. It is a double stack rifle with double stack mag.


If the mag is actually locked into the gun (it could feed the ammo), then its just a tight mag, and i dont know what to do. if its not all the way in the gun, just push the mag forward with some force, and it should pop out. Do you have a monsterman/featureless rifle? if not, you could drill out the mag release (assuming you were gonna put a maglock on it).

good luck



I am not exactly sure if it is 100% locked into the well. It looks pretty close though. It is a equipped with an MMG and is featureless.

[Tweak338]

a little dremel work can fix your problems..
one of the AK guru's should be along to explain better than I can.

[Vtec44]

Is the mag release button working? I have the same gun with a steel 10/30 and it works fine. I actually prefer that over the 10/30 polymer magazine.

[Flogger23m]

Is the mag release button working? I have the same gun with a steel 10/30 and it works fine. I actually prefer that over the 10/30 polymer magazine.

At first it did not, now it is. :confused:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1486/magstuck4.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magstuck4.jpg)

The mag itself still won't move at all.

Here is a pic without the top cover, looking down at the inserted mag.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2527/magstuck2.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magstuck2.jpg)

Pic of mag release button.

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6296/magstuck3.th.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magstuck3.jpg)


Here is a low quality http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0n5DPm4QDM&feature=channel_page video of me pressing the mag release and pressing the mag forward, but it not moving. The video is poor quality, and it is hard to push down on the mag with a lot of force when I was holding the camera like that. I did try push a lot harder with both my hands free, same results.

[Vtec44]

It's moving, but can you see if it moves forward enough to clear that notch on the back of the magazine?

https://www.onesourcetactical.com/ProductImages/ER-EC-AK47-MAG.jpg

[Vtec44]

It's also possible that the front notch of the magazine didn't go into place with the receiver, so the one in the back goes too far back for the mag release.

[Futurecollector]

Ehhh, stand it up on the barrel press in the mag release button and smack the mag towards the ground, thats my opinion. lol let us know what happens

[shark92651]

How about you support the front of the underside of the receiver against a table or workbench, have a friend pull the mag release forward, and then you use a block of wood and a hammer to smack the rear of the magazine from the inside of the receiver. I'll bet that gets it out. My guess is that the notch in the front of the magazine is not in the correct position (mag too high or to low) and that is making it really tight against the receiver.

futurecollector suggestion above is good too, except I would put the buttstock on the ground and smack upwards with a heavy rubber mallet while a friend holds the mag release forward.

[JeffM]

It's also possible that the front notch of the magazine didn't go into place with the receiver, so the one in the back goes too far back for the mag release.

This is what I was thinking. Did the front lip of the magazine go between the trunnion and the receiver?

Ehhh, stand it up on the barrel press in the mag release button and smack the mag towards the ground, thats my opinion. lol let us know what happens

This is the usual answer to a stuck AK mag. Kick down on the mag if necessary. Same goes for stuck bolts.


Your pics kinda suck, but is the trigger guard held to the receiver with allen-head screws?

If so, you could just remove the TG/mag release assembly from the receiver.

It looks more like the TG is attached with pop-rivets. If that is the case, drill them out and replace them with proper rivets.

[mcat707]

If all else fails, you can just remove the mag release rivet pin then remove the mag and then install a RaddLock.

[Flogger23m]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I got up this morning and was going to get a hammer, but decided to try it one last time... and the mag pulled right out? :confused:

I think for whatever reason, the mag feels a little tight in the well. Anyone know of some mags that might be slightly thinner? I have a double stack rifle.


Edit: I put the mag in twice, it came out fine twice. I got it stuck again now though. :p

Anyone have any tips for inserting the mag? I think it might be me doing something wrong.

[Greg-Dawg]

Looks like you just broke in the mag.

[Vtec44]

Anyone have any tips for inserting the mag? I think it might be me doing something wrong.

I say you just need to find out where it is getting stuck.

[Flogger23m]

I say you just need to find out where it is getting stuck.

When I put the mag in, usually the front part snaps in easily, but the part closer to the trigger guard feels like a tight fit.

Here are some more clear pics of the mag that is stuck:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5038/akhires2.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=akhires2.jpg)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4760/akhires15q.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=akhires15q.jpg)

It looks and feels like I got stuck in the same way as before.

[Vtec44]

any scratches on the back of the mag to indicate the spots where it may be out of specs?

[Flogger23m]

any scratches on the back of the mag to indicate the spots where it may be out of specs?

Where the mag goes into the well, there are quite a bit of scratches.

Here is a low quality pic I took a few weeks back before I had the rifle:
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1525/magwithammo.th.jpg (http://img3.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magwithammo.jpg)

The image is too blurry to see the scratches, but does the shape of the mag look right?

[Vtec44]

It's kind of hard to tell from the picture of the mag is out of specs. My guess is that it's tight at the spots where you see scratches. I have 2 brand new steel mags that I've used my times and I don't see any scratches on the mag body where it goes into the mag well. They fit securely too.

[Flogger23m]

It's kind of hard to tell from the picture of the mag is out of specs. My guess is that it's tight at the spots where you see scratches. I have 2 brand new steel mags that I've used my times and I don't see any scratches on the mag body where it goes into the mag well. They fit securely too.


Ok. When I get the mag out this time I will try to get a better quality picture of it.

I'll have to find some mags somewhere to see if they work.

Hitting the mag with a hammer while pressing against the mag release is not doing anything either. :p Well, I'll go back and try some more.

[Vtec44]

Where are you anyway? I'm in So Cal, Fontana and work in Irvine. I have several mags you can test out.

[Flogger23m]

Where are you anyway? I'm in So Cal, Fontana and work in Irvine. I have several mags you can test out.


Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it, but I am up in the Bay Area around Livermore.

[SJgunguy24]

You really need to get more mags to try. You don't know if the mags are tight or the mag well is tight.

I would find a couple of people who would let you try their mags and see what happens. I'm in San Jose if your traveling over here anytime soon i'll be glad to let you try a few of mine. You might just have to take a flie to the magwell and or catch to get propper function.

[Flogger23m]

You really need to get more mags to try. You don't know if the mags are tight or the mag well is tight.

I would find a couple of people who would let you try their mags and see what happens. I'm in San Jose if your traveling over here anytime soon i'll be glad to let you try a few of mine. You might just have to take a flie to the magwell and or catch to get propper function.

I was thinking of doing it to the mag well, but was just testing a few more times. But before I do anything I will try some other mag.

San Jose is a little far for me as well, but I might be able to make it one of these days.

[Vtec44]

I was thinking of doing it to the mag well

Yeah dont do it to the mag well yet because you may screw it up permanently instead of on a $20 magazine.

[Steyr_223]

Please try another mag. There have been cases of out of spec surplus AK mags doing the same in free America. Also it could be an out of spec NDS-3( which I doubt)

Post on these forums

http://www.ak47.net/forums/forum.html?b=4&f=55

http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37

[SJgunguy24]

Yeah dont do it to the mag well yet because you may screw it up permanently instead of on a $20 magazine.

I wasn't suggesting filing right from the get go, but if you try 10 different mags and have issues with 7 of them, it might not be the mags.

[Flogger23m]

I got the mag out again. What I did was pushed the mag towards the trigger guard while not pressing the mag release button... then this made the mag become looser and I could press the mag release forward again. Then I pressed the mag release forward and pulled the mag out.


Here are some pics of the mag and mag well.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8085/magpics.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magpics.jpg)

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9133/magpics2.th.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magpics2.jpg)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1849/magpics3.th.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magpics3.jpg)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6198/magpics4.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magpics4.jpg)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4548/magpics5.th.jpg (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=magpics5.jpg)

[ar15barrels]

Best solution is to take a plasma cutter and cut through both sides of the receiver just behind the mag.
Then bend the reciever open.
This will get the mag out.

Sell the parts kit to someone that wants to build an AK and go buy an AR.
AR's don't have nearly as many magazine fit problems.

[aermotor]

AR FTW :thumbsup: Goodluck with the mags.

[JeffM]

AR's don't have nearly as many magazine fit problems.

:rofl2:

*I*gasp*CANT*gasp*BREATH*

:rofl2:




Really Randal, you should warn a guy when you go and say something that funny.


You have a common problem. Either your mag is out of speck front-to-back, or whoever built your AK didn't fit the trunnion properly to the receiver.

Get some more mags and see what they do. If they do the same thing, well, at least you know the solution. Just practice your mag changes - grip the mag and pull to the rear while you depress the lever, then rock it forward. Do it enough times and you'll get fast at it and not even notice it after a while.

[domokun]

If all else fails, you can just remove the mag release rivet pin then remove the mag and then install a RaddLock.

I guess you haven't tried to clear a stuck AK magazine with the RaddLock installed? I've had to do it with my friend's AK using an improvised mag release tool and it's a PITA to do and doesn't allow you to rip the magazine out of the magazine well without using 2 hands to steady the tool used to release the magazine. It's a great design and works well when you have well behaved magazines but I personally prefer to go featureless. :)

[ar15barrels]

Really Randal, you should warn a guy when you go and say something that funny.


You have a common problem. Either your mag is out of speck front-to-back, or whoever built you're AK didn't fit the trunnion properly to the receiver.

Get some more mags and see what they do. If they do the same thing, well, at least you know the solution. Just practice your mag changes - grip the mag and pull to the rear while you depress the lever, then rock it forward. Do it enough times and you'll get fast at it and not even notice it after a while.

Listen to JeffM.
He knows what he speaks.
I listen to him so much that I even quoted him in my signature. ;)

[Flogger23m]

I have another issue with my AK, it might or might not be related to the mag issue. My selector will not go all the way to S, and the trigger is stuck back.

This is how it looked like before:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3798/myak.jpg

This is it now:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8811/akhires.jpg


Does this spring look normal?

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7043/springz.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=springz.jpg)


As you can see in the pic, the left side is on top of that thing while the right is under it.

[HotRails]

I have another issue with my AK, it might or might not be related to the mag issue. My selector will not go all the way to S, and the trigger is stuck back.

This is how it looked like before:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/3798/myak.jpg

This is it now:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8811/akhires.jpg


Does this spring look normal?

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7043/springz.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=springz.jpg)

As you can see in the pic, the left side is on top of that thing while the right is under it.


Take it apart again, push the double claw back and rotate the selector lever back up again, so the tab is above the back of the double claw. put the right side end of the hammer spring back on, just like the left. The condition you have there will cause hammer follow since most likely the spring will not have enough tension to return the double claw back in position. You also dont have a safety since the tab on the selector lever wont be stopping the double claw from releasing the hammer. Is this a WASR10? They have had quality issues with their mag wells Ive heard.

[HotRails]

Listen to JeffM.
He knows what he speaks.
I listen to him so much that I even quoted him in my signature. ;)

No conflict of interests here. ;)

[Flogger23m]

When you mention "double claw", do you mean the things that I am pointing at in red?

And is the "tab" the part I put a green line on?

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/603/springedited.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=springedited.jpg)


The guy I bought it from said it is not a WASR, but was bought from Lanworld and "had it built out". He said he does not recall who built it...

[MrNiceGuy]

It should look like this.....

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj183/wreckingdog/MK47/IMG_3269.jpg

[Flogger23m]

Thanks for the pic.

Any suggestions on what tools I would need to fix it?

[Flogger23m]

I fixed the spring, and now the trigger and safety works. Now my only problem is that the hammer gets in the way when I am trying to put the bolt/charging handle back in... what do I have to do now?

[HotRails]

It should look like this.....

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj183/wreckingdog/MK47/IMG_3269.jpg

Please note that here the Selector lever is in the "fire" position, when it is on safe the tab on the selector lever should be above the double claw.

As for your hammer problem... Use your thumb and press it back down toward the rear to get the hammer down then put the bolt carrier in there.

[Flogger23m]

As for your hammer problem... Use your thumb and press it back down toward the rear to get the hammer down then put the bolt carrier in there.


Is it supposed to click and stay down, or do I have to press down on it with some kind of tool? Its impossible to keep holding it down while putting the thing back in. Before it use to slide right in...


Tell me if anything looks out of the ordinary:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6562/newcai.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newcai.jpg)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5537/new2h.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new2h.jpg)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6039/new3d.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new3d.jpg)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/896/new4i.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new4i.jpg)


Tell me what I have to do before I can properly reassemble all the parts.


Edit: A little bit of pounding put it back in.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Now I'll have to look into the mag well issue some more.

[HotRails]

Is it supposed to click and stay down, or do I have to press down on it with some kind of tool? Its impossible to keep holding it down while putting the thing back in. Before it use to slide right in...


Tell me if anything looks out of the ordinary:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6562/newcai.th.jpg (http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newcai.jpg)

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5537/new2h.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new2h.jpg)

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6039/new3d.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new3d.jpg)

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/896/new4i.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=new4i.jpg)


Tell me what I have to do before I can properly reassemble all the parts.


Edit: A little bit of pounding put it back in.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Now I'll have to look into the mag well issue some more.

Make sure that you are aware of the proper way to insert and remove the magazine before doing any modifications to the well. i suspect you are new to the AK platform. Depress the mag release with your thumb and rock teh magazine forward. To insert make sure you insert the front of the mag into the well and rock backwards.

[Flogger23m]

Make sure that you are aware of the proper way to insert and remove the magazine before doing any modifications to the well. i suspect you are new to the AK platform. Depress the mag release with your thumb and rock teh magazine forward. To insert make sure you insert the front of the mag into the well and rock backwards.

Yeah, this is how I was doing it. I am going to try the putting that mag in and out not that I fixed the trigger. I have a feeling the messed up spring could've been interfering with the mag release.