AK 47 magazine/loading help

[tanda10506]

I have an AK 47 (Romanian CAI WASR 10) that I got about a year ago. I'm planning on putting a bullet button on it but right now it has a detatchable magazine, just without a pistol grip. Anyway, I tried a poly 10 round magazine the 1st time I went out to shoot it and it jammed about every other shot. The 2nd time (last time) I tried a steel 10 round magazine from Turner's and it wouldn't even chamber. I know a police officer who legally has two 30 round steel magazines, one Russian and one Chinese. I took my rifle to him to see if, while using those magazines, if the cartridge would chamber and if I could go through a whole magazine without a jam, not shooting it but just chambering and unchambering (not sure if those are the correct terms). The Russian magazine seemed to work perfectly but the Chinese one would jam up every 4 or 5 rounds. He said to slap the magazine the way you would a pack of cigarettes. I did and the Chinese one worked as good as the Russian one did after that. Here's my question, is this common? The AK is called the most reliable semi auto in the world, I don't see how it could be if you have to smack the magazine every time for it to work correctly. Any info would be great.

[SJgunguy24]

Most USA AK mags are garbage. In the past Century has had issues with QC. If your having feeding issues it could be the mag height wasn't set right, or your gun just needs to be shot more to let all the parts wear in. My guess is the mag is garbage. How tight does the mag lock in? Have you tried pulling the firing pin and hand cycling a few mags worth of ammo?

[supersteve9219]

First, not all guns are created equally, even the same type of guns.

Second, I have a wasr 10 also and I have had no problems with metal 10/30 mags, or plastic 30 round ProMags. I just put the hook of the mag in the gun and pull it back and I have never had any problems, and I never needed to hit my mag in.

[MissionMTMan]

Buy some good Yugoslavian made 10/30 AK mags from Gio (he is selling some stuff for me.) They are great magazines and I have never heard of anyone having problems. If you do have a problem, it is probably your rifle like the calgunners above stated.

[nick]

Isn't WASR-10 built for single-stack mags?

[SJgunguy24]

Isn't WASR-10 built for single-stack mags?

It's imported as a single stack, then Century mills the mag well to accecpt double stack mags and adds 922r parts.

[NapaCountyShooter]

Make sure that you're getting the front end of the mags solidly into the magwell before you hinge the back part of the mag inside. My Romy G's magwell is pretty tight and if you don't get the mag all the way in, it won't cycle. Good luck.

[Merc1138]

The AK is called the most reliable semi auto in the world, I don't see how it could be if you have to smack the magazine every time for it to work correctly.

You're confusing actual AK-47's with converted rifles.

[tanda10506]

Most USA AK mags are garbage. In the past Century has had issues with QC. If your having feeding issues it could be the mag height wasn't set right, or your gun just needs to be shot more to let all the parts wear in. My guess is the mag is garbage. How tight does the mag lock in? Have you tried pulling the firing pin and hand cycling a few mags worth of ammo?

Yes I've tried that, that's what I meant when I said that with the 30 round magazines I "chambered/unchambered" the rounds. I didn't actually get to shoot the 30 rounders.


And I've never had to hit my magazine it, I was told to hit it like a pack of cigarettes before installing it.

[tanda10506]

Buy some good Yugoslavian made 10/30 AK mags from Gio (he is selling some stuff for me.) They are great magazines and I have never heard of anyone having problems. If you do have a problem, it is probably your rifle like the calgunners above stated.

Who is Gio? Is that a member or a website?

[NapaCountyShooter]

Who is Gio? Is that a member or a website?

Gio is a member of this forum. Go to the private parts for sale forum and he has an ad open. He's a great guy to deal with.

Here it is.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=279283

[Brendan Sullivan]

You're confusing actual AK-47's with converted rifles.

Most of us will never encounter an AK-47 in our lives, so we're likely talking about an AKM variant here anyway. A good chunk of converted rifles come from reputable countries of origin in terms of build quality, moreso with the prevalence of Saigas.

AK reliability is due to loose tolerances, to the degree that you can eyeball most of the measurements in building one and still get a functional weapon. OP should give a detail strip and thorough cleaning and check how the carrier cycles without a mag, as well as with a mag but no rounds, and see if there is a definite spot is it hanging up. Hand cycling will also rule out gas system as a culprit.

[Merc1138]

Most of us will never encounter an AK-47 in our lives, so we're likely talking about an AKM variant here anyway. A good chunk of converted rifles come from reputable countries of origin in terms of build quality, moreso with the prevalence of Saigas.

AK reliability is due to loose tolerances, to the degree that you can eyeball most of the measurements in building one and still get a functional weapon. OP should give a detail strip and thorough cleaning and check how the carrier cycles without a mag, as well as with a mag but no rounds, and see if there is a definite spot is it hanging up. Hand cycling will also rule out gas system as a culprit.

Except you're still wrong, as we were discussing a converted rifle the problem may very well be with the conversion process. Yes, people call the AK the most reliable semi auto rifle on the planet, no one calls the modified saiga/wasr/etc the most reliable semi auto rifles on the planet. That was my point.

[SJgunguy24]

Yes I've tried that, that's what I meant when I said that with the 30 round magazines I "chambered/unchambered" the rounds. I didn't actually get to shoot the 30 rounders.


And I've never had to hit my magazine it, I was told to hit it like a pack of cigarettes before installing it.

What's your location? If your anywhere near San Jose I might be able to help you out. You could alway send it back to Century and have them fix their f up. You won't be the first.

[tanda10506]

I'm in Phelan by Victorville, a long way away. Thanks though. Maybe I will send it back, I just don't see why the Russian magazine worked flawlessly but the others don't work it all or don't work unless I slap the mag like cigarettes before I put it in the mag well.