Inserting mag in AK, edit: found bad Chinese mag

[Subotai]

(I reformulated my question from my gunsmith post) When I insert a mag into my converted Saiga, if I don't pay attemtion to what I'm doing, it can go in at a slight sideways angle and then it won't click into place. Then if I move it the opposite way, say 5 degrees, it snaps right in. Seems like there is some sideways play in there (yes it's dimpled). Is this normal?

[NorCalK9.com]

Yes, its normak. Get use to loading mags into your rifle, if you take yoyr pg off you can pull the bb off as long as you dont have a forward grip or fh. Practice dropping and reinserting the mags.. If the mag is too the side it wont go in same as with any rifle.

[Subotai]

I'm using a Solar Tactical setup without a BB. For the life of me, I don't remember my MAK-90 being this way. Seems I remember that you could just slap a mag in, and it always went in straight.

[Subotai]

Found it! I have a stack of Chinese mags. The top one is the one I'd always grab. Low and behold, that mag is bad! The damn thing is thinner than the other mags. No wonder it didn't want to just slide in. Phew. Thought there was something wrong with the Saiga or me! Well, there still might be something wrong with me, but that's not the point. Haha. So watch those mags people!

[Rekrab]

Glad to hear you figured out the issue. I remember your posting in the Gunsmithing section.