Tricks to Getting Steel AK Mags to Fit

[Scuba Steve33]

I recently bought some Korean steel 30 round AK mags and they are extremely tight, with one not even being able to fit at all. I started trimming some fat but that didn't really help. Are there specific areas of a steel mag that can cause poor fitment that I can skim down? Comparing to my other steel mags don't show any obvious differences and when inserting it's not apparent where they are creating friction.

[IW378]

Is this on a flat build ? Did you mic the mags you know work and compare to the korean mags. I wouldn't trim the mags down until you know if in fact it is the mag.

[zfields]

More info. Where is it hanging up?

[Jayruta]

Is this a home build? Or store bought? Who's the manufacture?

[Scuba Steve33]

Sorry guys. It's a stock WASR. I can't tell what it's catching on, nothing obvious. This is my first AK and I'm pretty new to the platform. There are no notable differences between the mags I have that work and these Korean ones.

[zfields]

At what point are they not fitting, are they not snapping in or what?

[Jayruta]

Is it a single stack wasr?

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Compare it against a known good mag, especially look at the tab. The difference may become immediately apparent. I had to trim the tabs on a number of Romanian steel mags to get them to fit my formerly single-stack WASR.

[Jayruta]

How does your rounds load in the stock mags straight up and down on top of each other. Or staggered left and right when you look down on a loaded mag? Stacked straight = single stack / staggered = double stack. Wasr were made single and double stack. We are trying to figure out what u have. Post pictures if possible.

[Scuba Steve33]

At what point are they not fitting, are they not snapping in or what?

They are not snapping. After playing with them more they all get caught up right before they lock into place, almost the entire mag goes in before being blocked but I still can't tell why. Like I said they look identical to my other steel mags that work.

Is it a single stack wasr?

Double stack.

Compare it against a known good mag, especially look at the tab. The difference may become immediately apparent. I had to trim the tabs on a number of Romanian steel mags to get them to fit my formerly single-stack WASR.

I have an original double stack and they look exactly the same as my other steel mags, minus the finish.

[1lowluv]

I had some get hung up on the center support since the top edge was so sharp. Hit it with a file and the snapped in. Then I noticed they had a lot of wobble so I spent an hour or so fitting 2 mags then they ended up in the trash.

[Revolver Ocelot]

Most Korean stuff is crap. That goes for the AK and Garand world.

[Renegade90]

Just had to fit a bulgarian mag to fit my AK, took a fine stone and put a slight angle on the bottom of the tab where the catch contacts, I also had to file a slight bit on the vertical rib just above the tab a slight bit because it contacted the magazine well, fits like a charm now.

[klewan]

Get some dial calipers and start measuring the good mag and your problem. I've seen mags hitting the rails and not locking in. So check the distance between the locking lug and the top of the mag. Write down the dimensions, you'll never keep them straight in your head.

[SJgunguy24]

Kick the mags around your yard a couple of times and then try it.