Are AK Mags Curved For A Reason? - Glock Talk

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Did MK design them this way for a reason or just to be different? Would a "straight" AK mag work just as well? I mean, even my 5-round Chinese hunting mags are curved!:dunno: What gives? TGG #1 · Jul 9, 2014 Did MK design them this way for a reason or just to be different? Would a "straight" AK mag work just as well? I mean, even my 5-round Chinese hunting mags are curved!:dunno: What gives? TGG Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Jul 9, 2014 The contour of the 7.62x39 cartridge is the reason the AK magazines are curved. As you stagger them they naturally curve #3 · Jul 9, 2014 The x39 case is tapered. Stack them together and you'll see they form a curve. #4 · Jul 9, 2014 Take a half dozen or so cartridges on the table and lay them side by side and close together and you'll see why. #5 · Jul 9, 2014

SmithietheFox said: The contour of the 7.62x39 cartridge is the reason the AK magazines are curved. As you stagger them they naturally curve Click to expand...

:agree: #6 · Jul 9, 2014

SmithietheFox said: The contour of the 7.62x39 cartridge is the reason the AK magazines are curved. As you stagger them they naturally curve Click to expand...

don't all modern rifle cartridges do that though (Ie, .223, .308, etc.)? I know there are straight mags for the AR & FAL as well as curved mags for the AR & Mini-14. and what about the Saiga 12 gauge?

thanks for the info and replies

TGG #7 · Jul 9, 2014 Imagine how long a straight mag would be and how much being prone would suck. Sent from my SCH-R830 using Ohub Campfire mobile app #8 · Jul 9, 2014 On a 12 Ga I'd imagine it comes down to the rim of the shell as they're stacked on top of one another that would cause the slight curve. M-14, AR-10, FAL, G3, BAR mags are straighter because of the no-so-severe taper of the cartridges themselves. Try laying out a handful of 7.62 NATO and 30-06 alongside 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R and you'll see it comes down to cartridge contour. #9 · Jul 9, 2014 Just to make them harder to manufacture, duh. #10 · Jul 23, 2014 (Edited) The 7.62 NATO is a shortened .30-06, which was designed for the Mauser-ripoff 1903 Springfield. The US Gov paid Mauser royalties on the '03 right up to the point we declared War on Germany in WW1 The 5.56 was based on 1950's-era varmint cartridges The point is, neither was designed with use in automatic weapons in mind. They were just adapted to that usage. But they are probably not optimal designs for that usage.. The 7.62x39 WAS so designed! That is why the significant taper: to facilitate extraction from the hot chamber of an auto-weapon The magazine must be tapered to match the taper of the cartridge. :cool:

#11 · Jul 23, 2014

The_Gun_Guru said: and what about the Saiga 12 gauge? Click to expand...

USAS-12 and magazines, only a tiny bit of a curve. It IS like putting a foot long 2X4 (assuming 2ea. per mag pouch) on your chest though. #12 · Jul 23, 2014 (Edited) The reason why AR15's chambered in 7.62x39 are usually not very reliable with 30 round mags is because the magwell is too straight. The curvature of the mag comes too late. The curved mag is definitely needed. The taper on the 7.62x39 is rather extreme. #13 · Jul 23, 2014 I learned something today......... Thanks! #14 · Jul 24, 2014 Looking at the credentials in your sig and your username being The Gun Guru I found it amazing that you would ask such a question. The answer seems obvious, maybe I'm missing something. Insert Quotes Post Reply

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