Could this be why AK mags don't feed well in SKS-D's?

[Xman]

I never really made the connection until I started looking at the difference between the AK-47 and the AK-74.

Cosmetically, the two rifles look identical, as do their respective mags. Could it be that when we order AK mags to use in our SKS-D's, we get the AK-74 mag instead of the AK-47 mag?

When the new AK mags that I bought didn't feed properly, I went looking and I found that the reason was that the lips of the mag wheren't letting go of the casing rim.

My solution: I took a file to the lips and opened the mouth of the mag a bit more; all my mags have been feeding flawlessly after that.

If those were mags designed for the AK-74, with the smaller caliber round, the lips of the mags would not have to be as far apart as they would need to be if they mags designed for 7.62X39, and thus there would be a feeding/release problem when using 7.62 rounds in a 5.45 mag.

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between mags for AK-47 and mags for AK-74?

What do you think of my theory?

 

[Griffoneur]

I think that it is simply a question of "quality tolerence levels". These mags are spit out in huge numbers.

I recently bought 2 new mags. The feed lips are so sharp you could cut your finger on them. I took a Dremel tool with a sanding disc and ground them down.

Also ground the sharp edge on the lip that pushes against the mag release lever. Mag attaches much smoother now.

Its a question of rounding off the sharp edges. I will try my ground mags his weekend. I was having feed problems. I think it has been corrected as the rounds sit a little higher in the mags.

Thanks to those who provided me with the info to solve this problem.

 

[pirate]

I've had AK mags, that worked well, that needed some filing to work in other D models.

Compared to the 47 the ak 74 mags are less curved, and I've only seen them in bakelite (i'm sure steel is out there)

 

[SDC]

The two mags are curved differently; the 5.45mm mags are slightly straighter than the 7.62mm mags.

AK-47:

AK-74: