XD Talk

ksbsnowowl · 02-08-2011, 09:37 PM

Just got an AK-47, and got myself a nice set of new manufacture Bulgarian mags for it. They just arrived today, and as expected they are coated in grease (cosmoline?)

Anyway, I know that people generally strip down such magazines and clean them, but being a new AK owner, I'm at a loss as to what needs to be done in this regard.

A quick search of youtube didn't turn up any instructional videos.

Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: Well, I searched around on Soviet-Steel.com, and found a thread about it. Took their suggestion to boil a large pot of water, disassemble the mags, and drop the parts in for a few minutes. (I actually didn't put the follower or the spring in - those I just wiped down with a paper towel.) Then I washed each boiled part as if it were a dirty dish in my sink (hot water, mild dish soap), and them stuck them in the oven at 170 F for about 5 minutes to dry them. It worked well.

**cooks128** · 02-09-2011, 12:30 AM

Thanks for the soviet-steel plug

Boiling water method works wonders...you can always follow it up with a degreasing solution. If you know mechanic or have access to a engine parts cleaner, it also works great.

ksbsnowowl · 02-09-2011, 06:35 AM

Well, after getting those 3 mags cleaned and reassembled, two of them won't fit into my AK's magwell.

How should I go about fixing that?

**cooks128** · 02-09-2011, 09:28 AM

I've had a few like this over the years....hitting with a rubber mallet around always did the trick for me.

What kind of AK do you have...is the magwell to spec?

ksbsnowowl · 02-09-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooks128

I've had a few like this over the years....hitting with a rubber mallet around always did the trick for me.

What kind of AK do you have...is the magwell to spec?

I have an Arsenal SGL-21(?) (Saiga) 7.62x39

So, rather than grinding the top end of the sides down, you just smash them with a rubber mallet? Okay, I guess I can see that. I can visually tell that the one that fits does have more material ground off of it.

AKC · 02-09-2011, 12:39 PM

This is what I love about AK's. If something is working right. Just take a hammer and beat on it till it does work.

**cooks128** · 02-09-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksbsnowowl

I have an Arsenal SGL-21(?) (Saiga) 7.62x39

So, rather than grinding the top end of the sides down, you just smash them with a rubber mallet? Okay, I guess I can see that. I can visually tell that the one that fits does have more material ground off of it.

yep...that's how Kalasnikov would instruct you to fix the problem. Every time I've had this problem...I've loaded up the mage with four or fix rounds...lay it on work bench and gave it a good wack with a rubber mallet. It's worked everytime.

You've gotta have pin punches and dental picks to work on ARs...a hammer or a rock to work on AKs....and gosh darn I love both rifles dearly.

ksbsnowowl · 02-09-2011, 07:36 PM

Well, after dinner I cleaned up a few more mags. These 3 fit very well; they go in smoothly, and there is almost no rattle when I shake the gun.

I tried the 3 mags from last night again, and the two I thought would not fit, actually will. But they are a VERY tight fit, and the mag has to be lined up exactly right. One of them doesn't want to come out smoothly either. But, they will work.