Too bad Templar isn’t around any more, this question is totally in his lane. Anyway what are the current options for 5.56 AK mags. So far I’m only pulling up the Bulgy M-74N waffle mags which run about $40 and good ol’ Circle 10s at about $45. There appear to be clear and black versions of each. Is there a quantifiable difference between the two makes? What about the color of the plastic (clear or smoke)? If one were to stock up what would be the best bet? Are there steel 5.56 mags out there somewhere that I don’t know about?
I’m not entirely sure about what mags are currently available but it might be a good idea to wait until FB Radom’s USA division is set up and released the Beryl Archer. That might be a good way to go about it. Hope this helps.
Speaking in general terms, you dont want any clear/smoke AK mags. The polymer is more brittle and they lack metal reinforcement.
The main issue with 5.56 AK mags is that 5.56 AKs/variants were built by many nations (China, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland, Russia, Romania and more) all to different standards. Unlike 7.62x39 AKs, magazines are not standardized across the board. While I’m confident I could make about any 5.56 mag from nation X work in a rifle from nation Y, given enough time and work, that’s probably not the answer you’re looking for.
So I suppose the real question is, what 5.56 AK do you have (or planning to purchase)? That is really what I need to know before firing off a list of magazine options.
Go circle 10.
Every once in a while some polish beryl mags in 5.56 will pop up in an EE for $25 to $35 ea.
All good choices.
+1, Dave_M summed it up. The rifle dictates the magazine options. So what are you thinking about doing?
Thank you for the responses. The rifle is an Arsenal SLR-106CR
I asummed, but now that I know, my previous statement still stands.
Be warned, the SLR-106 series rifles are very hit and miss. I had a 106UR and a 106CR, both of which were unreliable. Arsenal couldn’t fix either and eventually refunded most of my money. Arsenal’s customer service is F- horrible. Personally, I’d go for a Polish Beryl or Serbian M85 (pistol converted to a rifle with a buttstock and barrel extension, can be made in to a SBR). I have both and they are reliable. The Serbian M85/M95 magazines are cheap too. You can even get the M85 that will take AR15 magazines.
That’s why I say to always test fire a slr106 before buying.
I had one for a little bit, from a trade, and it was just as reliable as any other AK.
I agree. And I’ll add to ask the seller if he’s every had any sort of reliability issue. If he indicates any sort of problem, then I’d pass.
RTG Parts gets in the Polish Beryl mags.
Thanks gents. I’ll check around for the Beryl mags and see about getting some Circle 10s and see which works better. I should have a chance to shoot this rifle next weekend so hopefully it’s not a lemon. I’ll do some searching but, for sake of discussion, are there one or two known problems with the 106’s that I should look out for or is it one of those “could be anything” guns. I was hoping to eventually SBR this one but after reading what you’ve said I’ll have to fully vet it first.
Most times it’s feeding issues. I’d try a variety. If it feeds fmj 5.56, .223, hp, and soft point in either steel or brass you’re ok. Mine fed everything. Only reason mines gone is I wanted to streamline my collection and buy more ammo and mags.
Hello and Happy New Year!
Bumping this old old thread to see what’s changed with the 5.56 AK mag market.
Circle 10s are still out there but seem to be selling for about $50 each. One might make for an interesting display piece but that’s too much if you’re trying to set up a solid range kit. You’ll quickly dump $300-$400 just to have a chest rig and one in the gun.
We now have mags made in Russia by Pufgun. These are something near $20. They have sort of a modern design that gives them a unique and different appearance. The 7.62x39 PG mags are generally liked. Hopefully the 5.56 variant is as good.
Another new entry is the AC Unity. These are available in a clear plastic as well as black with a small slit window. Selling for about $15 these might be the way to go. They are built with metal locking tabs and apparently fit in a pretty good variety of rifles to include the Romanian guns.
Zastava is now selling a plastic mag for their 5.56 rifle that is probably pretty solid. Not much out there with regard to fit and function in other guns. Maybe that’s because they simply don’t work in anything other than the Zastava. Kind of pricey.
There are two mags coming out of Poland. One is for the Beryl. It is GI and appears to be a smoke version of the original black plastic. Those who don’t want the smoke can probably just spray paint these to get an AK101-102 look. The other Polish mag looks pretty similar but is apparently a commercial production. It has some slight reinforcement ribs along the body. Both run a bit in the high 20s low 30s.
Pro Mag makes some too. Yeah.
Anything I’m missing? Of the above, which is the way to go for legacy 5.56 rifles like the SAR/WASR and SLR106? AC Unity would seem the best choice unless a specific aesthetic is sought. Especially if they will fit and feed in different variants.
I bought one of the Pro Mags when I placed an order for other magazines just to see if/what it would work in. I have a good variety of 5.56x45 AK’s. I can’t find a single one that it will lock in. Suggestions?
You could try these AC Unity magazines from Robert RTG in 5.56 and they are in stock. I have three of the 5.45x39 AC Unity magazines and they have worked well so far with no failures. Please post a review if you get them. I also have a SLR106 and have only used black 30 round Arsenal magazines in it so far.
https://www.robertrtg.com/store/pc/AK-30RD-5-56x45MM-WINDOW-MAGAZINE-AC-UNITY-392p7087.htm
I don’t understand why Arsenal wants to price their stuff so high. There are a ton of SAM-5s for sale right now, but $50 a mag? For $1850 rifle, it makes me look hard at a Galil, CZ Bren or even a SCAR-16.
It kills me because I remember Arsenal 5.56 mags being $25-30 a piece, and pre-ban “waffle” Circle 10 magazines going for $30-35 a piece. It kills me.
and yes, I meant SCAR 16s. $50 mag x 20 magazines = $1000. Add rifle(SAM 5) and you’re near SCAR 16 territory to a guy who owns a plethora of AR magazines that can feed a SCAR and my ARs.
These seem to be a no-brainer for the $$.
As long as they work and last awhile.
Hoping to see PSA come out with an AK101/102 pattern. They are reportedly going to show a new 5.56 AK at SHOT.
Same with Magpul. It would be nice to see a Gen 3 with the metal tabs. Especially with some windows like an AK19 banana clip.
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AC Unity mags are good to go.