I was wondering if anyone had ever experienced malfunctions resting an AK magazine on the ground while shooting in prone. I know it’s generally accepted that it doesn’t cause a problem in ARs. With an AK, I would imagine a magazine that’s a little loose in the mag well could change the angle of feeding and cause problems.
I haven’t had any problems with mine; this is just out of curiosity.
I haven’t had any issues. The magazines shouldn’t be able to move enough to cause an issue. The rear tab touches the magazine stop at the back, and the front of the magazine touches the lugs on the trunnion.
If your magazines wobble a ton front-to-back it may be more likely, but it shouldn’t be an issue for most rifles, I would imagine.
It is very hard to get AK pattern mags to move enough to cause a problem, as in “cause irreparable damage” to the magazine or receiver, provided that the magazine was functional to start with.
rock and lock style mags seem to be a lot harder to get ‘monopod malfunctions’ than with straight insertion style mags.
I’ve had jams with AR’s, MP5 types, FS2000, etc when accidentally exerting a directional force on the mag.
Finnish army trains everyone to use mag as a monopod. It will not cause any problems.
For maximum accuracy you should always take out the play between the receiver and the magazine in the same way. I like to have my rifle slightly on canted to the left, and then turn it up making the magazine rest on the right side of the magwell.
IIRC I had some issues with one Century WASR. not major but just a wee bit out of wack. I think it was a side to side wobble not and in-out thing. added spacers where the mag well dimples should have been and problems kinda went away.
been a while on this tho so I’m kinda fuzzy on the details of what the exact problem was. it was a gun issue tho not a mag issue. other guns had no probs.
If the AK was made correctly* it’s not going to be a problem.
H
*I’m looking at you, CAI.
It never stopped me from shooting like that.
Never seen it or experienced it
The only time I’ve seen it be an issue is when utilizing inferior magazines which neither have metal (or properly metal-lined) locking lugs.
Are all of you able to get a good, solid position with a fixed AK stock? I have never felt like my position with monopod prone on the AK was nearly as solid as that with an AR. I assume it is because the top of the stock sits lower than the AR15 does in my shoulder with a 30 round magazine on the ground (but I have a beat-up old wood stock I have been waiting to chop down to give it a buttpad angle similar to my IMOD, once I get someone to lend me a saw, to see if that helps anything)
I don’t exactly have a fixed stock AK - I have an AK-103 and an AKS-74. I imagine they’re close enough, though, since they’re basically fixed stocks that fold (I assume you meant “not a collapsable” or “not an underfolder” stock) 
With the 103, both a 30 and 20 rd magazine give good positions.
With the AKS-74, the 30 rd gives a good position through iron sights and with a 1P78 Kashtan.
I don’t think I could change anything and get a more stable position. It’s pretty solid.
I have never had an issue with AK or Ar mags when used as a mono pod and that is how I shoot prone. I would have to say its a myth for these rifles at least.
Pat