I’ve been on a roll with the AK posts recently. Over the last few months, I’ve written about my favorite AK triggers, AK trigger retention plates, and how to change an AK trigger. Now, we’re going to change it up a little bit. You thought I was gonna talk about a different gun? Yeah right — just a different part of the AK platform. In this post, we’ll talk about some of my favorite AK-47 magazines.
The Best AK-47 Magazines of 2024 According to Jack Collins
I broke down my entries for the best AK mags into a few different categories. Let us know if you think another type of mag deserves a spot!
Overall Best AK Mags: Arsenal
If you’re looking for bombproof AK-47 mags that just work, Arsenal by far makes the best current-production magazines. Also known as “waffles,” these light magazines are made from polymer, similar to an AR mag.
Their light weight means that they’re easy to carry. They’re also extremely durable and can stand up to at least as much punishment as a steel mag. I’ve also yet to have one fail to fire in any of my Romanian-made AKs. Regardless of which AK variant you have, if it’s chambered in 7.62×39, you need to have several waffle mags on hand. They even make extended versions!
Best AK-74 Magazine: Magpul PMAG
I’m probably going to get a lot of hate for this, but hear me out here.
I’ve only ever actually used a PMAG for my AIMS-74 (heresy, I know). So, I don’t have any experience with other AK-74 magazines.
With that being said, the gun has gone boom every time I’ve pulled the trigger with a PMAG attached. That’s better results than I’ve gotten from some imported AK mags, namely South Korean ones. While it doesn’t really fit the “AK-74 vibe,” PMAGs will definitely work and are better than nothing.
Best Bakelite AK Mags: Molot 40 Round
This category basically comes down to personal preference. If you’re unfamiliar with Bakelite, it’s basically a carcinogenic plastic-ish material that was used for a lot of different things back in the day. For a while, the Soviets used it to make AK magazines.
As you can see, Bakelite mags have a unique appearance that collectors really enjoy. They’re also not making any more of them, so Bakelite AK mags are pretty expensive.
Most Bakelite AK mags are functionally the same. The only difference is a small stamp on the magazine that designates where it was built. Tula and Izhmash (two of the main Russian AK factories) are some of the most sought-after 30-round Bakelite magazines. Molot, another factory, makes 40-round Bakelite mags. Since I’m a firm believer that more bullets = better, I’m a staunch Molot man.
Learn More About AKs at SDI
AK mags — especially old ones — can sometimes require repair or maintenance. Those are both skills that an able gunsmith possesses. To learn more about the science of gunsmithing at SDI, click here.
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