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Is it proper to hold on to the magazine?


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So I thought I heard it isn't good form to shoot your rifle while holding on to the magazine like a forward grip. But I have seen people who I figure know what they are doing do it. So what do you all think - is it appropriate to hold on to the magazine like a forward grip while firing? Why? Thanks!

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I'm thinking it would depend on how well the mag fits. If it's sloppy then you could possibly pull it into a position where it doesn't feed as reliably. It could also be somewhat more of a strain on the locking lugs. But hey, what do I know? People laugh at me when I depress the mag release on pistols to insert a fresh one.

 

I'll stick with a front grip myself. That's what they're made for.

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I'm thinking it would depend on how well the mag fits. If it's sloppy then you could possibly pull it into a position where it doesn't feed as reliably. It could also be somewhat more of a strain on the locking lugs. But hey, what do I know? People laugh at me when I depress the mag release on pistols to insert a fresh one.

 

I'll stick with a front grip myself. That's what they're made for.

 

^Bingo! The idea is that It will adversely affect magazine function. I've seen videos of Russians handling/firing like that though. It's a preference thing.

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I'm thinking it would depend on how well the mag fits. If it's sloppy then you could possibly pull it into a position where it doesn't feed as reliably. It could also be somewhat more of a strain on the locking lugs. But hey, what do I know? People laugh at me when I depress the mag release on pistols to insert a fresh one.

 

I'll stick with a front grip myself. That's what they're made for.

 

^Bingo! The idea is that It will adversely affect magazine function. I've seen videos of Russians handling/firing like that though. It's a preference thing.

 

True enough on it being a preference but as you and I agree, it could affect reliable feeding. I'll assure you there are mags I own that I can easily make malfunction with just a touch of extra pressure. Been there, done that.

 

That being the case I suppose it depends on the situation. If you're at the range and it happens, no biggie. On the other hand, if your life is at stake and you've trained yourself to reflexively steady your weapon this way it could turn out to be a very big biggie.

 

All things considered, I'm comfortable with my original stated preference of using a front grip. At least in the unlikely event of me snapping it off due to an adrenalin surge I may still live long enough to buy another one. A different one, of course.

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I have a "bad" left shoulder, which happens to be my support arm. The reach to the hand-guard can be excruciating. So, the closer in my grip is, the better. I don't (so much), grip the mag, as I do....use the mag as a reference for my fingers. The outer side of my index finger rests/supports the receiver just ahead of the magwell. It looks as though I am "gripping" the mag but I'm actually not putting any pressure on it. It's more or less a balance point.

 

I'm able to do this with my 12's, my x39's and my .308. I can with my .223's but I prefer not to because of the flat profile of the round and the ease in which the the feed angle can be manipulated. The least amount of negative pressure can cause misfeeds. It's never an issue since I compensate for it.

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Regardless of the type of rifle you should really never hold on to the magazine while firing the rifle. As mentioned above the results may vary but the magazine and the gun were not designed to be used that way.

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I have a "bad" left shoulder, which happens to be my support arm. The reach to the hand-guard can be excruciating. So, the closer in my grip is, the better. I don't (so much), grip the mag, as I do....use the mag as a reference for my fingers. The outer side of my index finger rests/supports the receiver just ahead of the magwell. It looks as though I am "gripping" the mag but I'm actually not putting any pressure on it. It's more or less a balance point.

 

I'm able to do this with my 12's, my x39's and my .308. I can with my .223's but I prefer not to because of the flat profile of the round and the ease in which the the feed angle can be manipulated. The least amount of negative pressure can cause misfeeds. It's never an issue since I compensate for it.

 

That's completely understandable. Do what you gotta do. I've got limited flexibility in my right wrist so the only comfortable way I've found to carry concealed is a cross draw holster under my left arm. I would prefer to be able to use an IWB as an option but it just doesn't work for me.

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Regardless of the type of rifle you should really never hold on to the magazine while firing the rifle. As mentioned above the results may vary but the magazine and the gun were not designed to be used that way.

 

The official Soviet AK manuals show the mag hold as one of two endorsed ways to hold the AK, so apparently they'd disagree.

 

In the case mentioned above concerning the Galil mags, this is the very reason I got rid of mine. A reliable mag will lock up tight; mags that wobble over much are a liability. Anybody wanting a good 223 mag right now ought to consider the SAR mags CTD is selling; they can be made to fit snugly.

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Holding an ak by the mag will not mess with its function unless you have a super run down magazine or a fucked up mag catch/selector stop.

 

If you file too much mag catch on your conversion, then holding it by the mag with some pressure towards the back will actually stop any feeding issues that would result form excessive up/down movement. It would also correct feeding issues from up/down movement that would result from a very run down magazine (if they ever get to that state).

 

Furthermore, on certain guns like the SVD, it is encouraged to hold the magazine from the bottom with a cupped hand for better accuracy. Something about not touching the barrel.

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Regardless of the type of rifle you should really never hold on to the magazine while firing the rifle. As mentioned above the results may vary but the magazine and the gun were not designed to be used that way.

 

post-4853-0-58496800-1345661838.jpg

Edited by Gary
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haha good one. Maybe i should of proof read before posting. however after discussions over the years with many foreign and domestic AK factories they do agree with me. well let me take that back, they told me that is not the proper way the rifle and magazine were meant to be used.

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It cant hurt holding the mag with an X-39, the case is well tapered to feed even if things are not aligned very well. The little .223 could be a problem, the amount of error that the feed can tolerate is a hell of a lot smaller. The hole the bullet is looking for in an X-39 is HUGE compared to the one a .223 is looking for. The heavily tapered X-39 case is not easy to mis feed, it does not jam unless the round is nearly sideways. The .223 has a straighter case that needs to be fed pretty close to center.

The difference is in the round.

The X-39 round is the heart of what makes an AK reliable.But it don't work good in AR's because it lets too much gas blow back.

The .223 is the heart of the AR system, and it needs a solid feeding mechanism,like an AR. This is why you can have problems with it in an AK.

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If grabbing a magazine causes a jam you have something fitting incorrectly.

They should be able to take 35lbs of lateral load (fore, aft, side to side), and 50lbs of vertical load (pushing or pulling). Any less and you could have problems using field support positions.

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It shouldn't cause any jams or issues that way. If it did I would most likely end up tossing that magazine in the garbage. A magazine grip hold (with various rifles) was all the rage about a decade and more ago. However, It is not the most efficient shooting position, and is not what most knowledgeable people seem to teach or use today. Holding the gun farther out, gives more control and lets one drive and stop the gun more quickly. Traditional AK hand guards can be limiting in terms of how far out one can hold. There are lots of ways to hold and shoot a gun. One, should understand why he or she is doing what she is doing though and evaluate its merits.

 

Chris Costa putting a modified saiga with a (IIRC) ulitmak handguard through its paces.

 

image051w.jpg

 

 

Travis Haley with a gun (a Fuller build I think) w/ shorter handguards

 

makeready_kalash_travishaley_screencap.jpg

 

Travis with his S12

 

travis%20haley%20saiga%20shotgun.png

 

 

Videos of Larry Vickers shooting the AK

 

 

 

Edited by Zambidis
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  • 2 months later...

I use the FAB MagWell grip on the AR15, you'll find that position for gripping the AR puts it perfecting in the center of gravity, you can really manipulate the weapon well with the magwell grip.

 

With the Drum on the Saiga - not possible to do this. I can do this grip with the factory mag and of course the banana style mags.

 

I agree - if you get FTF due to this grip, you got mag problems that will happen anyways - flop.

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