TX-Zen 287 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I had a chance to take a few pictures of the relatively new 50 round AK74 magazine that is starting to be seen in the Russian Army these days. Descended from the 60 round quad stack AK74 5.5x39 mag, this 50 rounder is the result of field trials that showed the 60 rounder had a tendency to not feed the last 10 rounds if stored fully loaded for long periods of time. My understanding is that the 60 rounder works quite well if loaded and unloaded relatively soon but the mags really can't stay loaded for too long. I can't comment directly on it but I do have pictures of the newer 50 rounder which appears to have solved the issues of the earlier version. Keep in mind these photos are for informational purposes for us to understand the design better, this is not a thread to discuss why they are so expensive in the US. It goes without saying that collectors will pay whatever they need to for extremely rare items like this. I do not own this mag but thought you guys might like to see more detailed photos. As you can see the 50 rounder is about the same height as the 30 rounder but is considerably fatter. I didn't get a chance to practice mag changes with it but I could use my normal mag hold with it just fine. Also didn't have time to weigh it loaded but it should be obviously just a little heavier than a 45 round RPK mag. You can also see the spring is helical and the follower is not attached to the spring like a regular mag. The follower has an unusual ability to open in the middle, I'm not sure exactly how it feeds but it's an interesting feature to look at. The polymer appears to be closer to the Saiga 12 magwell mags vs the true black AK74 mags I have compared it to. Pics Z 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
onehappycampster 25 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I'd love to have five of those! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I think I have a few pics of the 60 rounder in my gallery somewhere. Thanks for posting TxZen! As always it's great material. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sunnybean 939 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Very cool! Thanks Zen. One more thing I can now not live without. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 i wish i had a few. thanks for sharin the info. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tire iron 13 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Wow! Great thread! I find the spring to be most interesting.....as well as the very unique follower. Thanks for pictures! cheers tire iron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 It is hard to see the MD arms logo... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Very cool. Great pics as always. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
romad7 75 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 It is hard to see the MD arms logo... Ha, You funny guy! I had the same thoughts. Very cool mag though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigChongus 765 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 That spring is massive. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
joshman 4 Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 Is there anyone selling these right now? I have heard rumors that US Palm may start making them. Does anyone know? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 US Palm had some in 60 round flavor at the last SHOT show. Also Surefire (the flashlight company, not SGM) makes some for ARs in 60 and 90 round. So far good reports for those with brass, and a few reports of steel case ammo sticking. I think Cobra has one, so you could ask him about it. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 im just curious to see what made the 60 rounders so unreliable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I had to make an image for when TxZen posts 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skullface405420 45 Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 thats not a double stack mag is it? i have been wondering if there were drums for the 5.45's also, but havent seen any. seems like i seen a ar-15 mag that was built like this kind of. it was like double wide compared to a normal mag. anyways, Very nice mag! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TX-Zen 287 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) I had to make an image for when TxZen posts Lol I'm lucky to have made a few friends in the business that's for sure thats not a double stack mag is it? i have been wondering if there were drums for the 5.45's also, but havent seen any. seems like i seen a ar-15 mag that was built like this kind of. it was like double wide compared to a normal mag. anyways, Very nice mag! It's a double double stack, or a quad stack as it's commonly described. Edited August 29, 2012 by TX-Zen 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 Nice Tex thank you as always. Very nice. Would love to have one of those. I do have one of the Surefire 60's for 5.56 I've been using in my Saiga, but it's proven very unreliable with steel or laquer coated ammo so far. I can see how maybe a polymer body would work much better...or even a steel body. The aluminum body seems to be too rough to pass the non brass shells through the bottleneck. One more comment and I don't want to hijack your awesome thread anymore talking about a different mag... I just have spent time with this one and I'm intrigued by the design similarities / differences it has to the 5,45 mag you were so gracious to share with us. I see they also have a similar spring design.... being a round 'coil' spring instead of the typical zig zag springs found in most AK mags. I like this one much better. The one in the Surefire 5.56 mag is a weird telescopic design using more than one spring. I also like the fact they kept the Russian mag straight all the way to the top on the outside. Thank you for the good photos. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TX-Zen 287 Posted August 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 Cobra, No hijack at all, I think it would be great to see pics of the internals of the Surefire if you can post them, to me that is exactly what this thread is all about. I know I'm interested to see that spring for sure. Thanks for adding your observations, you've always been good about that Z 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted August 29, 2012 Report Share Posted August 29, 2012 id like to see that as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 Cool deal, ask and ye shall receive! I have a bunch I took a while back when I was diagnosing the FTF problems. I'll figure out what I did with em and post em on up. Edit to add... still haven't located the good pics I took. Will take some more rather than keep looking. Sorry guys it was a long holiday weekend for me. Shannon 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 how about you sell me that rifle cobra? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Hey sorry for the delay gents, it was a very busy week trying to catch up from taking a 4 day weekend for B Day/Labor Day festivities. Here are some pics of the Surefire 60 rd quad stack in my Saiga .223 -w- MSA (now TAKD) AR mag adapter.. First my old beater gun...since 2004.. I'll put the pics of the mag parts in a separate post to try and get them all in... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 The magazine looks similar to the Russian quad in design... in some ways, obviously different in others. A lot goes into making the innards work... I have drums with less parts...lol. Sorry this is gonna be pic heavy.... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 how about you sell me that rifle cobra? Haha not gonna happen my friend! I love this rifle. First time I sighted in an optic on the bags...starting from 25yds, she had a nice string of touching bullet holes going from the second ring to the 'X" 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted September 8, 2012 Report Share Posted September 8, 2012 Thats badass Cobra. I love mine as well. Thanks for posting the detailed images bro. Pretty interesting. They look similar in design, and overall construction. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
avnate 335 Posted September 9, 2012 Report Share Posted September 9, 2012 Cobra do you think a coating on the inside of the mag body would help? Something that has a lubricity much like that of poly mags. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 I'm going to find out because I have some killer stuff I bought to treat bolts & carriers, FCGs, and gas pistons. I've been waiting until I had a chance to pull the mag back out and tear it down again. I'm planning to do some testing this week sometime with the guy who I got it from originally. He has 4 I think, all of which have run flawless in his AR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lelandeod 179 Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 TX, you and I could be good friends. Good show as usual! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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