LuPiN8oR 333 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Im currently on the fence as to whether i should pick up more 308 OEM mags or opt for csspecs mags. I have to admit steel mags are tempting but weight in this case is a huge factor. Mine is set up as a 'saiganov' and its a hefty fucker to tote around in the mountain woods as is. In all actuality id like to chop the barrel to 18in just to shave more weight off of it. Id either get oem 8 rounders or a csspecs 5 & a couple 10 rounders. Is there any huge difference in weight between the two? Functionality? Longevity with springs? Id just like to hear all your thoughts on the matter. Thanks again! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 I'd yourok with the lower capacity of the oem mags id stick with them. Also where are you getting the oem mags cause id like some. And you can mod the factory mag to hold 10 easily and it hasent affected reliability with me. The steel mags are great and idsuggest you get at least one to try out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shandlanos 1,470 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 It's too early to compare spring longevity - but that's a replaceable part, secondary in importance to geometry and reliability. I've handled all the .308 mags on the market now, as far as I know - and Csspecs are super well-made. They're a little heavier than plastic - oh well. They'll last forever. All the geometry is right, lockup is tight in my buddy's rifle, and they work as reliably as any combloc steel mag in x39. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 I figured I'd post the weights of each mag weighed on the same scale one right after another. Your looking at a three ounce difference on the ten round. Factory 8rd 5.04 ounce Csspecs 5rd 8.08 ounce Csspecs 10rd 8.90 ounce Csspecs 15rd 10.80 ounce Csspecs 20rd 12.48 ounce For referance Surplus steel AK mags weigh 13-18 ounces depending on model, and have roughly equal interior volume. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LuPiN8oR 333 Posted May 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Ah, straight from the man himself! Thanks alot csspecs i appreciate the info! I know ounces equal pounds but i think regardless ill have to try your mags. I'd yourok with the lower capacity of the oem mags id stick with them. Also where are you getting the oem mags cause id like some. And you can mod the factory mag to hold 10 easily and it hasent affected reliability with me. The steel mags are great and idsuggest you get at least one to try out. Monty, i was looking at them on the CSS website. And you're probably right, the answer isnt either/or but both! Lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikebaker1129 19 Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 I picked up a couple of the Saiga .308 CSS specs mags when they were on sale, to try out. I have to say I am impressed and they ARE as good as everyone says they are. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 Good luck finding oem mags anyway. Only ones I've seen were 75 bucks on ebay. Actually I just found them at css for 40 bucks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 The only real good thing about low cap mags is there is less stress on critical points just from ammo weight and leverage. CS makes a good one as does SGM (considering it is low cap) so any would do. Hmm $75 huh, may sell that little thing and get another CS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TxAgSaiga1979 16 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I have several CSS mags, and I stand by them. They are excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paprotective 362 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Csspecs mags are GTG. I ran the 15 rounders when back in NJ.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
macbeau 902 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I am finding that the most current generation of Csspecs mags fit the mag well better than OEM mags and are miles ahead of FBMG / Unita / Surefire mags, in terms of fit, finish and durability. The Csspecs are the only mags I'll but from now on (while supplies last). I have some 1st generation Csspecs (Slab sided) 20-round, S-308's I'll sell ya if you want them... Macbeau sends... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I've had 2 out of 7 unitna mags break the locking lug off. The first mag they replaced the second time it happens they didn't return my emails. I have one csspec it's a15 round mag and works great. The sgm mags also work great. And hold the bolt open. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimdigriz 580 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 I am finding that the most current generation of Csspecs mags fit the mag well better than OEM mags and are miles ahead of FBMG / Unita / Surefire mags, in terms of fit, finish and durability. The Csspecs are the only mags I'll but from now on (while supplies last). I have some 1st generation Csspecs (Slab sided) 20-round, S-308's I'll sell ya if you want them... I had some of those early Csspecs mags too. He's certainly come a long way. My favorite recent improvement is the shape of the floorplates, which are MUCH less sharp than before. I picked up a new 20 rounder the other day, and the quality of it is no less than that of the 7.62x39 steel mags produced by various militaries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
macbeau 902 Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 The ovaerall execution is night and day between 1st and 2nd generation. The 2nd gens are almost like factory mags with NO wobble and well cut and welded! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LuPiN8oR 333 Posted December 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 Got my csspecs in, i picked up a 10 rounder and 2 15 rounders on the black friday sale and im very impressed w the quality of them. Its so funny to see them next to a 10 round ak mag, absolutely dwarfs it! Can't wait to test it and see how it handles. Now, back to trying to get those 5 round promags to let me pull the damn charging handle back when loaded... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esminbritt 16 Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I have 3 of the 20 round csspec mags. I like them a lot. In above freezing conditions, all 3 have functioned flawlessly. The one difference I noted was when I had them out last winter up in Northern Michigan. It was about 10˚ F with high wind. The OEM polymer 8 rounder functioned flawlessly. The metal mags all went nuts. FTF, FTE, double feeds. Double ejects. Crazy stuff. I dont fault CSSpecs. I have heard that this is true with most metal mags. The cases conract, the springs contract, they open up in spots and shrink in others. Best trick I heard was keeping you next mag under your armpit. I tried that and it worked. If I found a source for some 20 rd polymer mags with the same build quality as CSSpecs, I would pick up a few to have a s cold weather mags. Otherwise, the metal csspec mags are awesome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 That is odd. The amount steel changes in even subzero is minimal. I would almost suspect something else at work like frozen condensation on the inside. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SGL 530 Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Steel magazines have been enduring Russian winters for a long time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 13, 2014 Report Share Posted December 13, 2014 Cold (below 20*F) mags will go wonky if they are oiled! Extreme cold makes oil act like sticky molasses. Russians thin their winter gun oil with gasoline - we have better choices.Use 0W30 synthetic,marvel mystery oil or Gibbs oil. Silicone dry lube works too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esminbritt 16 Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 That is odd. The amount steel changes in even subzero is minimal. I would almost suspect something else at work like frozen condensation on the inside. My mags were not oiled since I bought them new. The condensation would have to be only in the mags because the rifle fired fine with the polymer mag. Condensation is somewhat possible since I took them from inside to outside and started firing within a few minutes. Any tricks to preventing condensation? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Condensation freezes. Ice sticks to bare metal. A THIN film of a very thin oil prevents ice from sticking to metal.Silicone or molly dry lube works too. COLD AMMO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ENERGY AS WARM AMMO. Friction that is no problem with warm guns and ammo may be a problem in extreme cold. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esminbritt 16 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) I really like CSSPaec mags. I would trust my life to them in above freezing temps. But there is a lot of conflicting info here on why my mags went haywire on me. First someone said it's because they could've been oiled. Then someone else mentioned condensation. Then someone else mentioned oil to prevent the condensation. I'm just looking for some good tips to get them to work right in the cold. Or I can just use them as 3 season mags. My S308 ain't the only Bell at the ball. Edited December 22, 2014 by EZTundra77 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted December 16, 2014 Report Share Posted December 16, 2014 Not complicated at all. Spray mags with dry silicone and wipe dry. Leave oil to us old farts that are familiar with what viscosity means. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VR762Shooter 838 Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I don't see any confusing info in here. You were told that if it was cold and they were oiled with an oil that would gum up at cold temperatures that could be your problem, or, your guns not being oiled could have caused condensation which froze and bound the bullets up from feeding. Your options are to either oil with proper oil or if that doesn't work clean them and store them in a dry area until use and pray you don't get more condensation. I'd go with a light oiling that isn't very viscous. Oils with low-viscosity are best for use in cold temps, higher the viscosity, the thicker and more gummy they will be when cold Quote Link to post Share on other sites
esminbritt 16 Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 They were not oiled. No oil. No oil in the mags at all. The gun was oiled properly The gun functioned flawlessly with the OEM 8 rd mag using the same ammo, kept at the same temperature. Dry lubricating the metal with dry silicone could make sense. And condensation on the ammo on the ammo makes sense, but that still wouldn't explain why the factory mag worked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wagnikov 186 Posted February 21, 2015 Report Share Posted February 21, 2015 I don't have a dog in this fight. But it would seem iced up cartridges would slide on the plastic and "Christmas story" to the metal mag. Steel mag would be below freezing first, cartridges would cool down second and sweat. That sweat would freeze to the metal mag sides and not so much the polymer. I seriously doubt it's a thermal expansion mag issue. It's .000006 of an in/per in/ per degree of temperature. I say ak mags(world renowned reliability) are steel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Condensation on a heat sink.... Like a piece of sheet metal that came out of a warm car or closet into cold air. Then capillary action to draw the water toward small gaps, like the interaction between follower and body. Also your ammo could have coatings on it with higher or lower friction. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wagnikov 186 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Condensation on a heat sink.... Like a piece of sheet metal that came out of a warm car or closet into cold air. Then capillary action to draw the water toward small gaps, like the interaction between follower and body. Also your ammo could have coatings on it with higher or lower friction. I'm really impressed the that saiga 12 forums are open and progressive enough, that we can feel free to speak about coming out of the closet! If squirrels can be gay, I suppose metal can be too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 You are reading a lot into that. Perhaps something has been on your mind lately? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wagnikov 186 Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Bahahaha! Well played GF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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