Categories
Apex Gun Parts Atlantic Firearms BHO bolt hold open Bulgarian Croatian Gun Mag Warehouse KCI polymer Tapco

Do You Need AK mags?

I bought my AK mags from the following places.  I mention this because I see folks with new AKs always asking where to buy mags.

Atlantic Firearms

Apex Gun Parts

Gun Mag Warehouse

Each of those sites have reasonably priced magazines.  They also offer a variety of types (polymer, steel, new, or surplus) from different countries.

Check those sites often, as much of their stock tends to be sold out due to the pandemic.

Keep in mind that cheap doesn’t always mean good.  KCI mags tend to have reliability issues and are flimsy in build quality.  Croatian mags tend to be hit or miss when it comes to latching in place (see here for my experience with the Croatian mags).  The reason I wanted Croatian mags was for their bolt-hold-open (BHO) capability.  Croatian mags are also not surplus…they are new.

Good mags that are usually cheap are Bulgarian surplus mags.  I have not reviewed the Bulgarian mags I have but they just work and do not feel flimsy.

I also have 6 x Tapco polymer mags.  Folks LOVE to hate on those.  I didn’t buy them.  They came with the first AK I bought (the AMD-63).  They work, which is something the Croatian mags wouldn’t initially do.  They will also fit in every AK I have, which is, again, something the Croatian mags wouldn’t do.  They’re perfectly fine for range use and have yet to fail on me.

UPDATE (1/10/21):  PSA has a sale on Croatian mags right now, marked down from $19.99 to $12.99.  Also, if you order 10+, shipping is free (per the product page).  As well, Mrgunsngear stated that they’ve changed the mag tab (probably narrowed it slightly) so that there’s less of an issue with latching.

Categories
AK-47 AK-63DS AMD-63 Arsenal magazines Magpul SAM7UF SAM7UF-85 Tapco

I’m Attempting to Expand My Knowledge of the Arsenal SAM 7-UF

So, I’ve been not only looking at SAM7UF reviews online, but doing things such as swapping mags between my AK-63DS and SAM7UF.

I’ve 6 Tapco mags that came with the AK-63DS.  The Arsenal came with one Magpul (Gen 1, I think).  The SAM7UF will not take the Tapcos.  The AK-63DS will take the Magpul without issue.

Most people talk crap about the Tapcos, mainly because of issues like this, but this really isn’t an issue with Tapcos.  It’s an issue with the Arsenal.  Why is the mag well that tight?  My ratty-assed AK-63DS will take both without issue, so it’s NOT the mags, and in the AK-63DS’s case, it isn’t the gun.

If I want to take the Arsenal to the range, I’ll only have that one mag, unless I go to Cabelas and pick up a few Magpul mags.  I solved the problem by ordering 3 metal Polish mags from Atlantic Firearms and 4 metal Croatian mags from Apex Gun Parts (both groups being 30-round mags).

I also added 550 cord to both arms of the spars of the collapsible stock.

Eventually, I’ll also find some bakelites, but they’re really scarce.  In fact, it was moderately difficult to find even European metal mags.

The plan is to continue to take my AK-63DS to the range and practice with it.  I’ll use my experience with that particular gun as an AK-47 baseline of knowledge.

I also have to order more ammo, but I’ve enough for a decent start.

Categories
AK47 AKM AMD-63 CII Clearview Investors Hungaria Tapco

Ordered My First AK47!

Last night, while at work, I ordered my first AK47.

I ordered a Hungarian AMD 63 rifle that was built from original surplus parts sets.  This particular firearm is based on the Hungarian AKM.  The Hungarian AMD 63 replaced their AMD 65 (their 65s were more expensive to build and had reliability issues with the foregrip).

Note:  This rifle is mislabeled by importers.  It is actually an AKM 63.  The folding stock version is still called the AMD 65, though.

It will come with a composite stock, 5 30-round Tapco mags, a 4-cell mag pouch, and a AMD leather sling.

I ordered through Clearview Investors.

I was on the fence between an AMD 65 or an AMD 63. AMD 65s appeared to be much more difficult to find and also don’t have all that many mod options. The difference between the two is that the AMD 65 has a foldable stock (a metal piece that can be crooked). So, I opted for the AMD 63 instead.

This is the item I ordered.

The below is what is listed in the description at the above link.  I’ll list it here in case it changes in the future.

AK 47 Variant 7.62×39 Rifle
Original Hungarian FEG “Heavy Wall” Stamped Receiver
New U.S. 16.5” Barrel, 4140 chrome moly
Barrel threaded 14mm-1, standard AK threading
Muzzle Brake threaded on
Tapco G2 Trigger Group
Accepts hi-capacity magazines and drums
U.S. made Butt Stock
Plastic Pistol Grips (stained black)
922r compliant

7.15 lbs.
37.5” Overall length
7.62×39 Caliber

Built to our specs. from original AMD 65 parts,  from double stack rifles. This means that the bolt, bolt carrier, etc.. were made to handle double stack mags. The heavy wall receiver is an FEG with a double stack mag well.The rifles are built by Clearview Investments. They are well built using a new U.S. made barrel, with the gas port, front and rear sight blocks aligned carefully, assembled and then the entire assembly is parkerized. Each rifle is tested with a variety of mags prior to shipping.

Note : These rifles are built from original surplus part sets. Metal components have been professionally parkerized to a like new finish however grips and forearms are original and may show some rub or finish wear. Trust me though, overall these are nice. 

I’m definitely excited about this firearm, because I’ve been looking for AK variants for awhile.  I specifically wanted something that wasn’t going to beat itself up as I shot it, and it had to be not-too-expensive while also chambered in 7.62×39.

I initially started looking at Century Arms’ C39v2 because I liked the idea of an AK that was made in the U.S, but when I saw MAC’s and AKOU’s reviews of the rifle, I backed off.

I then researched PSA’s PSAK47, which is actually not a bad option.  I’d have probably had one by now if they’d been better stocked.  They were always out of stock.

I then researched the WASR 10s and N-PAPs.  In fact, I was researching those guns last night and was on the ak47 Reddit subpage when I saw an archived post of someone mentioning Clearview Investors as a good source for a rifle they mentioned, the AMD 63.  When I saw that the firearm was Hungarian-sourced and was on sale for $529 (regular price was $621), I began to feverishly research.  The only issue this rifle will have is carrier tail mushroomingHere’s an example, with pics.  From my understanding, the Tapco trigger is the cause of that (the metal of that trigger is harder than the metal of the carrier tail).  That can easily be fixed by installing a different trigger group (to a trigger group that is known not to mushroom the carrier group).  So, I’m trying to find out if anyone has had any luck with other-than-Tapco triggers.

I’ll also be needing to get some 7.62×39 (in bulk, which will be cheaper than buying range ammo).

I’ll review the rifle when I receive it (should receive it sometime this coming week but I work swing shift so it may be difficult to get until my next weekend.  We’ll see.