The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: HAWKFISH on January 08, 2009, 02:33:36 PM
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Something has come to my attention in regards to some AK-47 magazines that I bought. It might even apply for some AR-15 magazine buyers too. Some magazine manufactuers are skimping on their "normal quality springs" and replacing them with "lesser-quality, smaller, and cheaper springs." Everyone that makes "high capacity" or "standard capacity (30rd.) AK/AR magazines are making them and sending them out the door super-fast because of the threat of BHO.
Well, I've heard rumors from other gun-people, saying that their magazines they just bought, weren't "up to spec." I have experienced this first hand with Tapco's new fusion AK-47 polymer mags. Let me say that I love the magazines [/glow] or at least the first ones that came out. I think they are on the same level as what P-Mags are for AR-15's. However, some of the ones they are sending out now have a different, cheap, and smaller..spring in them. They jam and don't feed properly all the time. The first ones that came out this last year..had brand new "regular size" springs in them and they are absolutely the best AK-47 magazine I have ever seen. They fit every AK I've tried them in. No magazine wobber in any AK. No feeding problems. They have an anti-tilt follower. And for $15-$20/mag..they are deal (Midwayusa has them ;)). Did I mention that they don't rust or dent? I found out that these magazines were faulty when some that I just ordered a few weeks back came. I noticed upon opening the magazine.. .that the follower was tilted..nose down in the magazine. I was shocked because I know how good the others where. So, I took one apart.. and discovered the problem of the inferior spring. You can also tell without taking the magazine apart. If you look at the magazine follower.. on the "good orginal mags..you will see the metal spring through a little notch in the follower." If you can't...you got the wimpy spring in there. You can push down on a good one and a bad one and easily tell the difference.
So, I contacted Tapco and they replaced the springs with the "original size AK spring." And I didn't ask them too either. So, I think that was nice of them. But, I was disappointed that they started putting them in,"under the radar." BTW, if you have a old rusty AK mag with a good "regular size" AK spring.. you can/could swape it out in a AK mag like these that have a small..crapy one and they are then just like a good one should be. Maybe the demand is so overwelming (probably is) that they had to put whatever spring in they could find. But, that might just be a problem if you ever need your AK mag to work and it had a bad spring in it. So, make sure to check your magazines and verify that you are getting what you pay for. I don't know if other magazines by Tapco or other manufacturers are doing the same thing or not. But, I do know for sure that this is an issue/problem for some of the magazines bought in the last 3-4 months. :-\
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That sucks, but at least Tapco took care of you, Hawkfish. People may not get so lucky with other brands. Wolff springs can improve most magazines and I checked to see what they cost. $5.60 apiece if you get a 10 pack. Sounds like a bargain to bring old mags back to life too.
MAGAZINE SPRINGS for 30 round magazines. +5% Extra power magazine springs are available to restore feeding & reliabilty in magazines with weakened or worn springs.
Stock No. 85271....each.....$ 8.99 ea
Stock No. 85272....pak of 3 springs..... $ 22.99 ea
Stock No. 85273....pak of 10 springs.....$ 55.99 ea
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Yep.. that's what I was gonna do.. is replace them.. probably with wolf springs. But, even they were sold out at the time... And fortunately Tapco did replace them for free.
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I don't know where they are coming from, but at the gun show last month here in Fargo, ND, 1 guy had two cases of magazines - 1 AR and 1 AK. Wanted $30 for each one, no deals on quantity.
The mags were pure crap, thin flimsy bodies, and I could make the follower on the AR mags disappear into the body sideways with my little finger - and people were buying them! I picked up an AK mag, cheap spot welds, etc., put it down and moved on. I ain't that desperate!
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I recently bought some Tapco 20 rounders for the my SKS. Now I have to check them. ;)
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I don't know where they are coming from, but at the gun show last month here in Fargo, ND, 1 guy had two cases of magazines - 1 AR and 1 AK. Wanted $30 for each one, no deals on quantity.
The mags were pure crap, thin flimsy bodies, and I could make the follower on the AR mags disappear into the body sideways with my little finger - and people were buying them! I picked up an AK mag, cheap spot welds, etc., put it down and moved on. I ain't that desperate!
Yep.. and that could be bad.. someday down the road..they pull them out ..and it a "life defense situation" their gun jams at the moment of truth.. :-\ I hope everyone checks everything out on their weapons.. the guns..parts of the guns.. the magazines.. everything.. to be safe and prepared.
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I recently bought some Tapco 20 rounders for the my SKS. Now I have to check them. ;)
Hmm.. I dunno what you could compare them too.. other than another good sks mag.. etc.. But, yeah check' em out good. ;)