Does anyone know about the insufficient cut for hi-cap mags on some semi-auto AK variants sold in the US?

Question

I have a standard Romanian WASR 10. I bought some polymer mags, supposedly high-quality, from AIM surplus. They won't even fit in the rifle! I was told by a customer service agent that some of the importers like Century have to cut-out a part of the magazine well for them to accept hi-cap mags, and many times it's barely enough for metal mags, but that polymer mags won't fit. He said that after a lot of use the well wears down enough to insert polymer mags.

I don't really understand this explanation. Aren't these firearms manufactured for hi-cap mags in the first place, so why would alterations be needed? If it is, why would polymer mags be bigger than metal? Is this explanation true, or were they just trying to get out of refunding my money? If it is true, is there anything a moderately-handy person can do to fix it without damaging my rifle, besides waiting until the thing is ground down enough by use?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry, Randk, I think you're wrong. I have two metal double-stack mags that came with the rifle, and they work fine. The rifle is marked "GP WASR-10/63," and has a serial number indicating that it was manufactured in 1986, if that helps anyone to answer the question.

It was purchased from a reputable gun dealer, and does have US parts to comply with the law.

Although in fairness to Randkl, it appears that he is right about alterations to the well -- but doesn't that mean that the customer service person was right? I am confused...

Sorry, JD... the polymer mags are made in USA by a company called "Pro-Mag."

I would like to apologize to anyone insulted by my later comments. I am not interested in hurting the feelings of folks trying to help. However, maybe they should consider that what I wrote wasn't really that bad and perhaps they are too sensitive... anyway thanks everyone for trying to help. The important thing is -- the mags don't fit, I'm trying to find out if they can be made to fit, and if not where to buy ones that can. Again, please know that I am not trying to insult anyone.

Answer 1

Every WASR high capacity model I have seen is made from a low capacity WASR 10. The WASR 10 uses a single stack magazine and is thinner than the high capacity double stack magazines. Century Arms would take the WASR 10's and open the magazine well up a little to accomodate the double stack high capacity magazines. The problem is that the polymer double stack magazines are a little thicker than the steel double stack magazines. The added thickness is very slight but is enough to cause trouble in some guns.

The easiest way to fix this is to enlarge the magazine well with a dremel tool. First, we need to know if you have a double or single stack gun as that WASR's do exist in both configurations. First take a magazine that fits the gun and place two cartridges in it. If you can only see mostly oen cartridge, this is a single stack gun. Modifying the magazine well is difficult for a beginner but can be done. When completed the magazine will wobble badly in the magazine well, this is fixed by spot welding some plates to the inside of the reciever to build up thickness to hold the magazine without wobble.
The other case is that when two cartridges are in the magazine, you will see them side by side. This is a double stack. If these fit, you only need to lightly remove metal to fit the magazine. This is done with a dremel and a sanding stone, remove only small amounts of metal until the magazine fits. The link below shows how to correct a double stack magazine well, I cannot find a link for a single stack, so lets hope you have a double stack.

Answer 2

The customer service folk were right. To be imported in the US, a good portion of the WASR-10s (according to American Rifleman) had to be Single-stack receivers. Century Arms International then machined-out the magazine well to accept Double stack mags (various Romanian AKM-clones were left single stack). On account that these imported WASR receivers were originally single stack, there are no dimples on the side of the magazine well. On account of this a previous Wasr 10 in my care had a wobbly magazine that swung side to side. However on my GP Wasr 10/63 there is small plates welded on the inside of the receiver, but also the magazine well is very tight, but enough to slide a metal magazine into.

Bottom line is this. There is no science behind Century Arms widening the magazine well. Whats true for one isnt true for the other. Take a file or dremel and very carefully file away the sides of the magazine well until you reach the desired functionality. This ought to be right up your alley, has photos too. http://www.gunsnet.net/Linx310/wasrwell.htm Good shooting!

Answer 3

YOU are correct . Your Romanian GB WASR-10/63 was "DESIGNED" from the start to take double stack magazines.They were NEVER Converted to allow these magazines to fit..Your gun was "manufactured" to take double stack magazines originally prior to being imported...
There is absolutely no reason that your gun should have to be altered or "the magazine well "worn down" so the Polymer mags will fit.."American Made" magazines or manufactured oversea's Imports, you have missed the whole entire point..it should make no difference. They should fit regardless

There are sources online where you can purchase"Metal" Double Stack Magazines that will fit your gun without "conversion" and/or alteration of any kind, to your rifle or the magazines...

Answer 4

I agree with JD, if you have to alter a rifle to fit an after market part then you have the wrong part. It wouldn't be the first time some parts company sent the wrong part even if the package had the right model printed on it. Send the part back and demand a full refund. And post on the Internet the name of that dealer and customer service agent, if you can get them to give you a name, so the rest of us gun buffs will not make the mistake of buying from them.
Sarge

Answer 5

If your rifle IS NOT a WASR-10 SINGLE STACK....

Are you absolutely sure they sold you AK47 magazines, instead of AK74 magazines? The 5.45 AK74 and the 7.62 AK47 take different magazines, naturally, but I can see a mailorder outfit getting confused and shipping "74"'s instead of "47"'s.

AK47 magazines have a much more pronounced curve to them than AK74 mags, and there are other dimensional differences as well.

Do your mags have the very pronounced AK47 curve, or are they more like the curve on a 30 or 40 round AR15 mag?

Good lord, they could have sold you Siaga "sporting rifle" aftermarket hi-cap mags that won't fit a non-Siaga AK, or magazines for a Galil, Valmet, or for something else entirely. Could even be Mini-30 mags. They all look a lot alike, till you examine them a little more closely.

My vote is they sent you the wrong magazine.
Try going to Pro Mags website-
http://www.promagindustries.com
and looking up the specific model number of your magazine.
Hope you get this streightened out.

Answer 6

Nothing to do with the mag as you said it, and the person who spoke sounds like an idiot. It's the rifle design.

The WASR simply uses a single stack mag....standard double stack AK mags won't fit.

You need to specifically buy WASR mags.

Some importers will buy WASR rifles and then convert them to double stack by opening the mag well, but that can render the weapon highly illegal and often unreliable. To convert one, you would have to replace the requisite number of parts with American made parts so it's not an illegal weapon.

Np at all being wrong, MB. I have before. In this case, nopers, though.

The way you said the person had phrased it was that the rifle simply had to have a bit of metal cut out to fit the mags....that's not correct. I meant that the rifle was not designed for double stacks and it is a full blown conversion project, not a "minor cutting".

If yours has been legally converted then by all means, use AK mags.

As to the polymers question, polymer mags are often made of a thicker gauge material to supply the necessary toughness. That's probably why they won't fit. I'd suggest you return them and stick to what works for you.

Answer 7

I am not very familiar with the WASR's but if you go to a local gun show I'm sure that you can purchase/inquire about hi capacity mags for that firearm.