The AK-47 and its variants are everywhere.
Every tinpot dictator, Eastern European force, guerilla army, and fictional warlord packs AKs in some variety or another.
There may be more AR-derived designs produced in total numbers these days, but the AK is more wildly spread, and so are its magazines. Any time dozens of different countries and companies are producing a single rifle, we will see diversity.
Diversity is our strength, and AK mags, in particular, show an impressive amount of variety.
We’ve gathered some of our favorite AK magazines to give you a rundown of AK magazines, from cheap to pricey, American-made to classic Eastern European designs. We got ’em all…
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Polymer Mag
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Best 10-Rounder
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Best Budget AK Mag
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Best High-Capacity AK Mag
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Best OG Steel Mag
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Best Steel Mag
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Most Fun AK Mag
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Best AK Magazines
Input for this article came from the editorial and freelance writing team at Pew Pew Tactical. Every magazine on this list has been range-tested with a minimum of 500 rounds through it — though some of these magazines have seen upwards of a thousand rounds.
While we can’t list every mag out there, these are the ones we think nail reliability, durability, features, and price.
Best Polymer AK Magazines
1. Magpul PMAG – Best Polymer AK Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Super durable
- Easy to use with gloves
- Lots of options
Cons
- Higher cost than others
As far as I’m concerned, the Magpul brand AK magazines are the best American attempt at creating AK magazines. (Don’t forget that buying American magazines can give you three compliance parts for following that pesky 922(r).)
Magpul occupies a weird space in the firearms realm, where they found a mag to produce high-quality parts and accessories at low prices.
The AK MOE magazines are my personal go-to for my AK series rifles.
Magpul makes both 47 and 74 magazines, the standard and highly affordable PMAG AK, and the costlier M3 AK PMAGs.
I own what seems like dozens of these things. They are almost entirely made from polymer and feature Magpul’s aggressive texturing. The AK PMAGs are available in various capacities, with the 30-rounders being the most common.
The back, front, and sides are all highly textured for an excellent grip regardless of your hands’ condition. These are great if you are wearing gloves, and they grip your hand. The magazine body is made from an impact—and crush-resistant material.
I can say from experience you can drop them, kick them, throw them, and they will keep kicking. The front and rear locking lugs are polymer as well, and back in the day, this could be a more significant issue. However, Magpul has done a fantastic job with these magazines, and I doubt this will ever be a problem with 99% of shooters.
They won’t wear out within a single shooter’s lifetime, and I’d love to see someone break one in the gun without also breaking the weapon.
Magpul utilized a high-quality, anti-tilt follower to guarantee reliable feeding for round after round. The magazines are reinforced with a stainless-steel spring, and the floor plate is easily removable for cleaning.
The Magpul AK PMAGS are also fat bottom girls with a flared floorplate which makes retrieving the magazine easier from a pouch. This little addition is a nice touch, and it can still fit slim pouches without issue. They fit in both my Draco pistol and Sig 556R perfectly tight with no wiggle room. It’s also not overly tight and painful to remove or load with.
You can even do a Battlefield 4-style speed reload with these magazines. You’ll feel cool as hell doing it too.
In my years of using these magazines, I have never seen a single feeding issue. AKs are designed to function with the cheapest, most janky ammo on the planet, and the PMAGs are intended to do the same.
Magpul M3
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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The M3 magazines are professional-grade AK magazines, and they are a little costlier. If you want the best, then you have to pay for it.
You know all the things I said about Magpul AK magazines?
Well, that all still applies to the M3 magazines. However, the M3 magazines use steel locking lugs. This metal reinforcement came from AK fan demand, and I get it.
I don’t think there are any issues with polymer locking lugs, especially Magpul’s. If I was carrying the AK as a duty rifle, then I could also certainly see the need to get the best magazines out there, and that may include a steel locking lug.
10-Rounder AK Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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And if you’re in a ban state, like California or New York, Magpul also makes the best 10-round AK magazines on the market.
There is the standard list of reasons why they are great, like all of the reasons normal PMAGs rule, but they also stand out since everyone else’s 10-round AK mags…really aren’t nice. In our experience, at least.
What’s your take on the PMAGs? Rate them below!
2. ProMag – Best Budget AK Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Pros
- Budget friendly
- Various colors available
Cons
- Inconsistent reliability
- Thin construction
- Not professional-grade
ProMag is a budget-based company that mostly makes magazines but also produces some stocks and parts under their other brands. Of course, they also make polymer AK magazines.
Don’t hate me when I say the ProMag AK magazines weren’t terrible. I was expecting a lot less from them. My previous experience with ProMag was far from great.
I’ve never gotten through a full magazine of ammo in my 1911 mag or my Colt SMG magazine. However, this polymer AK magazine ran surprisingly well. It fed through both my Sig 556R and Draco reasonably well.
It ran perfectly in the Draco pistol but choked twice in the Sig 556R when fully loaded — downloaded to 28 rounds, and it ran fine.
The ProMag admittedly feels thin in hand. It’s not super stout feeling like the Tapco and Magpul variants.
The ProMag variants are textured and waffled and come in various colors. On top of that, there are also clear polymer versions that look slick.
While they worked, I would probably choose Tapcos, or the later mentioned KCI magazines. When compared to Magpul, it’s tough not to spend a few extra dollars for Magpul’s quality.
However, if you get them cheap or it’s all you have, they aren’t that bad. Far from professional-grade, but they are functional.
3. ATI Schmeisser AK-47 60-Round Magazine – Best High-Capacity AK Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- High capacity
- Works well with gloves
- Decent size despite capacity
Cons
- Might be too much for some
If you need a bit more oomph in terms of capacity, ATI has you covered by partnering with Germany’s Schmeisser GmbH to import the 60-round S60 AK-47 mags.
These mags sport a glass-reinforced polymer build. This means they are pretty lightweight. Aggressive texturing on the sides makes it easier to reload, even with gloves on.
In our testing, we found them to feed well, and they seemed pretty durable. Despite twice as many rounds, the mags aren’t super bulky or over the top in terms of size. (A win for my range bag!)
While 60 rounds is probably overkill for most, if you want to spend less time on reloads, these mags will definitely help you save some time.
Best Steel AK Magazines
4. Bulgarian Steel AK Mags – Best OG Steel Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Proven design
- Smooth to use
- Reliable peformance
Cons
- Doens't meet 922(r) compliance
- A little pricier
Silvia Dimitrova, Chushka Biurek, and AK furniture and magazines are all things I love about Bulgaria.
Bulgarian steel magazines are exceptionally well-made and proven among the Bulgarian military. If you prefer the look and feel of all-metal AK magazines, it’s hard to beat the Bulgarian models.
Of course, you don’t get that wonderful 922(r) compliance, but these are quite affordable.
These magazines functioned flawlessly in both of my guns. They were ultra-smooth to install and remove, and they were the smoothest magazines to execute reloads with.
I had no failures and you can feel the quality of these magazines just by picking them up. The finish on the steel magazine is rough and feels baked on, but it’s robust and scratch—and rust-free—especially compared to Korean magazines.
5. Croatian AK-47 30RD Steel Mag – Best Steel Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Heavy-duty metal design
- Built-in last round bolt hold-open device
- Long lasting
Cons
- Expensive
- Can be tough to find
If you’re looking for a no muss, no fuss steel mag that just works, the Croatian AK-47 30RD Steel Mag proved to be just that during our testing.
These mags feature an all-steel construction with no flex. This lends itself to a solid magazine that is both durable and reliable.
These mags opt for a bolt hold-open follower that will lock the rifle to the rear upon the last round being fired.
Our set worked well and for the price (under $20), it’s a great, affordable option if you prefer the look and feel of a steel mag.
6. KCI Gen 2 AK Magazines
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Finish tends to wear off
- Fit issues in some AKs
KCI used to be a name most people wouldn’t associate with quality, and that was mostly due to their AK mags.
As someone who owned a Gen 1, I get it. The thing rusted if I breathed on it…
It also fit super loose and rattled in my gun, which caused feed issues if I was in the prone and allowed it to rest on the ground.
The excellent news is that KCI took the feedback seriously and tightened it down. Now the company produces a respectable AK magazine.
I gave their AK mags a try after I got a Glock drum and, later, an AK drum. Their quality is vastly improved. These are steel AK magazines that are still somewhat cheaply made.
They are very light and don’t feel nearly as thick as most AK magazines. The finish is gleaming and in need of a matte Rustoleum refinish. It seems to rub off and is easily cheap.
However, they fit right and feed correctly in my 556R and Draco pistol.
The KCI Gen 2 magazines are on the more affordable side of the AK aisle and are most certainly the cheapest metal magazines out there. These are perfect for the range or competition.
Best Fun AK Magazines
7. XTech Tactical Mag47 – Most Fun AK Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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Pros
- Unique design
- Quick release base plate for cleaning
- Reinforced design
Cons
- Novelty look might not appeal to all users
Sometimes you gotta inject some fun into your AK and for that, we suggest the Mag47 by XTech Tactical. Their Banana Mag is sure to turn some heads and is a nod to the “banana clip” nickname for AK mags.
We found the Mag47 to be a reliable option with a 30-round capacity. It offers a quick-release base plate to make cleaning these bad boys a tad easier. Opting for a reinforced stainless-steel cage around the feed lips and locking lugs, it’s a durable mag.
Though its rugged design lends itself to extended use, we really dig the novelty of the bright yellow banana style.
But if you’re looking for something a little more low-key, XTech offers standard black mags that perform just as well.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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8. KCI 75-Round Drum Magazine – Best Drum Mag
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- High capacity drum mag
- Allows for a prone shooting position
- Reliable feeding when loaded correctly
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Complex loading process
The AK could be considered the modern Tommy gun. Not because of how often it’s used in a crime, but because of how often movies and TV make you think it’s used in crime.
A modern Tommy gun needs a drum, right?
Lots of drums exist, but I’ve had the KCI 75-round AK drum for quite some time. I have two of them, and I enjoy the hell out of them. They certainly look wicked in my Draco pistol. They won’t fit in the Sig 556R, so they are AK-only style magazines.
The rear of the drum is also clear and gives you an instant look at how much ammo you still have. Its rear plate hinges open to allow you to load the drum fully. This mag takes a manual to load correctly, and I would most certainly follow the instructions provided. It’s not complicated but does need to be done in a specific way to ensure proper feeding.
When loaded and winded, the KCI drum correctly is a beast.
It feeds surprisingly easily and gives you 75 rounds of 7.62 x 39 to spray and pray with.
The KCI Drum takes up about the same vertical space as a standard 30-round magazine, so you can get a nice low prone and live out your RPK fantasies.
It’s massive, and you’ll certainly feel the weight. Luckily every time you pull the trigger, it gets a little lighter. I wouldn’t trust it with its rear plastic cover for dangerous use. The hinges that hold the cover closed are loose and easy to defeat — if that door comes, open ammo is going to come pouring out.
If I were to fight in a Balkan war, I’d probably take a standard 30-rounder. But if I was going to piss off Fudd RSO’s, I’d take the KCI drum.
How to Choose AK Mags
Capacity
The standard capacity AK magazine is a 30-rounder.
These AK magazines are a sweet spot lengthwise — admittedly, the distinctive curve of these magazines gives them a legendary profile.
The magazine is instantly recognizable, but they aren’t the only capacity out there.
There are extended magazines in the 40-round bracket, which are often declared to be RPK magazines. We also have drums in the 70+ round of capacity.
And, of course, there are also 5-, 10-, and 20-rounders. This helps meet state requirements for mag sizes of all kinds.
Twenty-rounders occupy an awesome space size-wise.
They are perfect for AK pistol designs and make my Draco Pistol look a little more reasonable. They also make guns easier to store and allow you to get into a low prone position.
Polymer vs. Steel
The big question when it comes to picking AK magazines is simple.
Do you want steel or polymer?
AK magazines are produced en-masse in both steel and polymer types, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Steel is the traditional option, but polymer has become a bit more popular over time.
Polymer
Polymer is lighter than steel by a considerable degree. It can also be easily textured, and there is more flexibility for different designs than steel. This also gives you a cheaper magazine base, especially for American-produced magazines.
Of course, there are no rust issues with polymer magazines.
Steel
Steel is ultimately much stronger. There are no worries about feed lips breaking when dropped, especially when loaded. Most AK steel magazines are brutally well-built and will last as long as you don’t let them rust to pieces.
Steel is also much more substantial, and six fully loaded steel mags are quite the heavy load for 30-round mags.
A few blends of both steel and polymer also exist, and we are including two of those brilliant designs on this list.
Final Thoughts
All of these magazines will serve you well. Some of them might be lighter, some might be easier, but in the end, they all work and are reliable.
Magpul M3 magazines are the standard go-to if you need the best quality and reliability.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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But for a purist, the Bulgarian magazines are the classic choice that leaves your wallet happy.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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If you want to put a lot of lead downrange quick, you owe it to yourself to get at least a couple of drums!
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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What are your favorite AK magazines? Let us know in the comments! Looking for a purely American-made AK-47, then check out our review of the Palmetto State Armory PSAK-47 Gen 3!
Latest Updates
July 11, 2024: Removed Yugo mag, Tapco mags, KCI 5.45 Drum Mag. Added Croatian mags and XTech Tactical Banana Mags. Included supplemental data and media for each product and elaborated on how we tested the AK-47 magazines.
19 Leave a Reply
No mention of Bulgarian Circle 10 waffle mags? In my opinion they have to be in the conversation when discussing “best” AK mags. Still good article though.
Friends don’t let friends use US made AK mag ... or US made AK’s.
For gosh sakes, Polish, E German, Romanian, actual Russians (slab steel, slab polymer [ultra rare], “Bakelite” [actually resin/fiberglass], aluminum paras), Circle 10 waffles, chicom flat backs ... are all anyone should be using.
Bakelite?
Biggest thing I gleaned from this article is, that cool AF tactical reload, I dropped my phone ran to my bedroom grabbed my Zastava, and started performing reps, until I had it down.
MALL NINJA SKILLS- CONGRATULATIONS PLAYER LEVEL UP+++++
☝
No US Palm? I've found them better than Magpul and you keep the 922(r) bonus.
This +1
I'd add that the "US PALM AK30 MAGAZINE
SKU(s): MA692A Black, MA693A FDE"
Are the models with the steel locking lugs, and steel reinforced cages at the top.
Any that say "AK30R" are range mags that are all Polymere, they are about $6-$8 cheaper but you are giving up alot of durability and reliability.
Unless you ONLY use your AK as a range toy, then don't be cheap just pony up the extra $8 and get the bomb proof steel reinforced magazines.
I just bought 4 of them to go with my surplus Bulgarian steel mags and
My Pmags (M3 and M2)
Haven't made it to the range yet, but the palm mags seem to fit perfectly in my Zastava Zpap M70.
What kind of load out bag is that?
https://www.pewpewtactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Locked-and-loaded-with-AK-magazines-1024x488.jpg
Thanks!
You guys are great! Excellent articles always! That said I totally disagree with your polymer mag assessment. I don't have AR's, never have. Only AK's. Never had ANY polymer mag work properly in any of my AKs, EVER! Hungarian 20rd mags work the best for me followed by any eastern European steel with the exception of new Croatian. They have gotten pretty cheap.
Bro, you need to get out and use some quality mags. Surplus Combloc is readily available on Facebook and other forums. No mention of Bakelite or Plums.
Why'd we leave out the Xtech -MAG47?
Agree. I got PMAGs when I should have got Xtech because of PPT
How come Bulgarian mags at GunMag Warehouse are US$13 while Bulgarian Circle 10 waffle mags are ~US$50? Is there that much difference in quality and performance? I'd be tempted to buy a couple of the less expensive Bulgarian mags for comparison. The Circle 10 waffle mags have always been the gold standard for Combloc AK mags.
@Bull o' the Woods Yah, Circle 10 30s have long been legendary gold standard for AK mags. I have a couple, as well as Bulgarian steel, Yugoslavian, Croatian, Chinese, American, Russian steel, Russian Bakelite, and so on. The AKM has long been my favorite military rifle and I have mags of many national origins. It could well be that you re paying for the iconic aspect of the Circle 10 30s. With the steel lined polymer mags being $13, I think I'll buy a couple to see and would suggest doing the same. If you buy 3, what's $36? If they are just as good, cool. Even if they were junk ( which I doubt ), you would have additional 30s every day you go to shoot. I have a couple of Tapco mags hat someone gave me, and I see why they didn't mind. Tapco might be junk mags, but they are extra range mags.
@EnergyKev I have some classic surplus Chinese mags ( I like them, as they perform well and fit into more pouches easier because f height ). I would imagine they are good, unless they are completely new and they have to work some bugs. My 2 AKMs are a Chinese MAK 90 and a Romanian/Romak. Both have always performed excellently for many years and will probably still be when I'm dead. I was therefore surprised to hear that early MAK 90s were junk rifles that were soon made into great ones. I guess mine was manufactured after they made them good because for more than 20 years mine has always been great and is today. The surplus Chinese mags have always worked well in both of my AKs.
You didn’t cover the metal flat back China mags that have been coming into the country lately for $15. I was very curious how they stacked up. They feel very robust.
Where are you finding Chinese flatbacks for 15$ ?
The standard is not Magpul, but rather the Bulgarian Circle 10 waffle magazines.
is Pew on the payroll? Maybe I'm wrong, but with all the past feedback about Magpul AK mags.....not sure if this article is 100%
The gen 2 and gen 3 magazines are very solid. We've never had an issue with any of them across a few dozen samples and too many rounds to count.
Hey I wrote it and I wish I had Magpul money but alas I do not. Ive just used and abused them and appreciate them a ton.