One would suppose that the AK platform has been round lengthy sufficient that there’s not a lot that must be accomplished with it. One can be fallacious. Regardless of the “Nyet! Rifle is okay!” crowd, there’s nonetheless room for enchancment. Xtech Tactical does simply that with their MAG47 magazines.
Why Do I Want One other AK Magazine?
I do know, there are in all probability a literal billion AK mags on the market, and most of them in all probability work tremendous. Lots of them are additionally fairly inexpensive. So why do we’d like a brand new AK magazine? Nicely, how about reliability, high quality manufacture, and an American-made product? Let’s add in some attention-grabbing design choices to that too. Xtech provides a full line of AK magazines that present the entirese options.
I noticed the Xtech MAG47 AK mags at GunCon 2025 again in June. Whereas I used to be there, I spoke with the proprietor, Jeremy Deadman. I had talked about I used to be doing present protection for TTAG and an attention-grabbing dialog ensued. Jeremy wasn’t that all in favour of me simply doing a “Hey I noticed this cool stuff at a present” information piece. If I have been going to put in writing about his merchandise, he needed me to truly work with them. Strive them firsthand, see the construct high quality. Use them and see how they work.
Most locations can be proud of some protection, however Jeremy didn’t need me to speak about his merchandise except I had first-hand expertise with them. We adopted up with one another after the present, and he despatched some samples to take a look at. I’ve been working with MAG47 mags and some different issues over the summer season, and I’ll offer you a assessment spoiler now: I’m offered.
The MAG47
At its core, the MAG47 is an American-made product that’s constructed to final. The mags are constructed from robust composite supplies that Xtech says are the strongest polymer used within the firearms market. Additionally they function stainless-steel bolstered feed lips and locking lugs. The rear lug is machined from a stable metal bloc,okay and it’s additionally stainless-steel. I’ve some fairly crusty metal surplus mags that I’ve needed to clear rust off of on multiple event, so the weather-resistant building is a plus in my e book.
The springs are an improve over most AK springs as effectively. They’re military-grade, additionally fabricated from stainless-steel, with an anti-binding mechanism. They’re 30% stronger than these utilized by Magpul and US Palm. In line with Xtech, they’re additionally the one US-made AK-47 journal that may move a navy customary 6-foot drop check. That’s a totally loaded journal dropped instantly onto the feed lips.
The magazine tolerances are tight, too. They’ve dimensions that enable compatibility not simply with the huge array of AK rifles, but additionally the IWI Galil Ace, the CMMG Mutant and MK47 Dissent, and the Palmetto State Armory KS-47. It’s possible you’ll consider AKs as being sloppy so that you simply wouldn’t run into match points, however not all AKs are created the identical. And when you get into different platforms that use AK mags, you run into much more variations. I’ve had mags that have been too tight in a few the AKs I’ve owned over time.
The MAG47s have a quick-release base plate for simple cleansing, too. With their rust-resistant supplies, they shouldn’t want the upkeep that my crusty previous carbon metal mags do, nevertheless it’s good to know they’re straightforward to wash after they do want it.
The truth that they’re US-made can also be a plus for 922r compliance as effectively. I’m not even positive what number of of us even care about that at this level, however I all the time favor to err on the aspect of warning. In case your AK wants a US magazine for compliance, then the Xtech is an effective choice.
Final however not least, the Xtech MAG47 mags have a lifetime guarantee. Strive getting that out of the Chinese language or Bilgrain surplus magazine.
Take a look at Mags
I had two mags to check out from Xtech. Their MAG47 ELITE and one in all their MAG47 Gen2 “Banana” mags. Each share all of the construct options above and primarily have some beauty variations.
The MAG47 ELITE makes use of a slab-sided physique. It has a thinner general profile than the waffle sample mags. This enables it to slot in tighter magazine pouches extra simply. It additionally works higher in weapons with tight magazine wells. Xtech additionally notes that it really works higher with sure tabletop loaders. I’ll contact on that in a bit.
The ELITE is on the market in black and has a recommended retail value of $34.95. It can save you a couple of dollars off every magazine by shopping for a 10-pack, too. Extech has a Fakelite model of the ELITE accessible that mimics the pink/orange end of the previous Soviet-era Bakelite AK mags as effectively. There’s additionally a “Spam Can” mannequin painted within the type of Soviet Bloc inexperienced ammo cans.
The opposite magazine I had is the MAG47 Gen2 “Banana” mannequin. Because the identify suggests, this magazine is vivid yellow. It’s a play on the time period banana mags that’s typically used to consult with AK mags. Additionally they make a mottled yellow model known as the “Rotten Banana.” This one is waffle patterned. Xtech isn’t the one one doing a yellow banana themed AK magazine available on the market, however they’re the one ones providing the options that they do. The Banana runs a couple of dollars extra at $39.95 every. I didn’t see 10 packs of Banana mags accessible. Or possibly they’d be bunches of Banana mags?
My magazines have been each 30-round, standard-capacity fashions. Xtech additionally makes 10-round magazines for individuals who dwell behind enemy traces. They nonetheless use a 30-round journal physique so that you get the basic AK look, however they’ve a block and shorter spring limiting them to 10 rounds and are marked as 10-round mags.
Xtech’s MAG47 mags aren’t the most affordable AK magazine on the market by any stretch, but when they dwell as much as the hype they need to outlast all your different mags.
Loading
Xtech says they’ve examined their magazine with over 20,000 rounds fired. I didn’t have 20,000 rounds to substantiate this, however I did run a couple of hundred via my two mags. My check platform is a Polish AKM package constructed by the now-defunct Vector Arms on one in all their lowers. I purchased it proper after the Clinton “assault weapons” ban expired again in 2004.
For my discipline work, I used primarily steel-cased Russian hollow-point masses for my testing, together with some Yugoslav surplus brass-cased ammo. I did all of my loading utilizing a Podavach U-Loader bench loader.
I’d prefer to let you know how the Xtech mags are to load by hand however truthfully, I didn’t even suppose to attempt it. Xtech mentions compatibility on the Elite mags with bench loaders and I discovered that each the slabside and waffle type mags match and labored tremendous in my loader. Ever since I received my Podavach U-Loader final yr I finished loading my mags by hand like a peasant. The system works extraordinarily effectively. It’s quick, straightforward, and a serious thumb saver.
It really works with AK mags, AR mags, and Mini 14 mags and I’ve used it to load all three. I’ve been kicking myself for not shopping for one sooner even since I received it. Suffice it to say, the Xtech mags labored completely with it. 30 rounds loaded in seconds.
The MAG47’s each locked in my Vector AK simply and match snugly, with out wiggle. The grooved entrance and backs of the mags ensured a optimistic grip whereas loading and unloading as effectively.
Reliability
I did gradual managed fireplace, and a few magazine dumps, utilizing each Xtech mags and by no means had any points. Feed was 100% no matter how I fired, which ammo I used, and even in mags with combined ammo. I did 5 mags, so 150 rounds, of combined ammo via every journal. I do know it’s not 20,000 rounds, however I believed it was a great indicator of the mags efficiency. I’ll depart them in my vary bag and maintain utilizing them as I received ahead as effectively.
I didn’t child the mags both. I’d let the mags drop to the bottom throughout reloads, and did a pair loaded magazine drop assessments of my very own. As marketed, the loaded mags held on to their ammo even when dropped on gravel or pavement.
Definitely worth the Cash?
Okay, so the massive query is, are the MAG47 mags price the additional cash over different AK mags available on the market? I suppose it relies upon what you do along with your AK. If you happen to simply use it as a plinker for some vary enjoyable, possibly not. If you happen to use your gun for protection, or for any form of tactical or 3 gun kind shoots, then you definately in all probability need to check out them. They actually don’t price that rather more than the opposite respectable AK mags available on the market, and I don’t suppose the rest matches the supplies and options that the Xtech magazine provides.
I discussed the design choices that Xtech provides earlier too. Whereas they definitely make primary black mags, you’ll be able to see they aren’t afraid of some enjoyable, like with the Banana mags. Along with the Fakelite and Spam Can mags, the even have assorted camo patterns, battlefield patinas, Russian Plum, and another choices. The Fakelite will go completely with my laminate inventory AKM sample rifle, and I can undoubtedly see a few of these in my future. So if a top quality made US magazine with a lifetime guarantee isn’t sufficient to win you over, how about including on a cool completed magazine to make your gun distinctive?
