The 7.62x39 is a caliber that embellishes the chamber of the legendary, most successful, and popular weapons of all time - the AK-47.
Its hitting power and options for the availability of dirt-cheap ammo make it a popular choice. But when you’re in America, an AR outclasses the AK in the terms of fame. So some manufacturers decided to experiment with AR’s chambered in 7.62x39.
But an AR chambered in this caliber has its own peculiarities. Especially with the magazine. So here we’ll be focusing upon the ins and outs of this topic while learning more about the best 7.62x39 magazines available out there.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for 7.62x39 AR Magazines
Comparison of the Best 7.62x39 AR Magazines
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What to Watch For When Buying a 7.62 AR Magazine
Owning an AR in an extremely uncommon caliber for ARs requires a few considerations to be pondered upon. Let’s check what these are.
This Section Written By:
Ankit Kumar
Expert Author
Ankit Kumar is an engineer turned writer who specializes in topics related to firearms, gun safety and weapon tech. His passion towards enrolling in the Army drifted his interest towards light and heavy firearms. He’s a qualified competitive air rifle shooter and an avid nature lover. His other areas of expertise include survival, prepping and firearms/ammo storage. When he’s not writing, he’s either learning a new skill, trekking or enjoying a long drive.
Unique Design Elements
One very obvious factor to notice is that the 7.62x39 round is fatter than the normal 5.56 NATO. Plus, the AK round has more taper than the standard AR-15 round. This taper requires magazines designed for the 7.62x39 to be curved for better stacking. However, the AR 5.56 mags on the other hand are straight due to the lesser taper of this case.
The feed lip geometry of the AK caliber mags is also slightly different and also features a small front cut for better feeding with the different BCG setup. In fact, the entire upper receiver setup will be caliber-specific.
AK Mags Won’t Fit AR
A lot of people vying for this new caliber may get a cheeky smile on their faces, thinking about using standard AK mags in their 7.62x39 AR build. That’s pretty obvious for anybody to think. But I hate to break it to you that this isn’t possible. Well, technically it is to some extent if you’re only looking for 2-3 rounds to feed. But such events are exceptionally rare to materialize.
The AK and AR magazines use entirely different locking mechs. While the AR mags clutch from the sides, the AK mags lock into place from the front and rear. Plus, the release mechanism is entirely different. As the AK uses a lever and the AR uses a push button.
Although there are specially designed guns (like the KS47 from Palmetto State Armory) that work with AK mags. But if you are using a standard AR build, you must rely upon AR-style magazines. Additionally, it is always better to inspect the rifle first if you are not sure.
Photo credit: youtube.com
Reliability Issues May Happen
While there are 30 round magazines available for the 7.62x39 AR rifles. Based upon some user experiences and feedback. It is better if you don’t consider the last 2-3 rounds for reliable feeding. For users who prefer high-capacity mags of this caliber, the 20 round mags generally work best. Or even 30 rounders but when not fed to full capacity.
Another important factor to consider is the spring and the follower. An anti-tilt follower always works better and makes sure the spring is strong enough to feed those bulky rounds reliably.
Material and Capacity
Steel or polymers have their own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing high-capacity mags, it is good to choose a polymer for the overall lesser weight. Lesser capacity mags can be chosen in metal for longer service life.
Difficult Availability
7.62x39 magazines can be hard to come by because of the supply-demand ratio. So it is always better to buy ample mags when you find the right fit for your rifle.
Review of the Best 7.62x39 Magazines
The following is a list of the six best 7.62x39 magazines that are currently on the market. As you go through the list, you'll need to make a note of each of the magazine's features and functions. One of them might be close enough to your ideal magazine description.
The better the match, the better the chance that you might have found a winner. Now, let's kick off this list by unveiling our choice for the "best overall" 7.62x39 magazine:
Best Overall:
ASC 7.62X39 30-Round Stainless Steel Magazine
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the recent buyers of this asc 7.62x39 ar magazine were quite happy with a lot of the features and functions. One said that it was easier to load and didn’t put any stress on his hands. At the same time, he also mentioned that once empty he accidentally dropped it on the pavement. To his relief, it didn’t break. As it should be, these magazines are built like a tank.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The curved design can be a little perplexing at first. That’s because you would expect a magazine that holds long rounds to be a straight magazine. But the curved design is made that way for a reason. It takes out the difficulty of loading and reloading your magazine. Aside from that, the feeding ability is smooth like butter.
Who Will Use This Most
This is a standard magazine, so this will be used by just about any regular AR-style rifle shooter. 30 rounds might just be enough to start with. At some point, you can either stick with it or go with fewer rounds (or even more). Most shooters who will use this will be target shooters or even competitive shooters.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the things that we believe can be improved is making sure that these magazines can fit almost any AR-style rifle that is chambered with 7.62x39 shots. Unfortunately, these don’t seem like they are able to fit some rifles.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a magazine that might be considered one of the best of the best, the ASC 30-Round magazine might be right up your alley. They are easy to load, easy to feed, and tougher than nails. This is a standard magazine that will perform like no other no matter what application you use them for.
2. E-lander Mags E-lander Magazine 7.62x39 10RD Steel
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The loading and reloading follower makes loading rather easy according to most new buyers. At the same time, loading it to full capacity was a lot easier. Most of them used this magazine for the purpose of hunting and also as a test magazine for sighting in their rifles. Either way, they were quite satisfied with the overall reliability.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The construction is solid, the loading ability is smooth like butter, and the durability is second to none. This has all the makings of a magazine that says “you get more than what you pay for”. If you’re looking for something that’s flimsy in quality, then you’d be sorely disappointed.
Who Will Use This Most
This will mostly be used by hunters due to the capacity alone. However, this will be used by all other shooters as a backup magazine in case things go awry. This will also be used as a magazine that you can use during test shooting sessions (or while you’re sighting in your rifle).
What Could Be Improved and Why
Despite no major cons, one of the things that might be a considerable improvement to its current design is making the follower a little brighter. For example, a fluorescent green might be a good enough color. This will make it easier to load and give you a good idea of how many rounds are in the magazine itself.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a reliable magazine that will be best used for hunting or sighting in, the E-lander Magazine might be something worth looking at a bit further. Ten rounds might just be what you need for some of your intended applications. But this will also come in handy if one of your standard capacity magazines suddenly takes a turn for the worse.
Best Polymer Magazine:
D&H Industries, Inc. - 7.62X39 Magazine 30RD
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers loved the durability of the magazine. This is perhaps the closest as they can get to being indestructible. They highly recommend this magazine to their fellow shooters, especially those who are among the handfuls of competitive shooters and hunters.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The curved design is one of the most unique designs you’ll see in a magazine. It’s not uncommon, but it’s something that will give users an easier loading ability. Other than that, it has the potential to last you years or even decades due to its overall construction.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely be used mostly by hunters, target shooters, and competitive shooters alike. This can be dropped freely from the mag well and hit the hard surface. You won’t have time to worry about it, especially when the competition is on the line. This will be used by shooters who will thrive in high-stress situations.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One thing that might improve is making the design a little less curved. This way, it can be more stable for self-defense purposes. This is designed more for sporting, but sometimes you’ll need a magazine just to make sure you have a good number of shots to ward off any attackers or prowlers.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a magazine that might be the one magazine that will last you years, the D&H Industries AR-15 magazine might be exactly what you’re looking for. You’d also be insane to pass up on the opportunity to get more of these and use them for backups. Either way, these are as tough as they get and will be reliable for as long as possible.
4. D&H 7.62x39mm 10RD Magazine - DHT11827
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were hunters. They were happy with the capacity of the magazine itself. They said it would last them the entire hunting trip. The magazine itself is also solid and will be best used for backup magazines just in case one tends to jam.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This magazine has less capacity than any of the other standard magazines on the market. The green anti-tilt is very easy to see and makes the reloading process much easier. It’s so bright, you’ll know how many rounds you have in the magazine. The farther you see it down the magazine, you’ll know how many you have loaded.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re a hunter and think that 30 rounds might seem to be overkill for such an application, this is the magazine that you might want to go with. This will definitely be enough to get you through the day. Depending on what you’re hunting, it’s just enough to help you meet your bag limit.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the things that might be worth improving is making the spring a little stronger so you can be able to fully load the magazine. While it might not be the smart thing to do this constantly, the spring should be strong enough so it can handle the full capacity.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a magazine that will give you fewer rounds to work with, this D&H magazine might be exactly what you’re looking for. This will probably be the closest you’ll get to a hunter-centric magazine for your 7.62x39 rifle.
Best 20 Round Magazine:
ASC 7.62X39 20RD Stainless Steel Magazine
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
A lot of recent buyers were target shooters. They were satisfied with the overall reliability and the solid durability these asc 7.62x39 ar magazines have. One made a mistake and dropped it on their hardwood floor while it was fully assembled (but it never broke). The feeding after 100 rounds remained smooth without any issues.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This has the potential to be another multi-purpose magazine. The only difference is that you have more rounds to work with. The curved design makes it even easier to load, despite the fact that there is no anti-tilt follower to help you along the way.
Who Will Use This Most
This will likely work for all kinds of shooters. Hunters, target shooters, self-defense shooting, this magazine will have all your bases covered. This might also be used if you can deal with less than 30 rounds, but 10 rounds might seem like a lot less to you.
What Could Be Improved and Why
The glaring opportunity for improvement might be to include a bright anti-tilt follower. This might make it more user-friendly for newer users. Other than that, the magazine looks pretty good in all other aspects.
Bottom Line
If 20 rounds are all you need, then you'll need a magazine that will be the best of the best in its category. The ASC might be the magazine you're looking for when it comes to all your shooting needs. It's solid, reliable, and definitely does a good job no matter what application you use it for.
Best 10-Round Magazine:
C-Products - 10RD Magazine 7.62X39
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most recent buyers were quite happy with the overall function of the c products 7.62x39 ar magazines. At the same, they were satisfied with the ability to be able to load it to its capacity. One recent buyer said that while he uses these magazines for sighting in his rifle, he also has extras for his shooting competitions in case one of his standard magazines goes south.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is by far one of the most durable 10-round magazines on the market for 7.62x39mm rounds. It has the potential to last you quite a long time. In fact, it might be the last magazine that you’ll ever buy for years or even decades. If that’s one quality you want to look for in a magazine, your search might end here with this specific magazine.
Who Will Use This Most
Since it’s lower in capacity, hunters and target shooters may benefit from it the most, but it won’t be useless for any other applications. Even competitive shooters have used these magazines to their advantage. Especially when they need backup magazines on hand.
What Could Be Improved and Why
One of the major improvements that we like to see should pertain to the disassembly and re-assembly. At some point, you’re going to need to clean the magazines themselves. If you want the cleaning to be quick and easy, the magazine itself should be easy to take apart with the right screws and springs.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for the best 10-round capacity magazine in its class, the C-Products AR-15 10-Round magazine might just be right up your alley. This might also be the closest thing you can get to a multi-purpose magazine that contains less than 30 or even 20 rounds.
What Capacity of Magazine Should I Get?
This is the burning question that gets asked a lot. And the short answer is: it depends. To give you a much more lengthy answer, consider the following: a standard AR-style magazine will be about 20 to 30 rounds. This is standard if you’re just simply using it for any kind of application.
However, there might be those who would prefer lesser rounds (like below 20). This might be ideal for a hunting application since 20 or even 30 might be considered overkill. If you’re a competitive shooter, a magazine with even greater capacity (30 or more) could be worth the investment rather than anything that is standard or less.
Photo credit: gunandshooter.com
How Often Should I Buy New Mags?
The important thing to take note is that you should probably consider purchasing extra magazines rather than just one. The reason being is that you might be able to purchase some extra magazines just in case one of them decides to jam up on you. Yes, they do happen to some of the best magazines on the market.
There really is no set time frame of when you should buy more magazines. But the more you have on you, the better off you’ll be. And the less likely you’ll buy any more magazines (barring anything catastrophic like having all of them fail on you).
What to Look For in 7.62x39 Magazines
There are some characteristics that do stand out in all six of these magazines that you’ll be looking at. We’ve even chosen to include specific magazines on the list due to a characteristic or two that somehow stood out as interesting. Use this list below so you can choose your magazine of choice based on the following aspects:
Capacity
What is your intended purpose? How many rounds do you actually need? If you’re just using it for multiple purposes then you may want to settle for a standard count. If you’re using it solely for hunting, standard capacity might be fine. But you might want to consider getting extra magazines with fewer counts. If you’re a competitive target shooter, then more rounds could certainly help.
Additionally, some states (like California) restrict the possession of magazines with more than ten rounds. So stay sharp on that too.
D&H 7.62x39mm 10RD Magazine - DHT11827
Price
If you’re on a budget, then you’ll definitely be looking at the price tag first. But don’t mistake this as getting the cheapest magazine on the market. You should always place quality as one of the high priorities on your list. Find the magazine that is the best quality you can afford, even if it’s on the higher end of the budget scale.
Materials
Most magazines will be made from high-quality materials. For example, most of the magazines (if not all of them) will be made from high-quality polymer. This material is proven to be literally indestructible. Meaning it can take all kinds of beatings and will never break if it free falls and hits a hard surface.
However, stainless steel magazines have their own benefits relating to durability and longer life. Plus, some people just like the feel and reliability of metal mags.
Conclusion
The best 7.62x39 magazine is out there. One of the above options might just be the next one you’ll buy. Whether you buy one or ten, a good reliable magazine is designed to last you a long time while providing you with consistent reliability and just enough rounds to get you through your application of choice.
People Also Ask!
Expand your knowledge about the 7.62x39 ar magazines with this comprehensive FAQ section.
Are AR Magazines Universal?
No. Different cartridges have their own specific dimensions and while some cartrdiges can interchange magazines to some extent (like the 6.8 SPC rounds can fit 5.56 mags), it is not a bright idea. Always use magazines with their specific cartridges for best and safest results.
How Many AR Magazines Should I Have?
The number depends upon your intended use. If you are a prepper or like mag dumps at the range, go for as many as you like. However, based upon feedback from various users, having five AR mags seems to be a good number.,
