I have a Colt pre-ban Sporter Lightweight 16" in 7.62X39.  I've always wondered how rare these were.  Mine came with 6 "frankenmags" and they seem to work fine.  The 5-rounder factory ones do too.  Everything else I've tried is junk!  What do you guys use for mags?  I bought mine back in 1994.  It's serial number is within the last 1,000 or so before the ban!

Uh, what exactly is a "frankenmag"?

All I use are Frankenmags with mine.
[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=8516[/img]

I bought quite a few when I bought the upper.

I've got an old SKS stuffed in the corner of the safe, does that count? [:D]

Don't USGI 30s work too (only you have a more limited capacity)?

Yes and no. In other words, not very reliably.

You can get by with the standard .223 mags if you're plinking or hunting. But I use mine for steel plates events and need a 30 rnd mag.

My first Colt R6830 Sporter Lightweight 7.62x39, with USA frankenmag:

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=19117[/img]

My second Colt R6830 Sporter Lightweight 7.62x39, with G-Tech frankenmag:

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=15354[/img]

More frankenmags:

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=3215[/img]

Original 1993 Colt New Products brochure:

[img]http://photos.ar15.com/ImageGallery/Attachments/DownloadAttach.asp?iImageUnq=3213[/img]

Nope, I don't like 7.62x39 AR-15s at all. [bow]

I have plenty of USGI 20 and 30 round .223/5.56 mags and cannot use them.  After just 4 0r 5 rounds, the mag swells outwards and cannot even be inserted into the magwell.

CDNN sells 10rd USA mags that work well with the Colt 7.62x39.