AK Sponsor
Posted: 12/23/2010 10:54:14 AM EDT
I have a lot of mags, many more than I thought I had. While going through some boxes of gun stuff from moving a few months back I'm came across stuff I didn't know I still had. For a few mags ammo cans work but I have a lot more than a few mags, triple digits of AK mags . How are AK mags stored in armories over seas? Any idea how to store a large quantity of AK mags for future use?
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They are stored with cosmoline smeared all over them. (metal ones anyways) Are they just thrown in a big container or do they have boxes like they make for USGI AR15 mags? AK mags aren't easy to stack or stand up. :( I don't know how they come packed when they arrive into the country, I just know that all the surplus mags I've gotten were in cosmo. Most of mine that are in storage and don't get used are sitting inside an ammo can originally for grenades of some sort. Fits a bunch of them nicely. It's too bulky to carry around, but works fine for simple storage. I cleaned the cosmoline off in a parts washer and sprayed the mags with "gun seal" spray oil product, then sealed them in the ammo can. I figured it would be a lot easier to put them into service in the future with plain medium oil on them rather than cosmo. Inside the air tight can, I have no worries about rust just having them coated in the regular oil. I haven't seen any boxes made specifically for AK mags, but I don't doubt that they are out there. Regular ammo cans work good for me. |
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Cosmoline is overkill, just use Lubriplate Brownells - Lubriplate |
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What size ammo cans are you using? I think .50 cal cans were too short when I tried them a while back. 50 cals if I'm just going out shooting. Each 50 can will comfortably hold 10 mags with a little space left. Two layers of 5. Seems like you have to set them in alternating directions to make the baseplates fit. The grenade cans are in the garage, but they fit a boatload of mags and can be organized pretty efficiently for storage. I couldn't tell you exactly how many fit, I don't want to go open it and count.. but it's a lot. 
These mags all have short back ridges. There might be some clearance issues getting two layers in if they have tall back ridges. I don't remember, most of my mags that I shoot are plastic and bakelite. I know there is a crapco in the picture. ;) |
| When storing mags I take a little red grease and give the outside of the mag a thin coat then pour some sewing machine down inside the magazine and shake it around. Sewing machine oil is relatively cheap and easy to clean up compared to motor oil or grease. Seal in a ziplock and store in a cardboard box/ammo can. If you use a gallon zip lock you can get 3-4 30 rounders in it. Obviously, this would only be for long term storage while not needing to use them. |
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For real storage, yes. Cosmoline.
But my storage is meant to last only many years ... what I've done is taken clean, well-oiled mags, wrapped each one in a plastic grocery bag, and then just stacked them in cardboard boxes, which I tape shut and label. Works for me. Couple years ago I opened one of the boxes that's been stored that way for many years (about 10 I suppose) and the mags were just fine. |
| In the early 90s I use to see big wooden boxes of Chinese mags at the gunshow, similar in description to the E. German ones. The wood appeared to be 3/4" pine, seems like the box was about 3ft long and 1.5-2 ft high and the mags were stacked in rows with several layers of them. Can't remember what seperated the layers, thin plywood or just cardboard. As far as finding one you could contact Brian at AIM, he claims he'll sell anything not tied down. |
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anyone have pics of these wooden crates? I dont have 400-500 but a crate half size would be about perfect Ever think about just buying a crate or two of yugo surplus ammo? Then you'll have the wood box you are seeking, and ammo to fill the mags with. One Yugo box isn't too huge, but should hold a good lot of AK mags. 50cal cans do hold 10 steel mags nicely.. with a little extra front or back gap for a few boxes of ammo, desiccant or whatever you want. |
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anyone have pics of these wooden crates? I dont have 400-500 but a crate half size would be about perfect Ever think about just buying a crate or two of yugo surplus ammo? Then you'll have the wood box you are seeking, and ammo to fill the mags with. One Yugo box isn't too huge, but should hold a good lot of AK mags. 50cal cans do hold 10 steel mags nicely.. with a little extra front or back gap for a few boxes of ammo, desiccant or whatever you want. not a bad idea about the Yugo ammo and crate |
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Try one of these.
http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=545691 It's a medical chest. You can use them to store all sorts of stuff. They are easy to stack, water repellent & strong. They also have handles. Remember to check the latches before you put the cover on or you'll bend the latches (they have 10). There are some that are bigger & include a divider. They (usually) keep out moisture (check the gasket). I also saw this. http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=143109 |
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