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Each
round has a different shape. The 7.62x39 has a tapered
shape and when stacked side by side they form a curve.
The 5.56x45 has a straight case, so it stacks fairly
straight. The 5.45 is in between with a slight curve.
Their magazines follow their shape as you can see

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The
only real AK47 clip is a 'stripper clip' like this
which holds ten 7.62x39 rounds. They are held under
slight spring pressure in a metal track. These are
designed to be carried in bandoleers and loaded quickly
into magazines with a simple tool, the black thing
in these pictures

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The
mag loader is attached to the magazine and the stripper
clip is fit into the slot at the top. Once in place
pressure applied to the rounds opposite the mag and
one push loads all the rounds into the mag in a moment.
This 30 round magazine can hold three of these stripper
clips

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The
7.62x39 magazine holds 30 rounds and is curved like
the rounds that will fit inside it. The bakelite
5.56x45 magazine also holds 30 rounds, but has much
less curve

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Two
styles of 5.45x39 magazine. A smooth side and a waffle
magazine. both are plastic covered metal

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The
5.45x39 round has a unique shape. Short tapered
case, narrow bullet

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Some
5.45x39 (AK74) magazines Styles and one 5.56x45 (.223)
on the right
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Each of
the various magazines works the same way when it meets
the gun. They shed rounds up into the chamber
as the bolt operates

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Some
styles of AK47 (7.62x39) magazines

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There
is a lot to look at on an AK47 magazine. Here is
more information on AK47
magazine collecting And here is even more
on AK47
Magazine
Collecting

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Another
forgotten round for the AK47 is the 12 gauge. And
while there are a lot of options in shotgun rounds,
we chose 00 buck which has about 11 lead balls a
bit larger than the 7.62x39 (.30 cal AK47).
While range is reduced the Saiga AK style shotguns
offer a lot of stopping power

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There
is a company in Arizona that produces the Saiga 12
gauge magazines that hold 10 rounds. They are not
small, but 10 rounds in an AK47 style semi auto shotgun is
very effective
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