Any interest in new production Galil .308 magazines?

[csspecs]

Edit 9-21-18:
I wanted to have the correct information in the first post so I deleted the original content. So the conversation below may make less sense..

I make magazines for AK pattern rifles mostly large caliber stuff, normally lower production volume type stuff. We found that our Zastava M77 .308 magazine was similar dimensionally to the Galil .308 magazine. So we purchased a rifle to take additional measurements off of. Once we had the data the tooling was fairly straight forward.

The results are below. At this time I have 270 25 round magazines at metal finishing, and an additional 100 10 round magazines. Pricing will be about $48 for the 25 round and $42 for the 10 round.. Should be avalible in a couple weeks or so.

 

[Inkognito]

Yes, I think there will be much interest in this once the word gets out.

 

[AresShrike]

The mag appears curved.
The original Galil mags aren't, in fact, I can't think of any 308 mags that are.
Why the curve, or is it just me seeing things again.

 

[csspecs]

It is curved. The 7.62x51 case is tapered and a stack of them is curved, the magazine matches that curve. It makes the cartridge feed more consistently which is important when you have more than 20 rounds.

There are several other curved magazines for this cartridge, the Cetme, the Bren L4, and all of the poly SR-25 magazines.

A straight magazine is technically cheaper if you are making them on a progressive stamping line, but we are a shop that specializes in short runs so a curved magazine is about the same work as a straight magazine, in fact we charge the same for the 20 round Vepr magazines that we do for a 30 round M14 magazine.. The 30 round is 8.5" long which is just about 1/2" longer than a 35 round .223 galil mag, and a little shorter compared to an AK magazine

Here is a straight mag we make for a Vepr .308, the same magazine body could also be run for the Galil but it would probably only work out to either a 20 maybe 25 round but that is pushing it, the curved one is a 30 round. I can make the bottom angled now, it just makes them more annoying to fabricate because they keep falling over. But if there is a consensus we can make them whichever way everyone wants.

 

[lomalinda]

Pardon the redirection but 50-round 223 Galil mags would sell briskly IMHO.

 

[Mr Folgers]

Pardon the redirection but 50-round 223 Galil mags would sell briskly IMHO.

50rd .223 mags are available and not as expensive as 308 mags of any capacity. Anyone who has used or owned the 50rd mags probably had the same experience as me... too long, heavy and never loaded to full capacity since I don't own a pre-may or dealer sample MG.

Csspecs -- I'll be the first to say the community here is grateful to you for offering to produce .308 mags. But there are a few issues:

-Promag converted M14 mags that are close to the original .308 20rd magazines are still around and generally float for the same price point or less than what you are offering new mags for -- $30-$40
-It is doubtful anyone would want a curved magazine (I wouldn't) versus a straight one. The design is for straight mags, and mag pouches for .308 FAL/G3s are also straight.
-The really desirable mags are the original 25rd Waffles that are too complicated to make
-For the price of 2 of your magazines I could buy an original 25rd waffles and not have any second thoughts.

Not to bash your suggestion but I feel it necessary to point these things out.
What people really want is an .308 mag that looks like an original but doesn't cost $80 or $90 a pop. If you can make a quality M14-converted magazine or one like the straight one posted above for closer to $25, you would have a much more interest in your project.

 

[csspecs]

Well 300 people viewed the topic and basically only one person has expressed interest..
I'm guessing you are correct, that people want original magazines not anything new.

We ran into a similar issue on the M14 forums.
People would line up around the block for a 50 round drum, but make a 30 round mag with a curve in it and they act like you burned a flag.

It gets a little aggravating when you can run computer simulations and stress tests but everyone wants you to use a design that was made using a slide rule..:bang

I may need to put this on the back burner..

 

[AresShrike]

csspecs - I'm sorry brother, I meant no offense, but, I just feel/felt a little more comfortable with the original "type", tried and true.
You've got a great point about the computer simulation/stress test thing vs. the old slide rule, but there's no doubt the old ones work great.
"but make a 30 round mag with a curve in it and they act like you burned a flag." - That's hilarious!!! (love that comment!)
Yeah, it would be great to have the extra capacity.
Personally, I WOULD prefer a new mag over an old one, sure, as long as there no doubt whatsoever, that it functions as well as, and is as physically robust, as the originals.

You do make great mags, and I totally appreciate the Galil offering, and yes, I'd be interested in getting some of your new .308 Galil mags, to check out, either way.

Maybe some "reproduction" Valmet 76 5.56 mags would sell great, as you can't find any, and when you do, they're $300+ each.

 

[FELIX 808]

Well for me I prefer the original 25 round Waffle Mags. It's not that it has a curve, they just look better & work. I have been told by one of the most covenanted /trusted sources around here that the converted M-14 Promags have geometry / feeding issues & don't bother wasting your time with them. I've listened to this advise & never bought one. Now the original Israeli converted mags are a different story, but Promags choke. I'm stocked up on the Waffle mags so I'm not really in the market.

As far as 30 round curved 308 mag, PMAG SR25 mags are curved, DSA FAL mags are curved. Though mostly 303 the mighty Bren gun mags were curved even the 308 Brens.

Here are a few examples:

Curved FAL Mags

Curved G3 mags

Curved SR-25 Mags

Curved Bren Mags

303

and 308

 

[raexcct2]

Hello,

I think a few people over here know who I am. I make magazines for a few different AK patterns like the Yugo M77, Veprs in several calibers, and Saigas.

Anyway while picking through a few of my magazine samples I noticed that an original Galil .308 magazine is nearly identical to our M14 magazines, we have a 30 round that has been working well.

So it looks like we would need to make a front catch, back catch, and change the follower.. Nothing too complicated. Pricing about $40-$45 we can make any capacity between 10 and 30 rounds in increments of 5.

Any interest? Please feel free to spread the word on this.. If I get a fairly positive response I could start the tooling in a couple weeks (need to get a rifle) and have magazines ready for sale in 6-8 weeks.

Here is a photo of the M14 magazine it would be based on. The front wrap would be punched out the front to make the front tab, and the back would get a milled part..

Top view.

I just found this thread and it couldn’t have come at a greater time. I was contemplating selling my .308 Galil and .308 parts kits due to the ridiculous magazine prices. Same reason why I am selling my Valmet M76.

I have a converted M14 20 round magazine that has front and rear magazine tabs and I feel those would be more sturdy. I base this on my metric FN FALs and inch L1A1s that I have. The FALs have a punched out front catch and usually gets punched in after long term use. My L1A1 magazines have machined front and rear tabs and are about indestructible.

I don’t mind the curved 30 round design as I also have .308 Bren magazines but I bet you would sell more if you made them 20-25 rounders with front and rear metal tabs.

At your price point of $40-45, I would be in for at least 20 for each .308 Galil I have and sell my NOS original magazines (still in the packaging) as your magazines add another 3 US parts for 922(r) compliance.

Don’t give up.

 

[csspecs]

Oh actually I have M76 valmet mags in development. Trying to get them sometime this year..

 

[raexcct2]

Oh actually I have M76 valmet mags in development. Trying to get them sometime this year..

Ok. Now you have me. Glad I found this thread courtesy of a member here who is also on the FAL FILES.

Your Valmet M76 mags are in .223?

 

[Ruddiger]

Hey, I'm still interested in your curved .308 Galil mags!

 

[raexcct2]

I would buy your Galil mags whether they are 20, 25 or 30 rounds, straight or curved but I do want milled front and rear tabs unless you can show that a front punched out tab is strong enough as a milled front tab.

Honestly, I just want quality US made magazines for my Galil and Valmet.

 

[Ugh!]

How about standard 223 galil mag followers? So when the 12 rd blank firing mags are converted, you can put in a follower that fits correctly.

 

[L0rdofWar]

count me in

 

[csspecs]

Alrighty we have a rifle on the way. I'll post updates once we start.. We will probably do two samples one straight one curved.. See what works best.. Not much cost in doing different samples

 

[2manytoys]

Oh actually I have M76 valmet mags in development. Trying to get them sometime this year..

As an owner of 2 M76s in .223, you've got me interested now.

 

[csspecs]

Just wanted to bump the thread. We got the rifle in a week ago, looks like either magazine will work.. Just need to get some time to make forming tools.

I would buy your Galil mags whether they are 20, 25 or 30 rounds, straight or curved but I do want milled front and rear tabs unless you can show that a front punched out tab is strong enough as a milled front tab.

Honestly, I just want quality US made magazines for my Galil and Valmet.

The straight magazine allows for a fairly thick front tab punching.. We have been using thinner front tab punchings on the Vepr magazines in both .308 and .30-06... If we go with the straight pattern magazines the front punching would be .060" steel which is what we have been using on our Saiga shotgun magazines, that is twice the thickness of what we use on our vepr rifle magazines.. And the over all engagement is higher than either a FAL or M14 magazine..
So I don't see it as a problem. The original IWI Galil magazine front tabs strike me as an unnecessarily expensive way to accomplish the goal. The only reason I could see needing a front tab that thick is if you are doing a LOT of rifle grenade launching..

 

[Inkognito]

Oh actually I have M76 valmet mags in development. Trying to get them sometime this year..

Now this is good news indeed. I do not currently own an M76, I have turned a few away over the years simply due to the mag issue. I hope this moves forward.

As for the Galil .308 mags, I also don't own one of those but if I did I would be interested in a good quality steel aftermarket mag but I would want it to be straight and I would want it to be 20 or 25 rounds. Just my opinion but 30 is too heavy and too long for .308. For me it would not have to look identical to the original, but I would pay the price you mentioned for a good straight steel mag that held 20 or 25. If this comes to fruition I would even explore building a .308 Galil. I have an IMI 556 ARM and I love it.