MD Arms Double Stack Saiga Shotgun mags at The Firearm Blog

The Firearm Blog has a post about the MD Arms double stack Saiga shotgun magazines.  As pointed out over there double stacking rimmed shotgun rounds is no easy feat.  No word that I've seen on their quad stack rifle magazines.

Military Arm Channel's US Palm Quad Stack video

The 45 quad is definitely the length of a double 30 and the 30 quad is the length of a double 20:

Again, I'm still trying to decide the 50% increase in ammo worth the issues and costs.

US Palm Quad Stacks at SHOT

Gunwebsites has a close up of the US Palm Quad stacks:

EDIT to add:
Interesting that US Palm as two capacities coming out, a 30 and 45, the one pictured in my first post on them seems to be the 30 and will be around $80 and the 45 one wasn't pictured but from the video looks to be about the same length as a 30 rounder at about $100 (I wish he would have put the AK30 right up next to the prototypes so I could tell for sure). Also the US Palm rep mentioned "metal feed lips" which would be completely new for US Palm.

Honestly, the smaller one at 45 was more exciting. At about only 10 more compared to a similar size 20 round double stack metal mag, or only 15 more for one at a double stack 30, it is definitely an improvement but will the bulk be worth it if it is only 50% more ammo when there are plenty of 40 rounder double stacks out there for cheap and you will have to potentially change your pouch setups?

The short one I think will definitely have a niche for a those that run foregrips closer to the mag well (like AMD-65s) because they will give more rock in room.

New US Palm Quad Stack

Several places, including Matt over at Jerking the Trigger, are reporting the new US Palm Quad stack mags are coming. Facebook pic here. Basically 45 rounders that are shorter than 30 rounders and look to be about as wide as the receiver, but at a MSRP of $99. Should be interesting, more info coming during SHOT Show.

The Firearm Blog shows the AK-12 and the an Interesting Draco addon

Steve at The Firearm Blog had a couple interesting AK posts this week. First was the AK-12, an updated version of the 5th Generation AK-200. It will be the AK-12 since it will go into production next year. I'm not too excited because it may end up and be Vaporware, espeically since earlier in the year Russia annouced that they had too many AKs already. Also, it will take awhile for some of the features to trickle down into U.S. imported guns, if at all. However, it is interesting to see how Russia wants to update the platform and it would be nice to see them go into large scale production on the 60 round quad stack mags and some of them make it over here so they don't command nearly $1000 on Gunbroker.

The other interesting post was on Center Balanced Systems' Draco Pistol modification. At first glance it turns the Draco into an SBR Bullpup, but it is actually still classified as a handgun by the ATF in a letter due to the fact that is only designed to be used with one hand. I am considering getting one for my Draco that is still a pistol.

US Palm Cage Pictures

Armed and Christian's comment on the MD mags made me want to share these

You can see the metal rear lug and the metal cage in the mold holes.

Metal on front lug

More pics of the cage inside the mag.

The line is the approximate location of where the cage stops (no metal feed lip support)

For reference, this K-Var pdf details their metal parts on the Bulgarian Circle 10 waffle mags.

Note the extra metal in the front strap, floorplate area, and lips in the Circle Ten. US Palm's response would be that it just adds weight and their mags are strong enough without it due to their design.

US Palm's lug cage goes all the way around where the Circle Tens don't. It wouldn't surprise me if US Palms were stronger in the lugs than Circle Tens. Of course, the US Palms might be weaker in the lips. I think if there are no defects, the US Palm "floorplate" is stronger, but if you are the type that likes to pull your floorplate, the Circle Tens are the way to go. But for the most part, besides for me being a US Palm fanboy, I think they are equally good in both theory and my experience. "They are both equal and it is purely a personal preference."

I have both and they are both my "first line" magazines depending on which gear setup I use. The Attack Rack has the US Palms, the Hawkepaks Civil Defense Survival Kit Bag has the Circle Tens. Unless it is a 40 rounder or 20 rounder, ComBloc metal are generally kept around as bench warmers.

Now if the MD Arms Quad Stacks are as good as Mike says, the others might become second string. If you guys want a magazine depth chart I can make you one (I must be excited the NFL is coming back with all these roster references).

Mike from MD Arms post on their Quad Stack Magazines

Saw this at one of the major AK forums. It has been a little bit of an open secert that MD Arms (makers of great Saiga stuff) have been working on quad stack mags. Here's portions of Mike's post on it: "I have ZERO doubt that our quads will by far be the best AK mags in the world... Full heat treated steel inserts through out (thats in the rear and front mag catch, feedlips, at the bottom for the floor plate and a removable metal floor plate) and the plastic we use is far superior to the plastic used in ANY surplus or aftermarket AK mags to date. In fact the material we use is so strong I am completely confidant that we could not use metal and still not have the breakages that others do that skipped the metal inserts. That isn't our style though. Ous (sic) will have the steel inserts even if it is overkill with our material. We don't cut quality corners to save pennys on the dollar... Going to be a lot of foot in mouth when we release the quads from those who doubt them. It might be best to wait for first hand experience to avoid being one of those guys... For the guys that claim they don't need 50rd we will have a nice tight 30rd for you that is a touch shorter than a 20rd double stack. It will be far less constricting to carry on your person than a double stack 30 and lighter and stronger as well..."

If they are as good as he says we are in for a treat!

AK200 Annouced

Izhmash has officially shown the AK200. It looks familiar and relatively evolutionary in design. The Firearm Blog and a few others have posted pictures of the prototype previously and the new design looks to have a few different features than the prototype. The main improvements seem the be rails, furniture, and the rear sight. It also shows that the AK107/8 looks to be a dead branch in the family. Those rifles were designed with a dual gas piston with one moving forward to counteract recoil which was added as a way for the AK series to compete with the AN94's recoil reduction system.

One thing that is common in the prototype and show rifle is the quad stack 60 round mags that look like they may be finally going into full scale production!

Big hattip to The Firearm Blog and SayUncle for reporting this!

Quad Stack AK74 magazine Reserve not met on GunBroker

There was a quad stack 60 round AK74 mag that was on Gun Broker last week. It started at $600 and closed at $900 without meeting reserve! I'd agree they are an ultra rare collectors' item and maybe the only one in the United States, but I'm not going to spend $900+ on any one magazine (unless I hit the lottery). I'd also be afraid the the Russians will finally put these into regular production allow more to trickle in from individual collectors, if not even imported by distributors.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162814104

Overall, the design seems pretty interesting when you look at the patten diagram:

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/1228/82529pj4.jpg

Basically a quad stack until it hits the divider and limits the feed down to double. I wonder though how reliable that is. The fact that it isn't in production in Russia would lead me to believe it isn't.