FAB Defense 10 rd Vz58 mags - any good?

[MeatAxe]

I’m gonna have to take a trip behind the Iron Curtain to a slave state and taking my Vz58 for company…unfortunately that state bans anything over 15 rounds. Since 15 rd mags are even harder to find than 10 rounders, thought I’d pick up some FAB Defense ULTIMAG 10 rd mags for the trip.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/fab-defense-ultimag-vz-7-62x39mm-polymer-rifle-magazine.html

Anybody have any experience with these - good or bad?

Thanks!

[RSR]

CitizenPete did a review/torture test when they first came out.  Search the forum, but IIRC, no function issues (unlike AC Unity), but less durable than the OEM aluminum.  Think they also weighed slightly more. 

FAB makes a 5 star mag wheel that should tie into the base plates on these as well, so you can have 50 rounds on hand with just rotating the mags...  States AR mags, but the profile on base plates is the same IIRC.
*Link to OP since also yours: https://www.opticsplanet.com/fab-defense-pentagon-magazine-coupler-for-five-10rd-ar-15-ultimag-magazines.html

Also, some repressive states allow "handguns" to have more capacity and don't have prohibitions on arm brace rifle variants.  Worth looking into as well.

Good luck -- safe travels! 

[MeatAxe]

CitizenPete did a review/torture test when they first came out.  Search the forum, but IIRC, no function issues (unlike AC Unity), but less durable than the OEM aluminum.  Think they also weighed slightly more. 

FAB makes a 5 star mag wheel that should tie into the base plates on these as well, so you can have 50 rounds on hand with just rotating the mags...  States AR mags, but the profile on base plates is the same IIRC.
*Link to OP since also yours: https://www.opticsplanet.com/fab-defense-pentagon-magazine-coupler-for-five-10rd-ar-15-ultimag-magazines.html

Also, some repressive states allow "handguns" to have more capacity and don't have prohibitions on arm brace rifle variants.  Worth looking into as well.

Good luck -- safe travels!

Thanks for that info!

Looks like they cycle / function reliably enough, but just can’t stand up to the drop test repeatedly! Pretty cheap, though.

Hopefully they’ll last me a couple of weeks, if I don’t get too clumsy!

[RSR]

Thanks for that info!

Looks like they cycle / function reliably enough, but just can’t stand up to the drop test repeatedly! Pretty cheap, though.

Hopefully they’ll last me a couple of weeks, if I don’t get too clumsy!

If memory serves something like that.  Without looking think he might have also driven over one or maybe just discussion of such?  Regardless, really doubt dropping a 10 round mag on its feed lips would produce similar results to a 30 rounder, but could be wrong!

[MudPie]

I just ordered 3 a couple days ago.

But I can't give a reliability test for at least 3 months...samopal is currently building my first VZ-58 on a tort-tort receiver.  I sent him everything last week.

My range is bench rest, I know with my AR, 10 or 20 rounders work well.  30's ?  Not so much.  The VZ will be the same way.

[RSR]

I just ordered 3 a couple days ago.

But I can't give a reliability test for at least 3 months...samopal is currently building my first VZ-58 on a tort-tort receiver.  I sent him everything last week.

My range is bench rest, I know with my AR, 10 or 20 rounders work well.  30's ?  Not so much.  The VZ will be the same way.

Yeah, I really want 20 round Vz58 mags -- some Czech folks have fabbed them from 30 rounders, but would really like an original manufacturer's product...  The 20 round AK mags in 7.62x39 are roughly the same length along the spine as AR 30 rounders, but not the same height due to their increased curvature, if that makes sense.  Roughly what a 25 round AR mag would be in height IIRC.

[Dr Leaky]

I got 3 of the 10-rounders for range work and they've been fine, although I have yet to drop one.

[MudPie]

I just ordered 3.  Don't even have my rifle back from the builder yet, but I ordered 3....

It's a sickness....

[MudPie]

Well, I got them and loaded them up, but like I said, no rifle just yet.

I don't plan on dropping them so I'm not worried about the drop durability.

I'm not an Operator nor act like one.  I don't walk, empty a mag and do that oh-so-popular-now flick of the rifle to toss a mag (in an AR).

I dropped mags when I was in the Marine Corps, but Uncle Sam gave them to me.  Since I buy my own now, I pull the mag, place it down then insert another.  That paper target I'm shooting at is unlikely to bayonet charge me, so ultra fast mag changes aren't required...

[dlem77]

Any update on those FAB magazines? I am looking to purchase a couple myself...

[RSR]

Any update on those FAB magazines? I am looking to purchase a couple myself...

They're not significantly different than FAB's AK mags.  Like AC Unity, they might not activate the last shot bolt hold open catch.

They may or may not be superior to AC Unity depending on what you prioritize.

Might be ahead to ask specific questions.