I’ve got a PTR-32 thread where I’m trying to log info on what mags work, along with modifications I’m doing to the rifle along the way.

That’s kind of interesting to hear that your rifle won’t take Magpul Gen 3. Also the Bulgarian steel and poly mags should fit; almost every YouTube video reviewer shows them fitting and functioning.

U.S Palm magazines were also mentioned as not compatible with the 32 by every video and forum post I could find.

I’m curious now if you have a Gen I or Gen II PTR-32.

My rifle will take Korean KCI 40 rounders easily and isn’t right at all, not sure if the 30 rounders would be different since I don’t have any. Hungarian “Tanker” mags fit my rifle perfectly.

 

I'm like 90% sure I have a Gen 2. I was very surprised that it's this fussy with mags. Took a few magpul gen 3s to a local shop to see if they could be modified ever so slightly to fit. But maybe I should look into having the mag release filed down a tiny bit?

 

My PTR 91 with a 762x39 barrel. Malfs on Tapco. E German steel, hard to insert and malfs. Magpul gen 3, runs great.

My PSA KS47. Magpul won't work. Tapco wont work. Steel E. German runs fine.

 

Does your 91 with the x39 barrel use a standard G3 bolt or is it modified for the smaller x39 rim?

 

I just picked up a gen 2 from Classic and so far I'm very disappointed with the mag issues. PTR's website states that the PTR 32 "accepts most AK magazines." So far the ONLY mags I can get to seat normally are Magpuls. I have way too many AK mags, so at this point I've tried Romanian, Polish and Hungarian surplus steel mags; Russian surplus bakelite; new Bulgarian circle 10 waffles (30 and 40 rd); new Bulgarian, Croatian and Serbian steel; Tapco, US Palm, X tech, Bulgarian bullet polys and IO branded polys. With enough force I can jam some of them into the rifle, but then I need to use an armorer's hammer to get them back out. Im wondering if my rifle is particularly out of spec (assuming there is a spec). Perhaps the front weld in the magwell is overly large? Has anyone returned a rifle to PTR for this reason or had any luck with a gunsmith fix? I want to love this gun but so far I'm mainly annoyed.

 

Sounds like yours is out of spec but...

First question is, and I mean no offense, but are you sure its a Gen 2 PTR-32? I've seen some gun shops and pawn shops selling PTR-32's in the past and they didn't know there was a Gen 1 or 2. Not saying Classic doesn't know their guns, but like most big online shops, they'll list guns following a provided UPC code and whatever cut and paste description they are provided.

The PTR-32 Gen 2's magwell was supposedly designed with the Magpul mag as the basis for fitment. Its still the easiest AK mag to insert and remove, at least on mine and other owner's rifles. Every Youtuber, gun blogger, and even SHOT Show demo gun user who tried the PTR-32 Gen 2 has mostly had the same results; majority of mags work but the common consensus is that there are known mags that will not work whatsoever; U.S Palm, any Bolt-Hold Open type mag and certain steel mags.

Also the way you insert the mag can make it seem like it does or doesn't fit. Unlike an AK, since the PTR has an enclosed magwell, there are more contact points that could divert the mag at even the slightest angle and cause lockup issues. Basically you can think of it as trying to parallel park a Mini Cooper versus Ford Excursion; just even the slightest deviation of movement in mag inserting can throw you off.

 

Have a gen 1 gun that fits all mags except US Palm. All run acceptably in semiautomatic. To date only gen 2 magpul will run in F/A reliably every time.

 

Big mistake for PTR to field this rifle before sorting this out. Why should it be a customer problem. As far as I know AK mags are very compatible amongst various manufacturers something should have been fixed with the rifles.

 

It's endemic to the custom nature of the roller lock. Hard to tune for a new caliber

 

I have a Ghillie 52 and IT is picky. It hates the Hungarian 20 rd tankers and some other 30 rders. Just get a few of several types and find out what works and color code them. These are finicky weapons (as far as mags) but when you find what they like you are ready to rock. The only other negative to mine is it HATES brass case ammo, it mangles the brass like no other roller lock I have ever seen, I did get some increased function and smoothness by cutting down the G3 recoil spring a few loops, it's all good now. these are specialty weapons, AK people are spoiled by utter reliability (and I love my 47/74 weapons)

 

PMAGs work fine in my '32, but the 30 rounders seem to have a lot of side-to-side play. I picked up some Bulgarian slab sided mags and AC-Unity 40 rounders. The former barely fits and the latter fits perfectly (better than the Pmags actually), however I could not get either to feed correctly after the first round.

After spending some time staring at each I noticed that the inner contours of the PMAG 'lips' are different than the others - I would describe them as being somewhat scalloped such that, perhaps, they may guide the bullets better(?). Has anyone had success modifying / improving problematic mags with the '32? If so, what worked?