7.62x39 (AK47), 5.56x45 (.223) and 5.45x39 (AK74)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some 5.45x39 (AK74) magazines Styles and one 5.56x45 (.223) on the right

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

Some styles of AK47 (7.62x39) magazines

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

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

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