Rumors of a new Magpul magazine for the AK-74 platform are confirmed: The company has just released the PMAG 30 AK74 MOE magazine, designed to hold 30 rounds of 5.45x39mm ammunition and compatible with all 5.45mm caliber AK rifles that take traditional AK-74 pattern magazines.

The company’s website has been updated to support sales of the new magazines, although they are not yet ready for purchase. The site promises availability in “Summer of 2016”, so if Magpul holds to that timeline then we can expect the magazines to reach the market by the August-September timeframe.

Image source: Magpul

Despite sanctions on the Russian Federation, US interest in the 5.45x39mm caliber continues. Thanks to its flat-shooting characteristics, availability of ammunition, and magazines for AK-platform rifles, the caliber has become a strong “second-string” carbine caliber that is here to stay. Magpul’s release of the new 5.45mm MOE magazine seems only to reinforce this. What used to be an almost unknown Soviet caliber has, with just a few brief years of rock-bottom ammunition prices, become one of the staples of the US tactical rifle market.

Image source: Magpul

Now, to really make waves, all Magpul has to do is offer a 45-round variant of the new 5.45mm magazine. Perhaps, with a 5.45 D-60 drum, they could even win a Russian contract (kidding)!

H/T Duncan from LooseRounds.