The small angle scattering of x‐rays from single crystals of magnesium plastically deformed in simple shear has been measured in the angular range of 4′ to 5°. The crystals were subjected to both unidirectional and cyclic shear stresses applied along the [112¯0] direction. Thin slices of the deformed single crystals were prepared using strain‐free cutting and polishing techniques. The thin slices had orientations such that the slip direction was either parallel or perpendicular to the incident x‐ray beam in order to observe any anisotropy in the scattering that might be due to dislocations. It was found that those samples which contained deformation twins within the irradiated volume produced rather large scattered intensity. This scattered intensity is interpreted as being due to double Bragg scattering. The scattered intensity from other specimens was attributed to surface scattering. No evidence for small angle scattering by dislocations was found.