Options for optics for my MAK-90, FN FAL and SKS...here are the requirements:

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saturno_v

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1) No long eye relief scopes.

2) No gunsmith required (so no drilling holes, filind, etc...).

3) I have no side rail on both rifles.

4) I prefer a Picatinny type of attachment.


I was almost ready to pull the trigger on the integrated Picatinny rail dust covers for the AK and the FN FAL...they are kind of spendy (well over $100 for the FAL) but I did like the look and the practicality aspect.

However, I heard that these are terrible.....they lose zero everytime you need to clean the rifle and they tend to be wobbly......very poor accuracy (even by plinking standard) can be reached....more than one person told me to do not waste my money...

What is the expert's opinion?? Is that true?? Should I not buy these??

I want to buy an SKS too.....what are the optics option for this rifle also?? (same requirements)
If I remember correctly, you cannot even remove the dust cover on the SKS right??

Thank you!!!


Regards
 
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The TWS AK receiver rail is fine; it has a unique construction that won't lose zero. Does your AK have a side rail? If so, I would instead recommend a Midwest Industries 1913 Side mount. Quick detach, almost as low as the TWS, and the TWS makes the rifle hard to clean.
 
The side rails are the best. If you're doing a red dot the Ultimak has a lot of advantages too.

BSW
 
DSA SA58 Para, DSA railed top cover, Vortex Viper HS 1-4X in Larue mounts.

DSC00051.jpg

No gunsmith involved, and it holds zero. With the DSA top cover you install it, leave it on, and then clean the rifle similarly to an AR.

Chuck
 
You might try one of the hinged rail mounts if you want to use a magnified optic on a AK.

IMO, magnified optics on a AK are not playing to the strengths of that rifle. A red dot on a AK makes getting hits faster at close range, which is where the AK shines. The red dot ot being the best for +300 yard engagements doesn't matter so much on a AK.

There is no good way to mount a magnified optic on a SKS unless you attach a side rail to it. And those setups are less than optimal.

BSW
 
Ditto on the SKS, none of the cover mounts will work long time, the only way to reliably mount a red dot or LER scope is with one of the rear sight replacement mounts.
 
Ditto on the SKS, none of the cover mounts will work long time, the only way to reliably mount a red dot or LER scope is with one of the rear sight replacement mounts.

Correct about rear sight replacement mounts. Please see my post!

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You might try one of the hinged rail mounts if you want to use a magnified optic on a AK.

IMO, magnified optics on a AK are not playing to the strengths of that rifle. A red dot on a AK makes getting hits faster at close range, which is where the AK shines. The red dot ot being the best for +300 yard engagements doesn't matter so much on a AK.

There is no good way to mount a magnified optic on a SKS unless you attach a side rail to it. And those setups are less than optimal.

BSW

Incorrect in reference to sks! You just have to know where to look.


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I shoot corrosive ammo in 7.62x39. So I have to strip to clean.

In my experiance return to zero mounts don't.

Also, even given the toughness of modern optics, I will not give up my iron sights.

BSW
 
My advice is to have a side rail installed on your rifles. It can be done by a competent gunsmith. You just have to order the rail and the proper AK rivets for him to do it with. You're giving up so much by not having a side rail, and not having it forces you to do things in a half-ass manner that is both inconvenient and doesn't work well. You're really sacrificing so much of your rifles' potential.

The return-to-zero capability of the side rail is true. Scopes keep their accuracy within 1 MOA after being remounted. It's a good design, and it's hard to argue with the ability to swap between scopes, red dots, and iron sights within seconds.
 
The commie side rails I tested had about a 2.5MOA deviation each time they were mounted and dismounted.

I keep the optic on the rifle during cleaning if I expect it to be zeroed enough for use.

BSW
 
I believe that both attachments require a long relief type of scope...that is a no go for me....I do not like them...

If that is the case you are SOL then because those are the only two makers that make the rear sight scope mounts for the SKS. It is either one of those two or receiver cover scope mounts that will loose zero everytime you clean the rifle. UTG makes a picatinny quad rail for the sks that attaches to the front part of the handguard but your optics would be sitting to far forward to be of any use. I am using the BC tactical one for a red dot but I would not hesitate to put any 3x9x40 or even higher scope on it.


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For the AK, I would go with an Ultimak scout mount and an Aimpoint red dot. For the FAL, I would go with a dust cover mount and something like a 1-4x or 2-7x scope mounted as low as you can get it. For the SKS, I would go with Tech Sights TS-100 iron sights.
 
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