AK Side Rail Mount + Aimpoint T1 Combo?

JJNA said:

Has anyone here tried putting a side rail mount with the Aimpoint T1 on an AKM-clone?

I know the cheek weld turns into a "chin weld" with the side rail mount, but T1 is pretty small, plus with a Vltor stock adopter, one can mount a check-riser on a polymer stock.

If anyone here has some personal experience with this type of a setup, I'd appreciate an input.

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RS Regulate has an old style and a brand new style side mount for regular Aimpoint Comps, T1s and ACOGs too. They even co-witness which is new for the AK family.

JJNA said:

Thank you for the tip. How do these compare with Midwest Industries side rail mount?

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Much better. They are lighter and can also adjust fore and aft as well as left/right to perfectly center over your bore.

JJNA said:

I think I might give it a go. Thank you. Any experience with how these line up with the cheek-weld on the normal AK stock vs. Vltor stock adopter/Vltor or Magpul (say, CTR) stock combination (plus a cheek riser, maybe)?

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They sit extremely low. Like I say, they sit so low that you can co-witness your iron sights "through" a regular Aimpoint and/or also the Micro. Regardless of what stock you use, if you can comfortably use your iron sights, then you can comfortably use the RS Regulate mounts for red dot sights too.

This thread here shows the "old" version #1 mounts. The newer version #2 mounts made to work with the AK 300, AK 301 & 302 stuff.

http://www.militaryarmschannel.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=806

https://www.primaryarms.com/AK_Rings_Mounts_s/588.htm

I have the MI 30mm mount and a Vortex Strikefire... has a lower 1/3 cowitness, and allows a proper cheekweld. So if the RS Products allows cowitnesses, then it'll be just like using your irons.

Inebriated said:

I have the MI 30mm mount and a Vortex Strikefire... has a lower 1/3 cowitness, and allows a proper cheekweld. So if the RS Products allows cowitnesses, then it'll be just like using your irons.

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The RS Regulate probably sits at the same height.
The only difference would be that the RS Regulate can adjust left and right as well, so you can position your sight directly over your bore perfectly. And also place it forward or rearward as you like.
The MI 30mm has no such adjustments.

AK's made by various manufactures, as well as milled -vs- stamped recievers, and also what type of rail is mounted on the side...all have different specs.
You can mount the MI 30mm mount on one AK and have it be absolutely perfect.
But, place that exact same mount on a different AK, and it can sit too far left or right with no way to fix that.

I know the benefits. If RS had a 30mm mount out when I got mine, I likely would have went that route. Mine sits centered, though, so no problem for me.

Inebriated said:

I know the benefits. If RS had a 30mm mount out when I got mine, I likely would have went that route. Mine sits centered, though, so no problem for me.

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That's cool. There is nothing wrong at all with the MI mount if it works on your rifle.
They make good quality stuff in my opinion.

Yeah, I've not seen much from them that didn't seem like a decent product. I also have the quad rail handguard on my SGL, and it's just an excellent piece.

But yeah, I'll most likely get the RS mount if I ever get the T1 that's been in my Midway cart probably 20 times.

Yes, it will return to zero.

Watch this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCKXVXgKvU

No problem. For a collapsible stock, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Vltor adapter. 5 positions, has a sling mount, and I THINK they have storage in the tube, since it's just empty space. Throw a Magpul CTR on there, and you've got a solid setup.

No reason in particular.

You can, but you'll lose the cowitness and the cheekweld will suffer. If you go with a dedicated mount (Like the T1 or a 30mm mount), you don't have a half-inch of rail above the dust cover. You just have the little bit of metal needed to mount the optic. This keeps it as low as possible. Not a problem, if you are using a riser, but when you do use a riser, you will have a hard time using your irons if you ever had to. QD ability is the same on all MI/RS mounts.

If you think you'd be mounting other optics, and don't want to buy another $100 mount when you do, you could look at the Ultimak gas tube. Sits very low, allows cowitness and a good cheekweld, and is a pretty tough setup. You don't get the QD ability like with the RS/MI side mounts, but it's certainly a lighter setup, that gives similar results. Just don't forget to wear gloves.... it gets warm.

http://ultimak.com/M1-b.htm

Front would put the weight closer to the mag, so you'll be doing the least to affect the rifle's balance. I also prefer optics to be as far forward as possible... feels like they're less in-your (well, my)-face.

Yeah, I think I will go with RS Regulate and limit myself to the Micro. Can't have it all.

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I wouldn't exactly call you limited with the Micro lol... One of the best all-around red dots, in my opinion.

JJNA said:

https://www.primaryarms.com/AK_Rings_Mounts_s/588.htm

Actually, RS mount does come in full length rail, but both Primary Arms and Brownell's have it backordered.

That leaves the "front" or "rear" bias. Suggestions for Aimpoint H-1 -- front or rear?

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I went with the rear bias. However, I'm running a larger Aimpoint Comp ML2.
I wanted the weight of my sight to be more toward the rear rather than the muzzle.
Also, you can't use your scope caps without hitting the rifle's rear sight if you go with the front bias mount and place your optic too far forward.

With a Micro however, I don't think it would matter much either way. You don't have any of those issues with the smaller Micro.

The closer you put a red dot sight to your eye, the larger your field of view will be when looking through it though. I personally like that. But other people like to run theirs waaaay out front in a scout mount position. Both methods work. It's all personal preference really.

I wouldn't buy the full-size #AK-300 either way though if you are only mounting a Micro. That just seems like over-kill to me. No reason to add bulk and weight for no reason.

JJNA said:

The older version (which seemed to have come with rail attachment and mount) seems to be out of stock everywhere.

I am thinking rear-bias. And then I have to buy the Micro mount from RS separately, correct?

I liked the idea of Ultimak, but my AK has a very loose fitting gas tube and I like that both RS and MI mount allows for disassembly without removing the optic.

Also, with the second generation RS mount, it seems I just need to buy another RS mount (30mm) to use my Aimpoint Pro as well (that is, I don't need to buy the side rail mount again). Is that the big difference between the first and second generations?

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The old versions didn't let you move your sight forward and backwards where you like it.
You were just stuck with it where it was.

Correct. You only need to buy one side mount. You'd just need 2 different adapters for the Micro and Pro.