I'm looking to add a quick aquistion site to my stock AK-47. My D.C. Industries AK don''t have a side rail. What would you say the benefits are to the replacement cover rail or front top end rail loactions. Also, I'm not looking to spend too much cash. I'm just looking to have some fun and try some more tactical type shooting. Thanks.
AK-47: Replacement cover Weaver or upper Piccanty Rail
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SimpleIsGood229
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Welcome to THR!
The top cover mounts are generally junk. They just shift too much. Ultimak makes a replacement gas tube (shroud) with a rail machined into the top. Most people will tell you that an Ultimak/Aimpoint combo is about the best way to go.
The top cover mounts are generally junk. They just shift too much. Ultimak makes a replacement gas tube (shroud) with a rail machined into the top. Most people will tell you that an Ultimak/Aimpoint combo is about the best way to go.
Thanks. I'm assuming I need the UltiMAK (style 1)
without side gas ports http://www.ultimak.com/BuyAK.htm. Do yo know of any other decent manufacturers? I want to put as little as possible in the AK...lots of other stuff I want to pick up too. Thanks again!
without side gas ports http://www.ultimak.com/BuyAK.htm. Do yo know of any other decent manufacturers? I want to put as little as possible in the AK...lots of other stuff I want to pick up too. Thanks again!
4thPointOfContact
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Ultimak is one of the best for a scout-scoped AK.
There is also a mini-red-dot coming out by LaRue if you want an improved sight in the 'normal' position.
TacticalGunFan link
There is also a mini-red-dot coming out by LaRue if you want an improved sight in the 'normal' position.
TacticalGunFan link
HorseSoldier
Member
+1 on actual railed top covers being a bad idea.
Also +1 on the Ultimak or LaRue.
If you want rail for your top cover, I'd recommend looking at the Beryl-style rail assemblies that replace your rear sight and lock into the tang on your rifle's buttstock (won't work with underfolders). Krebs makes one with all the bells and whistles, but it's over $200. DPH Arms makes one that is less expensive ($70) but has the downside of simply screwing on to the tang of the rifle, unlike the Krebs which has a locking mechanism if I'm not mistaken that keeps a zero. With the DPH you'd lose zero any time you had to clean the rifle (though if you could mark the screw and tang to get approximately the same tension each time you tightened it down this might resolve this to some extent). Also, either of those options add a level of complication (Krebs less so) if you ever have to get the top cover off to clear a major stoppage/malfunction, which can and do happen on AKs from time to time.
All that said, the side plate to mount Russian optics can be bought really cheap, and I don't think any gunsmith would have much difficulty (or charge a bunch) installing it.
Also +1 on the Ultimak or LaRue.
If you want rail for your top cover, I'd recommend looking at the Beryl-style rail assemblies that replace your rear sight and lock into the tang on your rifle's buttstock (won't work with underfolders). Krebs makes one with all the bells and whistles, but it's over $200. DPH Arms makes one that is less expensive ($70) but has the downside of simply screwing on to the tang of the rifle, unlike the Krebs which has a locking mechanism if I'm not mistaken that keeps a zero. With the DPH you'd lose zero any time you had to clean the rifle (though if you could mark the screw and tang to get approximately the same tension each time you tightened it down this might resolve this to some extent). Also, either of those options add a level of complication (Krebs less so) if you ever have to get the top cover off to clear a major stoppage/malfunction, which can and do happen on AKs from time to time.
All that said, the side plate to mount Russian optics can be bought really cheap, and I don't think any gunsmith would have much difficulty (or charge a bunch) installing it.
I'm fairly new to this but damn...sounds like the cost of the rail and optic would cost more than my ak.
Horse Solider says "the side plate to mount Russian optics can be bought really cheap"....problem is th D.C. Industries reciever doesn't have a side rail to mount the optic...
Horse Solider says "the side plate to mount Russian optics can be bought really cheap"....problem is th D.C. Industries reciever doesn't have a side rail to mount the optic...
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HorseSoldier
Member
What I was saying is that you can probably get the side plate/side rail pretty cheap (DPH Arms has them for $9.95, K-VAR is $49.95 including the needed rivets), and then have a gunsmith install it pretty cheaply.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
An Ultimak for the AK is $98.00 plus shipping. Throw a $30 or $40 BSA or Tasco red dot from Wal-Mart on that, and you have an optic for around $150 total. If you find you like the concept, you can get a more expensive optic later.
Or, you could get the LaRue IronDot, which should run you less than $300 if you look around. If I didn't have a siderail, that's probably the optic I'd use, as I don't like my rifles to be front-heavy.
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Mike U.
Member
Are you referring to the LHV-47 quad rail?
Something along this line?
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Synthetic_AK_Handguard_Set_with_Mounting_Rails.html
http://store.a51tactical.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_68_73_88&products_id=60
If so, you may have to shim a little to tighten up the fit. I had to shim mine and I now have a firm platform for a red dot. It holds zero really well.
Hungarian Mags??
Thanks guys. I'll put some thought into it and post some pics when I get it finished.
Just one more question...if you don't mind....Is it true that the Hungarian magazines are built to allow the bolt to lock back after the final round is fired???
Thanks guys. I'll put some thought into it and post some pics when I get it finished.
Just one more question...if you don't mind....Is it true that the Hungarian magazines are built to allow the bolt to lock back after the final round is fired???
HorseSoldier
Member
Yugoslavian mags do. Don't know if some of the Hungarians do -- I have one 20 rounder, and it doesn't. The Yugoslavian follower traps the bolt back, kind of like an old M1 Carbine mag, and releases the bolt as soon as you unlock the mag. It's good for signalling time to reload to the shooter, but it doesn't speed up mag changes with an AK any, since you still have to run the bolt after loading your new mag.
Mike U.
Member
Here is a pic of a LHV-47 upper and lower mounted on WASR 10/63. After shimming it tight, which was so easy it should be illegal, the red dot scope is securely mounted with no loss of zero. I don't have the red dot on now because I did some work on the iron sights and need to re-zero them. I keep the vertical foregrip on and the flashlight on the side stays there a good deal of the time. Especially since having open heart surgery, my cardiac docs said no shotguns for a few months so this AK is my bedside companion.
Gotta have an answer for those loud bumps in the night don'tchaknow?
A metal version of this handguard could only be better.
Here's a pic with everything mounted. Red dot, flashlight and vertical foregrip. An AK purist's nightmare for sure.
Gotta have an answer for those loud bumps in the night don'tchaknow?
A metal version of this handguard could only be better.
Here's a pic with everything mounted. Red dot, flashlight and vertical foregrip. An AK purist's nightmare for sure.
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