AK buttstock length

[chukus13]

I have a romanian AK and am looking for a butt stock that will fit my 6ft frame and offer a better cheek weld and length of pull. Currently running the warsaw wood stock but looking at Kvar due to the 3 sizes they offer. Do most of my shooting prone and sitting, not kicking in doors and clearing rooms. Have no personal experience with Kvar and would love some perspective on them and proper stock selection for my needs. If I have missed some other options would love to be pointed the way. Thanks in advance for your insight and advice.

 

[VinnAY]

I used this recoil pad to get a little more length and comfort with my WASR and I've been pretty happy with it vs trying to change to a longer stock or something like that.

http://www.firequest.com/LK446.html

 

[nalioth]

chukus13, to my knowledge, K-Var only offers two sizes of stock for stamped receivers.

Warsaw length - the shortest (and standard issue) AK stock length.

NATO length - about 1¼" longer than Warsaw length.

The pad linked above is one of the many copies of the Polish issue grenade launcher butt pad (during the '60s, the Poles used rifle grenades with their AKMs).
It will add about an inch to whatever stock it's used with.

 

[chukus13]

Thank you both for the info. Have seen the add on grenade pad but was skeptical about there ability to stay put on the rifle during carry and switching shooting positions. How well do they stay on?

 

[nalioth]

How well do they stay on?

You'll have to be rolling around pretty good and/or dragging your butt stock through doors to pull it off.
The original design has a velcro strap to attach to under folder butt plates. Some of the US made replicas ship with a strap, but I'm not sure about the UTG ones.

 

[AK103K]

Just curious here, but how do you shoulder the rifle, and where does your cheek rest on the stock and where is your nose?

The reason I ask is, the "standard" stocked AK's, have the same LOP as most other combat stocked rifles, including the M16/M16A1, M1/M14, G3, etc., and contrary to what youre often told, really arent "short".

Im not telling you the gun does or doesnt fit you, but I've seen a lot of people shoulder and hold them wrong, and blame the gun and stock becasue of it.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I think the Tapco fixed stocks are just as good as the Kvar's for less money, or at least they used to be. You might want to see if you can find a Nato length replacement for $30 somewhere.

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I'm 6'-3" and put a Nato stock on my AK thinking I would like it better......
It didnt make much of a difference (In my humble Opinion). I'm back to Warsaw length. It was a K-Var Nato length stock. If I were to do it again, I would use a removable extender, save money and be able to put it back if you dont like it........

I just dont think it matters much on the AK.

 

[AK103K]

The trick with the AK's, is to get your head down and forward on the stock (not on the "hump"), with your nose on, or alongside the rear of the top cover. Your cheek weld should be at the tang, just behind the top cover.

Its very much like, and the same as the "nose to the charging handle" thing with the M16's.

 

[M1key]

My Romanian SAR-1 wood stock rode right on my cheekbone, so I swapped it out for a KVAR (same length) and found it had a lower drop at the comb allowing for a more comfortable cheek weld. No more sore cheekbones after a session at the range...I like it.

 

[jpwilly]

For me the answer to LOP was a 6 position stock and the 3/8" pipe insulation from Home Depot made the cheek weld perfect for me and no sore cheekbones! A Picture may help here:

 

[noyes]

If they don't fit ....they don't fit.

1 rubber pad & 1 homemade wood spacer painted black ,.,. not quit finnished yet.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Or just wear several layers of heavy wool uniform like the original users did!

 

[AK103K]

If they don't fit ....they don't fit.

Not always though. A lot of it is people just dont know how to shoulder and shoot a rifle, especially if all they learned on and usually shoot, are "modern" hunting rifles stocked for bench and scope shooting, and/or do most of their shooting from a bench.

Petty much all of the combat stocked rifles feel short when shot from a bench, and they also feel short, if your head is held where it normally is, when youre used to shooting a rifle scoped as they usually are these days, with the scope mounted to high, and to far to the rear.

I see a lot of people try to shoot the AK with their cheek weld on the higher, rear part of the stock, and this is incorrect. Your cheek weld should be down on the lower, forward portion, with the rifle pulled in tight to your shoulder and your nose at or alongside the top cover.

Or just wear several layers of heavy wool uniform like the original users did!

The clothes are not the issue.

 

[lions]

The trick with the AK's, is to get your head down and forward on the stock (not on the "hump"), with your nose on, or alongside the rear of the top cover. Your cheek weld should be at the tang, just behind the top cover.

Yep, I'm 6'4" and can comfortably shoot my AK when I use this method. I put the tip of the right side of my nose on the corner of the dust cover, works like a charm.

 

[chukus13]

Lots of good insight fellows and appreciate all the feed back. All of my shooting in my youth and now has been with open sights only and much of that with military peeps. My dad was a marine so proper form was the only option. So I am comfortable with saying I know how to turkey neck up on the receiver and were the pocket is on my shoulder. A couple of members hit the nail on the head with their comments about the cheek bone thumping! Maybe the comb of the stock (not the length) is what I am struggling with. Once again thanks for all the information and now I got a better idea as to what to look for.

 

[frankge]

jpwilly, what brand of foregrip is that on your ak? I have wood but was looking to make it more of a lighter rifle. I already have the side rail and red dot.

 

[jpwilly]

^^^UTG...metal rails.