AK Front Sight Left/Right Adjustment

[Kramer Krazy]

I guess this is as good a place as any for this post.....I have a stamped-receiver Norinco MAK-90 that I bought in '94 or so, and have never fired it (I have a milled-receiver Norinco with a few thou rounds through it, though). I am going to shoot this stamped-receiver this weekend, hopefully. I noticed something the other day....

The large-pin portion of the front sight, the part that the sight stem is threaded through, is off-center by about 1/16". The sight post is very noticeably off-center when sighting it. The pin has two markings for lining the sight up with the sight base, but the off-center one is the one that is lined up, instead of the actual center one.......Ok...I hope you could follow that. Anyway, how do I push that pin over so the front sight stem is in the center? I am assuming that this was an oversight (pun intended) at the factory and not that this is where the sight needs to be to shoot straight. I'm going to fire it "as-is", but I want to be able to adjust the sight at the range, if I have to.

 

[Werewolf]

There is a special tool for adjusting AK type front sights. I believe CDNN has them. I don't know what they sell them for but I paid about $4 at a local gunshop. Often they come with the cleaning/tool kit that comes with some AK's.

The tool is kinda like a C-Clamp. You press the open end against the AK front sight pin on the opposite side of the direction in which you want to adjust and then then just turn the screw to move the front post right or left depending on which side you set the tool pin on.

Regarding the 1/16" off center - that may very well be the ZERO posit for your particular weapon.

If you don't already have one I'd suggest you get the tool for moving the lever that gives you access to the AK's gas system too. You can use pliers but unless you wrap 'em with leather or something you'll ding up the finish. That one's about $2 or so IIRC.

 

[Dave R]

Agreed that your rifle may already be zeroed. You'll need to shoot it to see. The fact that markings don't align doesn't mean its not zeroed. The markings are only reference points so you can see how much it has moved.

If you don't want to buy the tool, you can adjust the "caveman" way. Its an AK, after all...

What I did was use some scrap wood to support the front sight base and barrel, and just tap the sight post using some cartridge as a punch. .32acp? 9mm? I forget what I used.

Anyway, the brass base didn't mar the sight post, and it did get me zeroed.

 

[plevniak]

Don't waste your money on a C-clamp style tool

Every one of the C-clamp tools I see are made of pot metal and can't handle the stress of moving the front sight left or right. I picked up a tool made by B-Square made of good quality steel.

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/460881

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/348310

I picked these up as a pair somewhere, I thought it was midway for about $15.00 total.

It allows a very precise adjustment. I was able to adjust the windage left or right, check impact and repeat all without removing the tool or maring the finish. The only regret I have is that I don't have any other guns I can use this on.

 

[LiquidTension]

I use the C clamp type tool and it works fine. You're right to fire the rifle first, it may already be zeroed. My SAR looks WAY off, but then you look at the rear sight block and see that it also is WAY off. Shoots straight, looks ugly.

 

[Werewolf]

Every one of the C-clamp tools I see are made of pot metal and can't handle the stress of moving the front sight left or right.

The one I've got is definitely not made out of pot metal. It works very well to do the job it was designed to do and it only cost me around $4 or so.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i use this conduit clamp, works good...

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I have a few different C-clamps in my tool box. If the site pin needs to protrude, I can use an over-sized socket so the pin will go into it while applying pressure. I do like the conduit clamp, though.

If the weather holds out, I may shoot that gun on Saturday. If my round ball ammo arrives by then for my black powder pistol, the last two firearms I own that I haven't shot, yet....will be.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Took the AK-47 to the range on Saturday and finally fired it. Turns out that it was sighted correctly, even with the front sight off a little bit. I was able to hit an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper about 95% of the time with iron sights. This stamped receiver doesn't have the sweet, smooth trigger of the milled receiver I've got, but it still has a pretty smooth trigger. So, as of Saturday, I've shot every gun I own.....time to buy a new one.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

a quick swap of the FCG will fix any trigger problems...