Best way to mount a red dot on AK74...

[SilentStalker]

Ok, so I have this new AK74 that someone talked me into getting. I am an AR guy. Anyways I want to mount a red dot to this thing but there doesn't seem to be a good way to do so unless you use the claw deal that mounts to the side of the receiver. I can see why the Russians did this because this is the only true way you could retain zero after breaking down the weapon for cleaning. However, I am not a fan of the claw mount so that is probably out for me. The Texas Weapon Instruments dust cover is cool but suffers the same problem of losing zero every time you remove the dust cover. Then I looked at mounting it on the forearm area on a rail system like the midwest industries and the ultimak rail. Both of these are nice but you would be mounting the sight onto the rail that is essentially on the gas tube. Again, if you shoot corrosive ammo then it is recommended to remove the gas tube for cleaning. So, there is no real good way to mount an optic to the AK as far as I can see. So, what do you guys like the best and why? I like the Ultimak but to get he bottom rail and the top deal is going to cost like $300-$400 whereas the Midwest Industries deal is less than half that.

 

[akv3g4n]

Met a guy at the range that had one of these to mount his red dot on his polish tantal. I got to talking with him (also a tantal owner) and he let me shoot it. Rock solid and easy to shoot with both eyes open. I really liked it.

http://scoutscopes.com

 

[silicosys4]

I have the midwest industries ml2 cowitness mount on my Mak. I prefer it to the ultimak because it does NOT mount directly to the gas tube, and afaik you can indeed remove the gas tube for cleaning if you so desire.

 

[SabbathWolf]

RS Regulate

 

[M1key]

I've had good luck with the UTG 5th Gen QD low mount. Holds zero. You can even field strip and clean the weapon without removing it.


M

 

[Girodin]

The Texas Weapon Instruments dust cover is cool but suffers the same problem of losing zero every time you remove the dust cover.

Are you saying when you actually completely remover it, or just when you open it up. The design is supposed to retain zero after simply opening it and closing it. Many report that it does. I simply haven't done enough testing with mine to make definitive comments.

and afaik you can indeed remove the gas tube for cleaning if you so desire.

I'm sure one can remove the gas tube, but my guess is one is going to need to re-zero

Again, if you shoot corrosive ammo then it is recommended to remove the gas tube for cleaning.

Is there a reason that flushing the gas tube with hot (to help it evaporate quicker) water isn't going to suffice?

You have basically hit on all the options: Ultimak, MI handguards, Side mounts, and TWS and similar rails. There is a new top rail option from Chaos. However, I believe that it is only sold as part of a package with their hand guards (which don't interest me) and being new it is totally unproven.

The chaos rail http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FoIEG8lBdI4

The ultimak is probably the most proven. Side mounts vary in quality and how high they place the optic. There also can be issues of how the guns rail is attached to the receiver. If you are really worried about regularly pulling the gas tube I would probably look at the TWS or a side mount.

 

[meanmrmustard]

I have the midwest industries ml2 cowitness mount on my Mak. I prefer it to the ultimak because it does NOT mount directly to the gas tube, and afaik you can indeed remove the gas tube for cleaning if you so desire.

I'm a fan of these as well.

Have one on my Maadi. It has never required rezeroing.

 

[wally]

Is there a reason that flushing the gas tube with hot (to help it evaporate quicker) water isn't going to suffice?

The Ultimak is made of Aluminum so this indeed should be plenty good enough. The Ultimak doesn't mount to the gas tube, it replaces the gas tube and is the only one low enough to get a co-witness anywhere near the middle of the optic.

If you are willing to give up the irons, the TWS gen II gives you "normal" scope mounting and works very well.

 

[Girodin]

If you are willing to give up the irons, the TWS gen II gives you "normal" scope mounting and works very well.

One need not give up his or her irons. With a something like a T1 you can mount it on the TWS and use this one that maintains a rear leaf notch.

View attachment 658956

or you can use one of a couple rear peeps.

I do wish someone would make a good rear folding BUIS for it though. They would get bonus points and orders if they also made a front one that would work with an ultimak and account for the difference in the heights.

Have one on my Maadi. It has never required rezeroing.

Are you saying you remove the top hand guard from the bottom hand guard, then re-install the top hand guard and experience absolutely no shift in zero?

 

[1KPerDay]

Anyone know what happened with this? RS products? You go to their site and they refer you to brownells, which says "product discontinued."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCKXVXgKvU

 

[SabbathWolf]

Anyone know what happened with this? RS products? You go to their site and they refer you to brownells, which says "product discontinued."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzCKXVXgKvU

Yep.
The video you linked to is for the "old" version no longer in production.
The "new" version(s) look like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8l0M2J-KZ0


I don't know how many places carry the new version right now, but I bought mine here:

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

 

[1KPerDay]

Ah, good. Seemed like a really good product and hoped they were still a going concern. Thanks

 

[SabbathWolf]

They are the nicest AK mounts I've ever used as far as side mounts go.
Being able to adjust left/right & forward/backward too lets you set it up perfectly for "your" rifle instead of being stuck with a one-size-fits-all mount with no adjustments.

 

[wally]

With a something like a T1 you can mount it on the TWS and use this one that maintains a rear leaf notch.

I've got one, doesn't really work out unless you mount the optic too high and use "see thru" rings. QD rings will at least give you a reasonably quick return to irons option, but you've also lost the elevation adjustment on the rear sight.

 

[Girodin]

I've got one, doesn't really work out unless you mount the optic too high and use "see thru" rings. QD rings will at least give you a reasonably quick return to irons option, but you've also lost the elevation adjustment on the rear sight

Are you talking a magnified optic or a RDS. With the latter there are options that cowitness on the TWS. I've got one and have done so. One does lose the elevation adjustment, in as much as it is intended as a BUIS, that may not be too big a deal.

 

[ball3006]

Century has a side mount, if you have the mount on your receiver, that is rock solid. It cost 25 bucks or so. I have one on each of my Romak rifles and I really like it....chris3

 

[aubie515]

Take a look at Attero Arms...they are awesome to work with...I believe the owner is active duty and he will work with you. He sent me a new mount because the mount I purchased was too low for me to use my rear iron sights.

The mount replaces your rear sights, but you can still use irons. I like this mount because it's out of the way and isn't part of the gas tube like the Utimak since you will probably be shooting corrosive ammo...You don't need to remove the optic to clean the gas tube.

http://atteroarms.com/optic-mounts.html

MI makes a similar mount to the Attero, and I'm sure it's also a good mount. I just cannot say enough good things about Attero Arms.

 

[briansmithwins]

I struggled with this for years. The best solution I've ever found was to use a low side rail and use a low ring with a Aimpoint. I get co-witness with the irons and I can still strip the rifle w/o having to remove the optic.

I'll post more pics and details of parts used when I get home.

BSW

 

[Girodin]

One more option, for some RDS is this mount from MI. I'm interested in using it for a particular project and may try it out, but as of now have no experience.

 

[wally]

Are you talking a magnified optic or a RDS. With the latter there are options that cowitness on the TWS. I've got one and have done so. One does lose the elevation adjustment

I was talking about a scope, I'd mentioned I think the Ultimak is the way to go with a red dot as you don't loose the iron sight elevation adjustment.

The setup briansmithwins is taking about is kind of like this: http://kalinkaoptics.com/rifle-scop...ary-fast-acquisition-red-dot-rifle-scope.html

Which is nice but a bit expensive.

Girodin, the MI one in your photo didn't work too well for me as it tended to move up under recoil, I had it on my mini-Draco so maybe it'd be fine on something with less recoil. Looked great on paper.

 

[Girodin]

Girodin, the MI one in your photo didn't work too well for me as it tended to move up under recoil, I had it on my mini-Draco so maybe it'd be fine on something with less recoil. Looked great on paper

I remember you saying that on another thread. What's funny is that I want to use it on a mini SBR as it would fit my overall vision for that gun well. I figure I may just buy one and try the T1 on it. If it sucks 1) I can try it on one of several other AKs or 2) just sale it and eat what ever loss I take, its not like it is a real super expensive part.

For the mini I think the next best option might be the TWS rail. However, it has its own issues too IMHO. I also really want to ring out my TWS top cover before I buy another one. If you try the MI on another AK let me know. I haven't heard other people reporting that issue, however, there probably aren't a ton of them out there on minis.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I have the midwest industries ml2 cowitness mount on my Mak. I prefer it to the ultimak because it does NOT mount directly to the gas tube, and afaik you can indeed remove the gas tube for cleaning if you so desire.

How do you remove the gas tube? Do you take the top part of the mount off?

Again, if you shoot corrosive ammo then it is recommended to remove the gas tube for cleaning.

I just spray oil in and clean it like a shotgun barrel and I don't have any issues.

 

[Adam123]

I didn't read all of the replies, but this is a great setup for me:



It's a 30mm red dot mounted on a MI side mount. It will allow for a co-witness and the rifle to be fieldstripped without removing the optics. That should help one retain zero after disassembly and reassembly.

 

[InkEd]

The side mounts are really the best way. Anything on the dust cover or rail gets removed and jarred around too much to be effective. IMHO.

 

[itsa pain]

the Russians put the mount on the side because it is the only part of the AK that does not flex. anything on the gas tube flexes a lot when the barrels whips on firing