Custom .223 AK with peep sight

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762x51

762x51

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2002
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Location
Setauket, NY
Recieved my new Custom .223 from Chris at AK-USA yesterday evening. I'm VERY happy with the way it turned out. The sights look to be just the ticket to this age old AK problem.

Details:
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Built off a .223 Saiga, takes 5.45 mags with Robarm followers
K-Var OD NATO length stock set with vented upper HG
Falcon ergo grip
Krebs rear A2 style aperture sight
Heavy duty gas block/front sight combo
OPS Inc. R3E2C Muzzle Brake
Custom Picatinny rail welded to rear sight support
Bipod stud mounted in lower HG
Cyrillic fire selector markings and notches
Optic is an Aimpoint CompML2 with Aimpoint QRW ring


7564Side2-med.jpg


7564Sight1-med.jpg


7564Rail1-med.jpg


Some more pics here:
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=134407
 
Wow!

That is one goregous AK. Seriously, as an big AK fan myself, I want one.

Question for you, where did you get that Falcon grip. I've used one of those before and it was very comfy, but I did not know what brand it was or where to get one.

What did this set you back?
 
Cool! A definate thumbs up as far as looks. I'd be interested to know the accuracy, and I'm assuming the reliability is up to par. Up until about 60 seconds ago I had no interest in AKs, but if I can get one with synthetic furniture that shoots .223, you've definately got my attention.

Please post contact info for AK-USA and I'd like to know what that set you back. If you don't want to post it, please IM me. Thanks.
 
Correia:

Thanks! I figured you if anyone would like it. :D how is the peep working out on your VEPR? This sucker is going to the range this weekend so I'll get to try the sights out

The grip is VERY comfy. I picked mine up from Brownells for around $18 bucks but they can also be ordered direct from Falcon's website.

As far as the cost.....not cheap. The whole project, not including the mags or the Aimpoint, was about $1100. Trick custom stuff 'aint cheap. I don't regret it one bit though.....it's exactly what I wanted. :cool:
 
I love my Krebs sight. I think you are going to be very pleased with it.

Ward of warning, bring a front sight adjustment tool with you when you go to zero the sight in. With the peep you will be hitting low.

I love the rail you put on. I'm going to show this to my machinest buddy and see if he could do something like that to my Vepr. That would be slick.
 
TechBrute:

Whoops! Completely forgot the contact info!

Chris Butler
AK-USA Mfg. Inc.
http://www.ak-103.com
(239) 334-4231

He doesnt always get back to emails in a timely manner, but ALWAYS answers the phone himself. Great guy to talk to and more than happy to answer any questions. I have a freind with 3 of his guns, I have a SAR-1 redone by him, and he will be getting my AK-74 kit for a build very soon as well.

Correia:

Already have the tool packed. ;) I believe Chris allready sighted it in and I know he function tested all of the 6 mags before he sent it so I don't expect any surpises.
 
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And one other thing, put some oil on the windage knob and threads. Mine was very difficult to adjust until I put some CLP on it. After that it was fine.
 
Hey 762x51!! I don't suppose I can talk you into posting some more pics. I'd like a good profile shot if you have one laying around.

Is the rail a M-spec picatinny or a weaver? I wonder if AK-USA is interested in making a kit that would raise the front and rear sights up to cowitness with the optics? I wonder if that would make the irons too uncomfortable or awkward to use. hmmmm...
 
Techbrute:

I'd be happy to. I only have one more shot right now (I'm at work :fire: ) that is not posted above or in the thread on AK-47.net and it's this one:

http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data/500/7564Side1.jpg

If you would like any others, just let me know. I'd be happy to take some more.

Yes the rail is a milspec 1913 rail. It was cut and the bottom custom contoured from a 12 inch piece of stock from brownells. As far as raising the sights goes, I think it would make them uncomfortable. The height they are at now is (at least for me) perfect to get a good cheekweld on the stock. With the Aimpoint, I do have to raise my head slightly to see through clearly, but I can still get a decent weld on the stock. This was the main problem I had with the Kobra sights and the other side rail mounted optics....whenever I tried to use them, I couldn't get even close to a good cheekweld. Very uncomfortable and didn't lend well to accurate shooting.

This system works well for me....even without cowitnessing.
 
I guess a Kobra wouldn't fit anymore with that rear sight would it, hadn't thought of that but I really want one of those rear sights.

Rifle looks sweet, athough if you had some full side shots without the aimpoint I'd love to see them. I would like to get an idea what the lines of the gun look like with the rear sight moved back for mine, I'm concerned the top of the gasblock where you've got the rail would throw off the looks of the gun on a standard AK.

Correia, you have any pics of yours with the top cover rear sight? That would be even better.
 
The rail does something else that you don't notice at first glance. With the new peep sight, the old rear needs to be removed. When this is done....the ears that held the old sight on block a small part of your view. Also, a bit of gas and gunk gets blown up through where the old sight covered. This rail solves both of those issues.

Here are a couple of quick pics for you without the Aimpoint:



Side4.png

Side5.png

Dr. Rob:

Thanks. The stocks are green though....they do look a bit grey in the pictures.
 
Nice rig.

I have a few questions though.

With that scope rail can you remove the dust cover for cleaning?

Also if you remove the dust cover will it affect the zero on the rear site?
 
Yes....the dust cover can be removed with ease. The bottom of the rail has been relief cut to make this possible. As far as the sight holding zero.....I am reasonably sure that this won't be a problem. I have not heard of anyone having an issue so far with theirs.
 
Awesome rilfe! Too pricey for me, but it is true that you get what you pay for.
 
Your rifle is the same type as the one I got. I got mine just when the Bulgarian FSB's were in country, and I'm glad I waited for an original one instead of cobbling a Hesse sight or Krinkov sight as Chris was going to do for me. I wanted a .223 also, but after talking with him decided at the time that the magazine issues were something I didn't want to deal with for that money. Seeing your rifle though has made me really really want a .223 again. Can you refresh my memory on the magazine issues your rifle has? Will it take any .223 mag, or just the waffles? Will standard AK74 bakelite ones work after they have the robarm followers installed? What about Weigers? Is the barrel thickness the same diameter of the FSB so that he doens't have to shim it, or are the .223 barrels thinner?

 
TacticalSquirrel:

On the mag issue.....This gun (as well as all of AK-USA's .223 conversions) is setup to take slightly modified Bulgarian (or East German) 5.45 ribbed mags. These simply have Robarm followers installed and a bit of material ground off the top front of the mag to clear the trunion I believe. I really do not know much more than that as Chris converted and function tested all the mags I sent to him in my rifle before shipping it. I figured this was the best solution as I REALLY wanted black polymer mags to go with the gun and I have heard nothing but good things reliability wise with his .223 conversions. These mags I understand can also be bought already converted directly from Robarm (albeit for a premium of course) as they are the same ones used in the Vepr .223. I really do not know if the Weigers require any modification but I believe they do. This is really a question to ask Chris himself as I know nothing about them and really wasn't interested in using a steel mag from the start. From what I have read on AK-47.net....the Bulgarian waffle mags will not work in Saiga conversions due to the wider pre-AKM style feed lips and their tendency to double feed, but again, something you should ask Chris about.

On the barrel.....the .223 Saiga barrel is actually alot thicker (as you can see from the pics...it's almost as large as the gas tube) than the 7.62 version. This will require the gas block/sight combo to be opened up a bit. Well....at least mine did. I did not use one of the factory Arsenal units that are available now.....these were not in country when I started this project. Mine is a CNC machined "heavy duty" model from Mark Krebs.

Good looking 104 you have there. You should treat yourself to some Bulgarian waffles or some Polish polymers. :cool:
 
Yeah, I'd like to throw in 3 waffles sometime, but so many accessories, so little cash flow at times! I'm really happy with the Hungarian 20-rounders that I got, as it makes it so handy for me for storage and being able to carry the magazines in AR pouches.
Damn,I swore I was done buying AK's, but I wonder what I could squirrel away to be able to get one. I would like to keep it under the $790 I paid for the AK104, but who knows what options I might have.
 
I know the feeling. I just got this one and I'm already planning something for Chris to do with my Bulgarian 74 demill kit. Have to have one of every caliber of course! It never ends....:rolleyes:
 
Have to have one of every caliber of course!
Click to expand...

Actually, I think the opposite way... I limit most of my buying to as few calibers as possible. Makes ammo buying easier. All my rifles are in .22LR, .223, .308, or .50BMG. I have a rifle for pretty much any occasion, limited only by my budget and tastes.
 
Just a small range report....finally got a chance to shoot it. Put about 300 rounds through it yesterday with no hiccups at all. This sucker is a BALL to shoot. Practically no recoil whatsoever. Didn't do any formal accuracy testing, but with the Aimpoint and Federal XM193/Winchester Q3131A it seemed to shoot in the area of 3 inches at 100 yards. I was just basically sighting in the Aimpoint and plinking today, but I'm betting it will do under 2 inches off a rest with the iron sights. With some match ammo....who knows? The vented handguard does aid in cooling a bit. I shot a few quick strings of fire and even though the barrel was way too hot to touch, the handguards were only warm. The trigger he tuned and installed is probably the nicest AK trigger I have ever used....very smooth, no creep, nice pull. Impressive.

I'm VERY happy with the rifle overall.

Here is a quick shot a friend of mine took. Quite an attention getter for sure. ;)

flameon.png
 
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