Dust cover mounted peep sight for Saiga/AK?

[wnycollector]

I'm contemplating picking up a saiga in 5.45x39. I'm looking for a inexpensive range plinker for shooting at 200 yards max. I don't want a scope or red dot, I prefer to KISS. I'm a huge fan of peep sights on my rifles (I have them on all but one of my rifles!) to factory notch sights.

I know krebs, mojo and williams all make peep sights that replace the factory sight. The downside is that the peep is 1/2 way down the length of the rifle. Both Tech-sights and TWS make peep sights that mount close to the shooters eye but at a high price ($100-150)!

I was thinking of picking up an non-ribbed AK dust cover (I would hate to D&T the factory dust cover) and mounting a Williams WGRS peep sight on it. I get the extra few inches of sight radius (ala tech-sight) plus I would spend about as much as the krebs/mojo sight (~$60).

Does anyone know where I can pick up a spare AK dust cover? Any thoughts on a dust cover mounted sight?

 

[rcmodel]

Should work, if you spot-weld or bolt the dust cover to the receiver so it doesn't flop around to a different position every shot and make the fixed sight a constantly moving sight.

That is a common problem with the dust cover scope mounts.
They won't hold zero worth a darn.

It's also probably one reason Mikhail Kalashnikov didn't put his rear sight back there to start with.

rc

 

[wnycollector]

Should work, if you spot-weld or bolt the dust cover to the receiver

Hmmmm spot weld to frame...I think I'm gonna pass on that suggestion

Seriously, Valemt and Galil's both have sights mounted on the dust cover. How do they get away with it?

 

[kayak-man]

"That is a common problem with the dust cover scope mounts.
They won't hold zero worth a darn.

It's also probably one reason Mikhail Kalashnikov didn't put his rear sight back there to start with."

Not to hijack the thread, but how would one go about moving the sight to the back of an AK variant? I seem to remember the Israelis doing that to make their Galil, and am thinking that it might be worth it for the longer sight plane/radius and thus improved accuracy. Or, would it just flop around and only really be lined up for every other shot?

 

[Jrob24]

I have a peep sight on my rifle from www.tech-sights.com
It's attached to the recoil spring guide rod and mounts behind the dust cover. It also holds its zero.

 

[Coronach]

One way to do it is to make a tightly-fitting dustcover. That's what Krebs did with the original iteration of the KTR. Once wedged in place, it doesn't wander. However, if you remove the dustcover to clear a malfunction or just clean the rifle, your POI may have wandered a bit. I suspect that the the Galil and Valmet use the same system, and have the same problem, but I admit that I don't know.

There are better ways to get a rear-mounted peep. Oh, and with the dimensions of various AK parts being as variable as they are, buying a spare dustcover and hoping it fits tightly enough for this whole project to not be a complete wash is probably optimistic.

Mike

 

[Limeyfellow]

Jrob24: I have a peep sight on my rifle from www.tech-sights.com
It's attached to the recoil spring guide rod and mounts behind the dust cover. It also holds its zero.

The Tech-sight has my vote too. It gives an awesome rear sight with elevation and windage adjustment. Their SKS ones are really good too. It probably my favourite design for these types of rifles for a peep sight.

 

[rcmodel]

Valmet and Galil dust covers are way stiffer metal than a standard AK dust cover.
They are machined more closely, and held onto the receiver more tightly than a standard AK dust cover by an additional V notch & tab at the front and a very tight and hard to operate rear catch.

Somebody makes a scope rail dust cover with a row of set-screws down both sides to clamp it in place, but I can't remember who.

BTW: Spot Welding it on was supposed to be a joke!

rc

 

[wnycollector]

BTW: Spot Welding it on was supposed to be a joke!

I know you were...I was having a little bit of fun with you also

As for the tech-sights, I have them on my SKS. They are GREAT sight. I was just taken aback by the 110 to 125 dollar cost. My TS100 sight cost me $45, the equivalent AK model is $110.

Somebody makes a scope rail dust cover with a row of set-screws down both sides to clamp it in place, but I can't remember who.

I know the SKS dust cover mounts have them on the sides, but I have never seen a AK dust cover mount with anything other than two set screws on either side of the latch.

Maybe something like TargetShooter's home brewed sight in this thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=289514&highlight=ak+sight+options
But instead of a beryl type mount, graft the williams sight on to a scope rail cover mount with set screws?

 

[rangerruck]

get this, and then get one of these. or get just the rail, and the mfgr makes them, with a peep site allready attached I do believe!!!!
http://texasweaponsystems.com/
sightmark is out of texas as well, though I doubt their products are made there,
but they do have lifetime wrrties, and are good clones.
like this one below, they make one that looks like an exact clone of an Eotech
for about 150 bucks. I see them at gunshows all the time.

http://sightmark.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=12

 

[Barker45]

Don't do it! The AK, like the 1911, runs better when you don't add crap to it. The only additions worthwhile on an AK is the Ultimak rail and an aimpoint RDS. If you are having problems seeing the sights, carefully open up the rear sight and/or add a XS big-dot front sight. The Ak is a great fighting rifle with servicable accuracy but not a camp perry comp rifle. IMO folks that add garbage to their AKs look like poser mall ninjas and ruin an otherwise great rifle.

 

[General Geoff]

Barker45, first you say it runs better when you don't add crap to it. Then you say that an Ultimak rail and Aimpoint RDS are worthwhile additions. Which is it? Unless you meant to say "runs better when you don't add crap to it, unless it's my preferred crap."


I'd hardly consider quality iron sights to be "crap," and I can't see how a well engineered set of iron sights would make the rifle run any worse. They do have the benefit of nearly doubling the sight radius of the rifle, thus drastically increasing aiming precision.

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I have only shot one AK with the peep sight that replaces the original and it sucked. Way to far from the eye for a peep sight.

I have only heard of replacement dust covers and nobody was happy with them. I'm sure their are some out their but none I have heard of.

It may cost you twice what you are looking to pay but I have never heard of problems with Tech-Sights and the set I have on a different rifle are great.


I think AK's are a fantastic rifle and I personally don't do much to them. I have one plain jane and another with quick release side mount and 1-4x20 scope. I have my reasons for my choices as others have for theirs. Even mall ninjas have the reason of it adding to their mall-ninjaness so to each their own.