Improving my AK47

[DragonFire]

My local range has several "action rifle" events, which are something like IDPA matches, only with rifles instead of pistols.

Most everyone competes with some kind of AR. Not wanting to spend that much on a rifle that I might use 6 times a year, I got a mid-priced AK47, and mounted a red-dot scope on it. I also replaced the trigger group on it. I have not had a single misfire, misfeed, or any other kind of problem with it. I think it's kind of cool when me and my $400 rifle outshoots some of the other guys and their $1200 ones.

My question is: what other improvements or additions would you all suggest I do to it? I'd like to get the best accuracy from it that I can, and adding to it's "cool factor" wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Keep in mind that I don't expect my low cost rifle to be a tack driver at 500 yards, (we're only shoot at 50-60 yards max) nor do I want to put a huge amount of money into it (if I was going to do that I would have gotten an AR to start with) nor will this gun ever be used for self-defense (I have other options for that).

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The best and most useful accessories for it are going to be an ample supply of ammo and quality trigger time.

If you're set on accessorizing, get more 20 or 30 rounds magazines and maybe nicer furniture, e.g., the plastic stocks available from K-Var. Otherwise don't waste your money on tacticrap.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

If you've already been using it for rifle matches, then I'm preaching to the choir, but you might start by dehorning the whole thing. Just take some good stones (or very, very light application from a dremel) and take the sharp parts off of the site edges, off the safety, the trigger guard, etc. I also find the mag release to be worth altering with something a little longer and easier on the fingers (sort of like a Galil).

If the ranges are that short, maybe a change in iron sights would be worth it, if you ever use them over the dot. Opening up the rear and putting in a 'big dot' (like Ashley Outdoor style) supposedly makes things a lot quicker.

If you think you might like a new dot set-up, you could look at the Ultimak mounts which replace the gas tube. That with something light and simple like a Docter sight would be excellent.

Beyond that, my favorite part of the AK is it's simplicity and light weight. I'd keep my alterations limited to pure functionality.

 

[Brian Williams]

You might look at a Galil type safety, But other than that, get some perfect practice.

 

[Kor]

Since you've already got the red-dot on your AK, and you typically shoot at less than 100yds, there's not a whole lot you need. What you want, of course, is a different story...

+1 on the XS 24/7 front sight, I just installed one on my SAR-2 and it gives a very nice sight picture. My main problem is that I sometimes mistake one of the sight-protector wings for the front sight post, so I swapped out for the XS to get around that tendency of mine. A colored plastic front sight post would have done the same thing for $5, but the XS 24/7 is way cooler...

I also put on a Krebs Custom aperture rear sight(www.krebscustom.com) to give myself an even more defined sight picture. The stock sights just seem to close off the bottom half of the targets for me, but I've talked to a couple of my AK-owning friends who say they prefer and shoot better with stock open sights. For what you're doing, though, there's not much point in fooling with the iron sights unless your club puts dot-sighted and iron-sighted rifles in different divisions for competition, as my club does.

Personally, I like the Krebs safety lever with the extra finger tab - it really makes a difference if you're taking some high-speed, low-drag rifle training and you're having to off-safe and re-safe the rifle hundreds of times a day from the low-ready. Depending on your range's safety rules and stage setups, it may or may not save you time during a match.

I also am trying out a Wonder Buff from www.sprinco.com, for $6.95 I figured, what the heck. It looks like it won't hurt, and may help.

See also www.blackjackbuffers.com for recoil buffers and their own version of the finger-tab safety.

I don't like the extended/speed mag-catches, they seem too likely to dump a mag if you bump it wrong. For a speed-reload, you can dump the spent mag using the forward edge of your fresh mag to trip the mag-catch lever and knock the spent mag free - then just lock the fresh mag in.

A very worthwhile accessory for 3-gun matches and tactical rifle training is a Kydex open-top belt magazine pouch - believe me, it's WAY faster than trying to fish out a spare mag from a chest pouch, tac-vest, or GI-style mag pouch. Check www.blade-tech.com for theirs.

Now, purchase a case of 1000 rounds of ammo(any brand that is both available and affordable) and use it all up in focused, goal-oriented practice. Consider buying your own timer for use during your practice sessions.

 

[No_Brakes23]

My biggest gripe with AKs for a long time was the lack of decent LOP. My dad bought a Saiga back when they were legal here in Cali, and it shot okay. Then he put a butt pad on it that added almost and inch to the LOP. My groups tightened up considerably. it ain't no MOA rifle, but we can regularly get 3MOA out of it while rapid firing. (That's rapid as in firing as soon as you regain sight picture, not bumpfiring or anything.) It stays mostly in the black at 300 yards.

So if the LOP is not right for you, that is the cheapest effective mod I can think of to make. You are using a sling, right?

Oh and BA/UU/R, that isn't that cheap, but it can be very effective.

 

[sctman800]

Tapco makes a SAW style pistol grip for about $25, bigger around than stock. Fills my hand nicely, love it. Jim.

 

[DragonFire]

Great suggestions, exactly the kind of things I was looking for. Except No_Brakes, I have no idea what

Oh and BA/UU/R, that isn't that cheap, but it can be very effective

means.


The AK came with two sets of stocks. One is a plywood thumbhole stock that I finished and top coated. Not too bad a look, but of course you can still tell its just plywood (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).

I have about 1500 rounds for it on hand, and another thousand on order. I've found, I make more progress if I go out and shoot 60 or 70 rounds at a time, rather than a few hundred. I'm not kidding myself. I'll never win the match, or even rank that high, but that's because of me, and not the rifle. Besides, I have a blast competing, and don't have the pressure of worrying about where I'm going to finish.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

BA/UU/R = Buy Ammo/Use Up/Repeat!

Sounds like you've got the right idea by trying to make your practice perfect instead of trying to put as many rounds downrange as possible, without regard to what motions you're making.

I'd just continuously load one or two rounds into the mag, shoot it dry, then perform a reload with a mag with as many rounds.

 

[Trumpet]

Ammo and instruction.

 

[Matt Dillon]

How did you mount your red dot? If it is a receiver cover mount, it will loosen up, lose zero and you will waste a ton of ammo trying to get to zero. I would recommend a sight mount that fits on the side of the rifle, if it is a Romanian. They lock in real tight.

Also, I would look at replacing the original trigger with one from red star.

 

[Ian]

A belt pouch for holding a spare magazine might be a good idea, depending on whether your matches involve much mag changing.

Other than that, I'd say ammo and training would be your best investments.

 

[Langenator]

As a previous poster mentioned, I'm not sure how your red dot is mounted, but I've heard plenty of good things about the Ultimak gastube mounts. If you use a low mount for some red dots (Aimpoint and similar), you can still see the irons through the red dot.

Nice to have backup for anything electronic or made of glass.

 

[TIMC]

All the traditionalist think I am a blasphemer but I decided to make my SAR1 user friendly and came out with a very functional rifle. I installed the Ultimak mount and Bushnell holosight, AK brake Foregrip and 6 position stock. I added a cheek risor to get enough cheek weld to give instant eye alignment with the holosight. It has worked very well for me. Maybe some ideas you can use, maybe not. One thing is I have almost as much as your buddies $1200 AR invested. Here is a pic.

 

[smince]

http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?t=14118

You may have to create an account to view this thread, but it is called "Maximizing the Kalashnikov".

 

[readyfire]

Yeah, the guys on warrior talk have been using tritium font sites and opening up the rear site notch to mimick their handgun site picture.Im also going to give this a shot,it seems a simple but effective mod!Other than what you already have i dont see you needing much,the ak is very effective in its range as is and reliability is second to none.Long live the AK!

 

[rangerruck]

i would try a pistol grip and collapsable stock, then i would put in a blackjack buffer, a greenie and see if that doesnt help tame recoil jarring.

 

[Mumbles_45]

+1 to the blackjack buffer and safety lever w/finger tab that Kor mentioned. I also recommend a '74 style muzzle break like TIMC has in the picture. I have one on my SAR-1 and I think it makes a very noticeable difference.

 

[lurkersince03]

Has anyone ever heard of a Galil magazine release for the AK? The Galil release is a tad longer, but looks to be more affirmative in mag-swaps.

Personally, the only modification I've made to my WASR is the addition of a CAA ergo pistol grip and I gotta say, it was well worth it. It's so much more comfortable than the standard grip. I originally wanted the SAW grip until I found it. So I highly recommend it if you want some enhanced handling.

 

[Kymasabe]

I'm from the less-is-more school of thought. I want as litle as possible hanging off my AK. I also thought the factory sights were horrible and was considering the Ultimak mount and a Red-Dot but just couldn't get myself to do it. The compromise was: I ditched the original skinny pistol grip and bought a SAW style grip...much better. Stuck in a green BlackJack buffer, pulled the front sight and installed a bright orange sight from Tapco and installed a Krebs Custom rear peep sight. Now, my gun is more comfortable to hold/carry, has slightly less recoil, get me back on target faster and with the new sights, I can aquire the target faster and am more accurate with them than the factory sights.

 

[dogngun]

I have a '91 SAR-1, and I have improved the trigger by cleaning it up to the original specs, added a Blackjack buffer and a Tapco folding stock for extra long longth of pull. That's all it really needed, and it really didn't need that.
I think you are doing well, and I hope you continue to compete against the AR's. I'm interested to know how well you and your rifle do.

Thanks for the post.

Mark

 

[DragonFire]

Well, to be honest, my results haven't been anything to be thrilled with. But, it's my lack of skill rather than any fault of the AK.

But, the AK has faired very well with the best of the ARs. I have yet to have a misfeed, misfire or any other kind of malfunction with it. I sighted my scope in at 50 yds and hitting clay pigeons (sitting on stakes) are no problem. When the 7.62 hits them they shatter, as opposed to the 223 rounds which my only put a hole in them (which may be hard to see at 50 yds). So I haven't wasted time putting a second (or third) hit on them like I've seen some other shooters do.

And like I said, I just find it so cool to compete with equipment costing a 1/3 or less than some of these guys have spent.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[gm]

a good mod is the safty mod.a notch is cut outso that when you pull the bolt back,flick up the safty and holds the bolt.pop out the emty mag,snap in fresh full mag and hit the safty, bolt goes forward and its ready again.thers no pulling back needed on the bolt

saves alil time in speed matches.

its a simple mod most anyone can do with a dremel or file.

 

[smince]

when you pull the bolt back,flick up the safty and holds the bolt.pop out the emty mag,snap in fresh full mag and hit the safty, bolt goes forward and its ready again.thers no pulling back needed on the bolt

Seems to me changing the mags and then just cycling the action would be faster than locking it back, changing, then flicking off the safety.

 

[Gewehr98]

They really don't need a lot of improvement...

But for the sake of protecting my investment in my Kalashnikov clones, I bought a pair of BufferTechnologies shock buffers. These are a bit more expensive and also considerably more durable than the similar BlackJack buffers, but I could immediately tell a difference when the bolt carrier stopped slapping the rear of the receiver in both my SLR-95 and SAR-1. The guns simply bounced less, too.

If your AK has a gritty trigger or painful trigger slap, the Tapco G2 fire control group goes a long way towards cleaning up the pull and preventing the pain.

This is hilarious:

You can't "improve" an AK-47. Kalashnikov made it perfect to begin with.

The AK is not about accuracy. It's about reliable, lethal, and simple to maintain.

Ten zillion third world terrorists understand this. You'd be goofy to take it to a competition.

Oh, really? Care to ask moderator Correia here what rifle he uses during 3-gun matches? (Wonder if that makes him a terrorist?)

Myself, I keep my Bulgarian SLR-95 as my "go-to" gun, because I have no problem keeping the groups inside of 2" at 100 yards using the original sights. My AR-15s pretty much stay in the safe, but do get used for prairie dog hunts.