Mounting an EOTech holographic sight on a Romanian AK?

[.cheese.]

I was at a gun show today and looked at a lot of AKs.... but I couldn't see how you mount anything on it. The fixed sights looked VERY fixed and very much in the way of anything else you could think of mounting.

I had gone prepared to the show with cash and everything hoping to buy 2 AKs, but I couldn't get anybody running a table to give me the time of day let alone answer any questions, so they all lost out and I went home.

Now I'm just thinking I'll order them locally, but I'm hesitant if I can't mount anything on them?

How do you, if you can, mount things on AKs?

 

[bratch]

There are 2 ways to mount optics on an AK.

The first is the side rail and is the traditional method. This is how the Russians intended for optics to be mounted.

The second is the Ultimak rail which replaces the standard gas tube and allows for a scout type mount.

Both a viable options

 

[BADUNAME13]

http://ultimak.com/

 

[hexidismal]

bratch didn't actually mention the most common option. The replacement dust cover with rail on it is by FAR the most common mount you'll find on the market. Its also probably the worst.

 

[MMcfpd]

The side mount, which I believe involves tapping the receiver, is probably the best. Receiver cover mounts and gas tube mounts are subject to losing zero easily, and the gas tube mounts put the sight uncomfortably far ahead for me.

All that being said, I plopped down $24 for a receiver cover mount, pic posted earlier here, that amazingly enough remained zeroed after being removed and reinstalled. Of course, there's no telling how many times that can be replicated and I expect it to lose its utility soon enough.

But it's a cheap way to try out a holo sight or scope on an AK to see if that works for you. If so, you can forge ahead with seeking a side mount.

 

[.cheese.]

you guys don't find the fixed site to get in the way?

take a look at the pic Nomad, 2nd posted for what I mean

 

[hexidismal]

It doesn't really look to me that the front site would be in the in way in the pic. Actually though Ive seen plenty of ARs where the Holosight is lined up with the front sight, so it's intentionally in the sight picture. That would be harder to do on an AK I would guess , I don't know if any mounts would be low enough.

 

[MMcfpd]

Well I've never looked down Nomad's AK, but it appears in the picture that the EOTech's reticle may be well clear of the front sight. The red dot I'm using is.

Fairly new to the idea of cowitnessing, I recently removed the riser I had used to mount an EOTech on an AR. With the EOTech on the flattop's rail, my 50 yard zero reticle sits right on top of the iron sights crosshair (I have a crosshair FS).

 

[.cheese.]

lined up would be fine...

you think the EOTech will be high enough to not have to worry about the fixed sight?

 

[sharkhunter2018]

I have a Aimpoint mounted on my WASR-10 using the Ultimak rail. They sell a ring for the Aimpoint thats low profile. For me, it does not get in the way. Should my battery fail, I wont have to take my optics off to use them, as well as no loss of zero. I wouldnt know how to make a EOTech low profile on an AK though.

 

[hexidismal]

In Nomad's pic, the viewing area of the eotech is definitely above the front sight (I loaded up photoshop and checked the angles). Id say you'd be fine with just about any mount out there. One thing I might think about though... would be putting an eotech on a side mounted rail mount that was intentionally set high (most are) just about the fixed sights and sight it in like that, so that you can use them if the eotech were to fail. Pretty standard optics setup on an AK. I don't own an eotech so I don't know how quick they are to release, but I like the option of being able to use my fixed sights when I want.

 

[Clipper]

I have a rail on my WASR, and I've ordered the Leapers mount. It has two rails, and centers the sight or scope above the receiver with enough clearance to take down the rifle without removing the mount. Cheaper Than Dirt lists them, though mine is on backorder.

 

[AK103K]

Receiver cover mounts and gas tube mounts are subject to losing zero easily, and the gas tube mounts put the sight uncomfortably far ahead for me.

The receiver cover mounts are a shaky, but the Ultimak mounts are rock solid and mine havent moved a bit since installed quite a few years ago. For me, the forward mounted red dot is the only way to go, there is nothing faster or easier to shoot with. I prefer the Aimpoints myself.

 

[MMcfpd]

For me, the forward mounted red dot is the only way to go...

If it works for you, it works for you. What can be difficult with what I'll call ergonomics issues is that it's often not easily possible for someone to try out different configurations before a purchase. I think it's probably a good thing to cultivate friendships with lots of shooters of all shapes and sizes, and [strike]old farts[/strike] middle aged guys with crappy eyes, too.

 

[AK103K]

Yup, it can pay to have friends with lots of toys.

If you can shoot an AK with normal iron sights, a low mounted red dot shoots just the same, only faster. Your head position and cheek weld are the same and the rifle shoulders and shoots just like an iron sighted gun, because the sights and the dot coincide.

For us old farts, the red dot is the best thing since sliced light bread.

 

[Prince Yamato]

get the side rail mount. There's one floating around the internet that says, "Made in Belarus" on the side. That's the one you want.

 

[Avenger29]

The side mount, which I believe involves tapping the receiver, is probably the best. Receiver cover mounts and gas tube mounts are subject to losing zero easily, and the gas tube mounts put the sight uncomfortably far ahead for me.

I've seen many AK's with the side rail already mounted.

 

[dstorm1911]

Ya don't tap the reciever to add a side rail if ya got a rifle without one ya simply drill 2 3/16" holes for a screw on mount or 3 holes for a rivet on mount however if ya have a WASR then ya already have a siderail now go to Kalinka optics and get this mount for $34 and put any optic ya want on it, it will set about 1/8" over the dustcover and can be swapped in under 2 seconds if ya got extra mounts with different optics they will all be dead zeroed when ya slide em back on....... I have some setup with red dots, night vission and teloscopic scopes etc...

http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=61

And READ the instructions on the website for how to set it up for your specific rail......... don't know how many times someone will try to hammer em on simply cause they couldn't manage to read the very simple directions......

have fun