briansmithwins
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2005
- Messages
- 4,631
Received a preproduction AK rail from Lionhart over at arfcom. I installed it today and this is my initial impression. I'm using a Arsenal SLR107FR as the test weapon.
Unit is a solid little chunk of machined aluminum. Fit and finish look good. Weight is a little over 4oz. Of course, the rail is going to be used to mount something, so the actual weight is going to be higher and it's going to be pretty far forward.
No real problems with the install. The screws are hex head 7/64th and the wrench was not included. They screw directly into the aluminum block, not into inserts so don't over torque. I installed the screws with blue loctite to prevent them from loosening up.
The only problem I see so far is that the rail block can't be mounted far enough forward to allow the lower handguard retainer to swing forward. You ain't going to pull the lower handguard while the rail is installed. I know lots of people haven't touched the lower handguard since their rifle was assembled but it is part of the field stripping procedure.
The rail is just slightly wider than the stock handguard. I tried the rail with 3 different lights, a Surefire weaponlight, a Surefire X200, and a flashlight on a Larue offset mount. Of the 3 I preferred the flashlight with the Larue offset mount. The other 2 lights were kinda far back and interfered with the mounted sling.
The firing review will be next weekend.
Now to the pictures.
The rail block:
Note the steel alignment pin between the screw holes.
The rail can't be mounted any farther forward as the front screw hole access limits it.
With the block mounted fully forward the lower handguard retainer can't be swung forward.
Block installed.
With Surefire weaponlight.
With Surefire X200 light.
With flashlight on Larue offset mount.
Unit is a solid little chunk of machined aluminum. Fit and finish look good. Weight is a little over 4oz. Of course, the rail is going to be used to mount something, so the actual weight is going to be higher and it's going to be pretty far forward.
No real problems with the install. The screws are hex head 7/64th and the wrench was not included. They screw directly into the aluminum block, not into inserts so don't over torque. I installed the screws with blue loctite to prevent them from loosening up.
The only problem I see so far is that the rail block can't be mounted far enough forward to allow the lower handguard retainer to swing forward. You ain't going to pull the lower handguard while the rail is installed. I know lots of people haven't touched the lower handguard since their rifle was assembled but it is part of the field stripping procedure.
The rail is just slightly wider than the stock handguard. I tried the rail with 3 different lights, a Surefire weaponlight, a Surefire X200, and a flashlight on a Larue offset mount. Of the 3 I preferred the flashlight with the Larue offset mount. The other 2 lights were kinda far back and interfered with the mounted sling.
The firing review will be next weekend.
Now to the pictures.
The rail block:
Note the steel alignment pin between the screw holes.
The rail can't be mounted any farther forward as the front screw hole access limits it.
With the block mounted fully forward the lower handguard retainer can't be swung forward.
Block installed.
With Surefire weaponlight.
With Surefire X200 light.
With flashlight on Larue offset mount.
