Replacing AK Rear Sight

[quatin]

Someone has unfortunately mangled the rear sight on my Saiga .308. They cut the back of the sight and removed the notch sight block, leaving only the blade with numbers on it.

I removed the blade and the spring the correct way, but it leaves a gaping hole right on the gas tube so I put the blade back in just so it covers it up. I assume it's not good to have a hole where dirt and rocks can fall into the gas tube. Is there a non-ugly way of covering up this hole?

How do the rest of you AK owners mount optics? Do you all have the high sight blocks? I'd rather not go that road since it feels awkward when I hold the rifle.

 

[nalioth]

The hole isn't hurting anything, functionally.

Replacement rear sight leaves are easily available.

 

[quatin]

I do agree that the hole probably doesn't affect functionality, but I was worried that something can get into the gas block. It is about the size of a nickel so rocks and whatever can slide in.

I don't quite want to replace the leaf since I am going to mount optics anyways so the low profile is a plus. Plus the previous owner has cut the front sight blade and used an ACE gas block sight. This will mean the sights will be 10'' apart.

I will leave it as it is if there are no other options, it's a minor aesthetic defect. I was just wondering if anyone thought up something clever for this.

 

[MM60]

I removed my rear sight in favor of the Tech-Sight upgrade, but I didn't like the remaining hole either. I left the spring in place, pressed it down, and inserted a nail of proper diameter through the small holes where the pegs on the rear sight had previously inserted. I cut the ends of the nail flat with a dremel cutting wheel and ground them flush with the sides of the trunion(?) with the dremel cutting wheel. I DuraCoated the entire rifle later, so the nail isn't going to rust. If you don't plan to re-finish your rifle, you might want to at least paint the nail black (maybe you could use black nail polish - ha ha).

 

[quatin]

Awesome. I knew someone would have an easy solution I haven't thought of.