Shoulder placement for AK-47

[38snapcaps]

something that has been bothering me for a while:

I have an AK with the standard stock. As you know its shorter than most American rifles. Now, I'm not a big guy, 5 ft. 10, 135 lbs. Just naturally when I bring my rifle to my shoulder I find the buttstock sets into the area of my arm between the top of my bicep and my shoulder, not the area where my collar bone and shoulder meet.

A friend who is ex Army said I should have the butt firmly in the "pocket" as he calls it, which is at the end of my collar bone. I also have my right elbow at almost a right angle from my body, he said it should be held down lower to my rib cage. I've tried that with the AK and it just plain feels wrong, my head is bent way over to get a sight picture, and my neck is straining quite a bit. Shooting the former method feels fine, you can tell where the butt is placed because of the bruises

So, am I doing okay, or should I somehow force myself to do it the other?
I mean, I think I shoot the AK pretty good, I can take out clay pigeons offhand at fifty yards, that's indicative that my "style" is working, right?

 

[Skofnung]

If you can hit what you are aiming at every time with your method, then the mission is accomplished. If not, learn the proper way.

I have seen some amazing things done with anatomically incorrect stances, but they are the exception to the rule.

 

[Correia]

I have a similar problem, but I'm 6'5".

For your size the AK stock may be to short for a traditional rifle shooting stance, but if you use a more forward leaning, squared off, aggresive stance it probably won't be as bad.

Try this, mount the gun, elbows down. With your support hand, don't grasp the fore arm, grasp the magazine like it is a vertical fore grip (thumb on same side as fingers). Elbows down with that arm as well.

Now don't stand with your left foot forward like you normally would. Square off towards the target like you are shooting in an icocoles style pistol stance. Feet shoulder width apart, feet pointed towards target. Crouching slightly. Weight forward. Your chest should be pointed towards the target.

This isn't as good for precision shooting, but it is great for really fast CQB style stuff. Rapid fire control is accentuated.




Or get a longer stock.

 

[WonderNine]

The 1" recoil pad stock extension works good for me, still a little short though.... I don't know who makes longer stocks...

 

[jzimm9mm]

I sort of felt the same way about my SAR-1. It just didn't seem to mount right with the short stock. K-Var sells polymer stocks that are 1.25" longer than the standard size. They call them "NATO" style. I've been much happier using that style.

http://www.k-var.com/subcatmfgprod.asp?0=270&1=271&2=1082

Jer..

 

[WonderNine]

Hmm...looks like they're about $85. I think I paid $8 or so for the extended recoil pad.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Hey WonderNine--where'd you get your 1" recoil pad stock extension? None of the stores around me carry them, and I like the stock my AK came with (after refinishing, of course)

 

[idd]

But I thought that these AKs were designed to be spray-fired from the hip, right???





har har har

 

[WonderNine]

Bought it off of gunbroker awhile back. Here's the only one I could find on there right now. http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=16182512

It's a nice rubber recoil pad.

 

[DF357]

Tapco

has the rubber stock extensions too.

 

[Cosmoline]

But I thought that these AKs were designed to be spray-fired from the hip, right???

Actually, they were! I've seen the method described in translated technical manuals. It was felt that a line of soldiers firing from the waist while advancing toward the enemy position would be able to take anything! I've seen early Vietnam war footage showing our guys doing the same thing with the new M-16's. Didn't work for us, either.