I have always wondered about putting a rear sight on the top cover of one of the AK variants I own. Most people say that the top cover is too loose and will affect your groupings drastically. My question.......What about the older Valmets or Galils? Both of those AK variants have factory rear sights mounted to the rear of the top cover. I am aware of the few aftermarket options available, I just wondered why putting a rail on a top cover and mounting a rear sight would not work the same way? Thank you in advance for your input. -66912
Valmet rear sight.
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Andrew Wyatt
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you won't have a problem. take a look at the tech sights rear sight.
Unless I'm mistaken the Valmet M62 uses a different method of retaining the rear of the top cover...I seem to remember a lateral pin arrangement that spanned the receiver. The Galil, being descended from the Valmet would have followed the same path.
Other guns descended from the AK that had a rear mounted sight were the FN FNC, which raised the rear of the lower receiver, and the Sig 556, which has a machined top cover
Other guns descended from the AK that had a rear mounted sight were the FN FNC, which raised the rear of the lower receiver, and the Sig 556, which has a machined top cover
only the valmet RK95 and the INSAS has a second lock on the dustcover
the m62 valmet , the Galil have thick heavy dust covers
i weight my ak covers
FEG amd65 86 grams
Cugir romanian AKM 91 grams
saiga 126 grams
a tight fitting Saiga cover might work with a m1 carbine rear sight
the m62 valmet , the Galil have thick heavy dust covers
i weight my ak covers
FEG amd65 86 grams
Cugir romanian AKM 91 grams
saiga 126 grams
a tight fitting Saiga cover might work with a m1 carbine rear sight
Grump
Member
Here's the actual data from a Valmet M76.
The receiver cover is tight for windage courtesy of a reinforcing "lip" I guess you could call it, which wraps around the outside bottom rear. It appears to have been made tight enough that it just wears in or has a small amount of interference fit.
Elevation is rigid, too, being held by the spring pressure of the op-rod latch engaging the angled rear inside surface of the cover.
The front end of the receiver cover is tight to the trunnion, with a stamped raised area maybe 1.5 mm wide, a ridge, that makes for another area of interference fit.
The weak spot in the system, IMO and IME, is the elevation "ladder" itself--it can wobble sideways on its hinge as the indexing knob it is adjusted along its length (it doesn't stand up like a ladder, think of it as being flat instead of "up"). I'd like to see a truncated V-shaped bottom face on that, so the assembly self-centers in between the "rails".
First ten shots with that used rifle, it had an old Aimpoint (3 MOA dot) on a Weaver mount block silver-soldered to the cover, 10 shots of LC M193 Ball (there was no other USGI load then) at 100 yards went into two inches. Iron sight groups are usually about the same.
The receiver cover is tight for windage courtesy of a reinforcing "lip" I guess you could call it, which wraps around the outside bottom rear. It appears to have been made tight enough that it just wears in or has a small amount of interference fit.
Elevation is rigid, too, being held by the spring pressure of the op-rod latch engaging the angled rear inside surface of the cover.
The front end of the receiver cover is tight to the trunnion, with a stamped raised area maybe 1.5 mm wide, a ridge, that makes for another area of interference fit.
The weak spot in the system, IMO and IME, is the elevation "ladder" itself--it can wobble sideways on its hinge as the indexing knob it is adjusted along its length (it doesn't stand up like a ladder, think of it as being flat instead of "up"). I'd like to see a truncated V-shaped bottom face on that, so the assembly self-centers in between the "rails".
First ten shots with that used rifle, it had an old Aimpoint (3 MOA dot) on a Weaver mount block silver-soldered to the cover, 10 shots of LC M193 Ball (there was no other USGI load then) at 100 yards went into two inches. Iron sight groups are usually about the same.
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