Euclidean

Yeah the optic would pretty much be for giggles if I went that way. I'm not expecting this thing to do anything besides spit cheap ammo downrange.

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tire iron

It'll do that in spades!

cheers

tire iron

Bud White

What about a delta cheek piece to get the good cheek weld im sure soemone makes up just like they do for the Ar's

Euclidean

Well my understanding is there's basically three ways to mount an optic on an AK47 clone:

#1. The side mount, for which I am personally not aware of a low profile mount. Such a mount may exist but I am not aware of it.

#2. Mounts that replace the receiver cover like they make for the SKS. However this is not a good point on the rifle to mount an optic for obvious reasons if you think about it a minute.

#3. An expensive rail like Ultimak or some other outfit might make which mounts where the rear sight mounts. or else requires some kind of drilling and tapping.

I'm sure there's others but these are the only ones I am personally aware of.

#2 is easy but it also sucks, so I'll skip that.

#3 would be worth it if you were being serious about your AK clone, like you had a good import or maybe a VEPR or an Arsenal or whatever.

#1 is what I'll go with because it's actually functional even if it's not really the best solution for serious use. What's funny is I say that and yet I understand that on the few occassions the Russians actually did mount any sort of optic to this rifle this is how it was done.

I have heard of people mounting traditional scopes on AKs, SKSes, etc. However on an AK, to me personally, that seems pointless unless you actually are using it to hunt. I think a more useful sight for just messing around, showing off, or heck maybe even 3 gun competition, would be something that speeds up target acquisition.

My thinking is, the KOBRA red dot sight would be ideal if you were serious. If you actually wanted to use the sight for social work, that'd be the one you needed.

I've also heard of people mounting expensive Holosights on AK47s. Once again, if you were serious, I could see that.

I'm thinking though if you just wanted to play around, a low end to middle of the road red dot sight would probably actually work the best. I'd think you want something that helped you get a faster sight picture than just the iron sights.

I had thought also that perhaps a low power fixed scope could be useful. Use the scope when you're making a longer shoot, use the iron sights for closer shots, etc. Due to the positioning that the side mount puts the scope in, and the fact that it's difficult to really line your eye up to the optic without a cheekpiece, a long eye relief scope could be the ticket because you use those with both eyes open about 11" back from the reticle.

Dang it I'm going to have to try this now.

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P95Carry

You guys mention cheek pieces and such - heck before I put a red dot on mine the gun was feeling so short and awkward when I tried to sight with irons - my face was way too tight on the comb for comfort.

So I actually like to raise the sight line and have no cheek contact!

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NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member.

"To own a gun and assume that you are armed
is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!."

If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

Bud White

All depends on you some people need a better cheek weld other need less just like grip size on a hnadgun

Miggy

Euc, welcome to club.

Allow me to introduce my own GP, not a good pic but WTH.


I got this baby for $330 (all fees included) and I have been very happy with it. And yes, the bayonet is there for fun (sent it to all my "anti" friends.) When you finally get to play with yours, you will indeed see that will need some minor finish work. First thing I did was to get the furniture out, bought a pistol grip fore, strip the awful finish it came with and redo it to my liking. I darkened and soaked it silly with tung oil and wax it. might not be the most "tactical" finish, but I like the feel of wood that way. The Other work I did was to polish the trigger group with a dremmel-type tool (amazing difference), installed a recoil buffer, rail and a cheap-butt red dot optic.
Tack drive is not, but it is a fun gun to shoot and it came in handy one power-less night after Katrina left our neighborhood in the dark.

The great thing about AK's is that most of the accesories for it are not expensive at all and some are downright cheap. 30 round mag prices vary depending on material and where they were built but I just bought 2 at a gun show for $10 a piece, country of origin unknown. You will usually find then in te internet for $12 and up.



PS: wait till you get to bump-fire it.

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rfurtkamp

If there's a siderail, the usual Russian-style with clamp work well. CDNN and elsewhere has them - but I *always* ask if it's got a clamp-type release or requires allen wrenches. If it takes tools, I run.

If you have a MAK-90 or something without a siderail, it's a crap shoot. I've seen top covers that work, seen the gas tube rail work, etc. - and seen as many examples that don't.

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Driver carries less than $45 worth of remorse.

Miggy

There is, but it does involve allen screws. You do have enough space to remove the cover and do an almost normal cleaning.

I have a second generation installed in mine. No complains.

This one is the Third generation with a side rail for lights. $29 at Cheaperthandirt.com


It is a beautiful and rugged system. But costing almost as much as the rifle itself? Ouch!

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You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming.
Randy Cain.

GunFreeZone.net

Miggy

Some other thoughts about AK and variants.

The AK is an inexpensive reliable long gun. Those who are fans and aleardy own AR's or FAL's or Styers are not going to suddenly change their minds, sell their babies and run to get a WASR. However, those who want a long gun for house defense and cannot afford a thousand bucks or more to get one of the models above, cannot go wrong buying an AK. The idea is to have something to use NOW. Think in terms of an old Jeep (AK) and a Hummer (AR and such), yes, it would be nice to have the Hummer to go offroading in style, but the old jeep will take you there too.

Also, the AK is easy as hell to clean and maintain. Ammo is cheap and in 7,62, lethal. Anybody with some very basic mechanical skills can take the AK apart, mess with it and put it back together without troubles. Aftermarket parts are available and economical in most cases and some cool furniture is out there if you want to spruce the look of your AK.

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You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming.
Randy Cain.

GunFreeZone.net