AK-47 Rail and Sight Mount

[zephyp]

I'd like to spruce up my AK a little by adding a rail for mounting a sight...red dot maybe. I've checked out some on Midway but did not see enough reviews to get a feel for any listed.

I'd like to keep the rail price below $50 delivered.

Suggestions?

[gunderwood]

Do you intend to use this for SD/HD or just the range? How much are you looking to spend on the red dot? Do you just want a simple red dot or a more complex reticle? What ranges do you expect to engage targets at? <100/200/300 yards? Are you looking for minute of man/deer accuracy or MOA accuracy (perhaps you have on of those magical 1/4 MOA AKs I always seem groups posted about on the Internet)?

[Diomed]

1. Does your rifle have a standard receiver scope mount?

2. Do you care about accuracy?

If yes to both, you have some options. If yes to #1, you've got some decent weaver/picatinny type side mounts available to you, or you can use Russian type optics for that authentic look. If yes to #2, then it's either a receiver side mount, an ULTIMAK front rail, or one of the very expensive locking/secured/whatever they're called topcover type mounts. A plain railed topcover won't cut it if you're serious about wanting to use the optic for more than decoration.

[zephyp]

Do you intend to use this for SD/HD or just the range? How much are you looking to spend on the red dot? Do you just want a simple red dot or a more complex reticle? What ranges do you expect to engage targets at? <100/200/300 yards? Are you looking for minute of man/deer accuracy or MOA accuracy (perhaps you have on of those magical 1/4 MOA AKs I always seem groups posted about on the Internet)?

Intended use is HD/SHTF. Not sure about the red dot price yet but would like to keep the total cost for optic and mount well under $200. Accuracy (MOA not required) out to 100-200 yards would be fine if I can keep them all in a pie plate.

1. Does your rifle have a standard receiver scope mount?
2. Do you care about accuracy?

If yes to both, you have some options. If yes to #1, you've got some decent weaver/picatinny type side mounts available to you, or you can use Russian type optics for that authentic look. If yes to #2, then it's either a receiver side mount, an ULTIMAK front rail, or one of the very expensive locking/secured/whatever they're called topcover type mounts. A plain railed topcover won't cut it if you're serious about wanting to use the optic for more than decoration.

The top cover on the lower looks like a standard stamped cover. No mounting holes or ridges. Hence, my question. And yes accuracy is a concern. It seems to do ok over the standard AK iron sights but they are hard to use and see clearly. I'd like to be able to acquire and engage the target quickly.

Thanks guys...

[gunderwood]

As Diomed said, the Ultimak stuff is pretty good. I was in NOVA Armament a while back and they had an AK with a rail that mounted right in front of the gas port. There was a small red dot (Aimpiont T1) installed so it co-witnessed with the irons. Very cool setup, but I don't know who made it. You could give them a call and see if they know or sell it. For low cost red dots I don't know much. Generally when looking at SD/HD I'm splurging to get the milspec stuff which you can't touch for that price.

This might help: http://home.comcast.net/~rob.novak/Shoo ... ights.html

[Hiwaytahell]

DK check these 2 out if you haven't already...

http://www.tickbitesupply.com

http://www.k-var.com

[Taggure]

try this link

http://www.tickbitesupply.com/ak.html

Vern

[Diomed]

[/quoteThe top cover on the lower looks like a standard stamped cover. No mounting holes or ridges.

I think there was some miscommunication, I meant does your AK have the standard receiver scope mount? It's located on the left side of the receiver, above the grip. That is the standard (i.e. Russian) way to mount optics on the AK platform. You can get rail mounts that use the standard mounting block from a variety of sources, K-Var, Kalinka, etc.

Hence, my question. And yes accuracy is a concern. It seems to do ok over the standard AK iron sights but they are hard to use and see clearly. I'd like to be able to acquire and engage the target quickly.

The aforementioned red dots are good. Either one on an ULTIMAK rail or one of the mini-dots that take the place of the standard rear sight (I'm not sure what availability is like on those, LaRue made them for a while but I don't think they do any more).

[zephyp]

Ok. As a newbie to AKs I'm having trouble determining if there are side mounts for a scope. I've compare some pictures and cant seem to decide if any match. So, what do they look like?

[Diomed]

Here's the first useful pic Google came back with, I think it's airsoft but it's a reasonable depiction of the receiver scope mount nonetheless:

[zephyp]

Here's the first useful pic Google came back with, I think it's airsoft but it's a reasonable depiction of the receiver scope mount nonetheless:

Thanks. And no, no hardware like that present. Only 2 buttons at the very bottom edge and rivet heads. The 2 buttons look like something might fit over them but not like that picture. I'll take a pic and post it later sometime.

[zephyp]

Ok, here's a pic of the reciever...the 3 button looking things are rivet heads. At the left there are 3 punch outs for pins or rivets. One of the buttons with a round head looks like a pin for the trigger assembly. There is another flat top pin flush with the receiver and those 2 star looking buttons that sit ever slightly above the surface of the receiver.

So, if this is a standard receiver then how do I attach the scope mount?

[Diomed]

So, if this is a standard receiver then how do I attach the scope mount?

Attaching the AK receiver mount would involve some drilling and rivet work if I'm not mistaken. Unless you want to do some surgery on the gun, I'd strongly consider the Ultimak rail.

[zephyp]

So, if this is a standard receiver then how do I attach the scope mount?

Attaching the AK receiver mount would involve some drilling and rivet work if I'm not mistaken. Unless you want to do some surgery on the gun, I'd strongly consider the Ultimak rail.

Thanks much. Just checked out the Ultimak and looks like the ticket. A little farther forward than I'd like but I think it will do nicely...

[gunderwood]

So, if this is a standard receiver then how do I attach the scope mount?

Attaching the AK receiver mount would involve some drilling and rivet work if I'm not mistaken. Unless you want to do some surgery on the gun, I'd strongly consider the Ultimak rail.

Thanks much. Just checked out the Ultimak and looks like the ticket. A little farther forward than I'd like but I think it will do nicely...

The forward rail isn't an issue if you want a CQB 1x scope.

[zephyp]

Attaching the AK receiver mount would involve some drilling and rivet work if I'm not mistaken. Unless you want to do some surgery on the gun, I'd strongly consider the Ultimak rail.

Thanks much. Just checked out the Ultimak and looks like the ticket. A little farther forward than I'd like but I think it will do nicely...

The forward rail isn't an issue if you want a CQB 1x scope.

Yep, all I want is a crosshair so I can easily acquire targets. Those stock AK iron sights just dont get it for me.

[Diomed]

Yep, all I want is a crosshair so I can easily acquire targets. Those stock AK iron sights just dont get it for me.

Why not a red dot? That's even faster than crosshairs.

[gunderwood]

Yep, all I want is a crosshair so I can easily acquire targets. Those stock AK iron sights just dont get it for me.

Why not a red dot? That's even faster than crosshairs.

+1

[zephyp]

Yep, all I want is a crosshair so I can easily acquire targets. Those stock AK iron sights just dont get it for me.

Why not a red dot? That's even faster than crosshairs.

Thats fine too. By crosshair I mean something I can put right on the target without having to line 2 things up...except the "crosshair" and the target.

[gunderwood]

DK, how does this look?

http://www.bridleandbit.net/ebooks/blue ... s/main.swf

According to page 17, it is an Insight Tech MRDS sight on a ScoutScopes.com AK mount. Thought you might want to check it out too.