The All Purpose AK Thread

[Defeater]

Oh, and why not an AK-100 style solid side folder? Does the cool folding thing plus it looks like an AK and not some horrible abomination when it's not folded in. Other than a different red dot, that's the last mod I plan on doing to my 74.

Or maybe a Galil folder... hmmm...

[flyingjibus]

I run a PWS brake on my main competition AK. It absolutely makes a difference in felt recoil and muzzle rise. When I tried it out on my slect fire AK the difference was pretty incredible.

I just shot a night match and noticed zero muzzle flash. Granted I am shooting Yugo ammo which is known for low flash, but compared to some of the AR brakes that were throwing 2 foot fireballs I would say that it works pretty damn good as a flash hider as well.

The version I use is the standard FSC47.

I also use an ACE folder on this rifle. Not much to say tht hasn't been said before. Its great, light weight, rock solid. no complaints.

Other observations from this thread:

Mag well grip doesn't work for me. I occasionally use it when shooting with the rifle supported on a rock,roof of a car, etc, but from any type of standing position I find that my speed of aqusition and floow up shots are hampered by it. In short, the hand guards are there for a reason, Use them.

Red Dots are awesome, I think that ANY rifle sees a great benifit from adding one. That being said I dont think anyone should be using one untill they have a solid foundation built with irons. I am very glad that I started shooting long before they were so advanced and readily available, the only thing I would loose if I had to go without a dot is speed, whereas I think some people would be completely assed out if they were forced to use them. If you are going to run a dot on an AK there is only one answer: ULTIMAK

AS for all the AR vs AK rhetoric going on in here, I will say this:

A 16" AR and a 16" Ak are the same thing in the end. A fighting carbine. They go about the end result in a different way, and each has its accompanying idiosyncrasies, but in the end they both are for killing bad guys. It wasn't that long ago that the AR had a fixed carry handle and round plastic handguards, and was just as goofy to attach accesories to. Just becasuse of that fact that today it is easier to attach things to an AR, doesn't mean that it is the only rifle that should get them. Any rifle is benifitted by a light, an optic, a bipod, etc. From a Ak to a Winchester 30-30.

The one real end result differnce the Ak has to the AR is the round it fires. There is NOTHING wrong with wanting a rifle that has the accesories of an AR and shoots the bigger round of the AK.

[Dave_M]

Get a sling too. The standard military slings are fine as you don't want to be "wearing" the rifle, the sling is there for transition to pistol and administrative carry positions.

Can you explain to me why I don't want to be, "wearing" the rifle?

What is a good polymer lower forend with rails for a flashlight and AFG?

I'd suggest a Bulgarian lower handguard /w heat shield. The non-railed model. The AFG can't even be properly mounted to a Kalshnikov unless a longer lower handguard was used.

Which stock option would you go with of these options and why?
1)quality AR stock tube adapter with a Magpul MOE
2)ACE skeleton stock
3)ACE folding skeleton stock

They'll all work fine. The Vltor AR stock adapter is good to go, as is the ACE. Of the above, the ACE folder is my fav.

Do you think tritium sights are a good idea until I can afford a red dot?
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=2732 ... GHT_SIGHTS

No. Have a look, adjust elevation is a PITA because unlike regular AK sights (which are 1/4 turn adjustment) the triji's can only be adjusted one full rotation at a time.

Thoughts on the Hogue Pistol grip for AKs?

Planning on getting a PWS muzzle brake. Is the $100 version worth the extra money over the $60 version?

I know people that like the Hogue, I do not. I think it's too big. I run an AR hogue on one rifle and fitting a TD AR grip to another. PWS brakes are good to go. Basically, go with anything that isn't a 74' style (loud as hell and throws flash quite well)

Oh, and why not an AK-100 style solid side folder? Does the cool folding thing plus it looks like an AK and not some horrible abomination when it's not folded in. Other than a different red dot, that's the last mod I plan on doing to my 74.

Because unless you buy a rifle setup for one outright, it's a 'send it away to be done' mod for most.

[Bearcat]

Basically, go with anything that isn't a 74' style (loud as hell and throws flash quite well)

I really wish someone made aftermarket brakes for tantals.

[Dave_M]

Basically, go with anything that isn't a 74' style (loud as hell and throws flash quite well)

I really wish someone made aftermarket brakes for tantals.

http://manticorearms.com/NightShroud-Fl ... MA-600.htm

No experience with the above but there you go.

Also here:
http://www.dinzagarms.com/brakes_hiders/74hider.html

[AKFTW]

I have seen it mentioned in Suarez's material in particular, that in close quarters being physically attached to your weapon can be a problem if someone tries to grab your rifle and suddenly they have ahold of you too. When you aren't all strapped in, you can just "let go" of the rifle and get them with your sidearm before they can orient the rifle to fire on you. Also I would assume that unless you were running a single point or had a sling loop on the underside of the rifle, it would be a lot harder to switch sides with the rifle when strapped up in a sling. Also, how does one do sling supported shooting positions (for longer shots) while wearing said sling?

I am sure there are other reasons besides that, but I am not a Tier one operator, former Navy DEVGRU or SWAT Commando, or professional firearms instructor, so I'm probably wrong. But that's just how I have seen the AK sling run by Suarez, and I do it because he seems to know his shit pretty well.

[Dave_M]

I have seen it mentioned in Suarez's material in particular, that in close quarters being physically attached to your weapon can be a problem if someone tries to grab your rifle and suddenly they have ahold of you too. When you aren't all strapped in, you can just "let go" of the rifle and get them with your sidearm before they can orient the rifle to fire on you. Also I would assume that unless you were running a single point or had a sling loop on the underside of the rifle, it would be a lot harder to switch sides with the rifle when strapped up in a sling. Also, how does one do sling supported shooting positions (for longer shots) while wearing said sling?

See, 99.99% of the time if you have a rifle on your person daily, you aren't shooting at anything. You are doing things with your hands. Hell, a single-point even sucks for this. In regards to switching shoulders, it's pretty easy to do with an advanced 2-point sling. Also, sling support is easy to accomplish (it's basically done the same way as with a traditional hasty sling). In regards to gun grabs during CQB, different tactics are simply used.

[Bearcat]

Basically, go with anything that isn't a 74' style (loud as hell and throws flash quite well)

I really wish someone made aftermarket brakes for tantals.

http://manticorearms.com/NightShroud-Fl ... MA-600.htm

No experience with the above but there you go.

Also here:
http://www.dinzagarms.com/brakes_hiders/74hider.html

Thanks for the links. I'm gonna email manticorearms because I didn't see the tantal on either list. I really hope that one fits because the video for the nightshroud looks really promising.

[AKFTW]

Here's a thread at Warriortalk about Suarez's philosophy on slings:
http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?16057-Slingwork&highlight=slingwork

[SeerSavant]

Here's a thread at Warriortalk about Suarez's philosophy on slings:
http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?16057-Slingwork&highlight=slingwork

Seems like the KISS method.

(Not the black leather and steel studs type, but the keeping it simple type... )

[Dave_M]

Here's a thread at Warriortalk about Suarez's philosophy on slings:
http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?16057-Slingwork&highlight=slingwork

My typical response to the single-point guys and I suppose the zero sling guys (though I don't run into them very often) is:
Try to climb a fence with it.

Actually, that's good advice for any gear setup, be it a vest or a sling or whatever. Try to climb a fence or negotiate other obstacles (climbing concrete walls was a common one for me overseas). Sure, a old carrying strap military sling can be thrown across the back as well. However, an advanced two-point allows for quick tightening and releasing, which also means it's easy to adjust for different gear, warming layers, and positions. Can't do that with no sling or an old school carry strap.

I recall seeing a video of some foreign troops (forgot from where), where they simply threw their rifle over the wall before they climbed it Not something I'd recommend.

Here's a video about the VTAC sling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gesXIMa0vFU

[Kommander]

I know people that like the Hogue, I do not. I think it's too big.

We all know that's because you have tiny girl hands!

Also thanks for the links about 24x1.5mm flash hiders. I've got a '74 style on mine right now and I don't really see the need to upgrade right now, but I am glad there are at least a few options out there if I do.

[thesupremeking]

Damnit Thesupremeking you can't just shrug that off with a well reasoned response! Were supposed to argue for pages and then pistols at dawn!

Honestly it looks like were looking at this from different angles and from your angle what you say does make sense.

thats exactly what I was thinking about your responses. All good points here, hopefully OP can come up with what he thinks works best for him.

[Cpt. MelonBuster]

Updated parts list:

KVar Desert forearm/grip set
Ace Skeleton stock
PWS Muzzle device
Ultimak Gas tube rail
Surefire G2
Viking Tactics offset light mount
Meprolight AK Night Sights
Vtac Sling

Total: $540. Ugh.

[Cpt. MelonBuster]

I was going to go for a tritium front sight post but instead I painted the regular one white and with some paint from glow inc. It is very easy to see during the day and 1 hour of sunlight charges the sights to glow for 24 hours. Good stuff, cheap, and I have enough paint for 100 rifles!

Do you have any pictures of that in the dark? Might save me money on the night sights.

[Dave_M]

Updated parts list:

KVar Desert forearm/grip set
Ace Skeleton stock
PWS Muzzle device
Ultimak Gas tube rail
Surefire G2
Viking Tactics offset light mount
Meprolight AK Night Sights
Vtac Sling

Total: $540. Ugh.

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

[Cpt. MelonBuster]

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

Didn't realize they were plastic. Alternatives?

[Dave_M]

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

Didn't realize they were plastic. Alternatives?

Vltor offset is tits

[Cpt. MelonBuster]

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

Didn't realize they were plastic. Alternatives?

Vltor offset is tits

Will the metal mount transfer heat to the G2, and will the light be able to take it?

[Dave_M]

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

Didn't realize they were plastic. Alternatives?

Vltor offset is tits

Will the metal mount transfer heat to the G2, and will the light be able to take it?

No, the light will be fine

[Lucas_061287]

I'd just pony up a little extra cash and go with a Surefire 6PX.

[lo jack]

I know people that like the Hogue, I do not. I think it's too big.

We all know that's because you have tiny girl hands!

This made me laugh... My daughter (with her tiny girl hands) thinks the Hogue grip is awesome.

All due respect to DavePAL84.

[J.C.]

Updated parts list:

KVar Desert forearm/grip set
Ace Skeleton stock
PWS Muzzle device
Ultimak Gas tube rail
Surefire G2
Viking Tactics offset light mount
Meprolight AK Night Sights
Vtac Sling

Total: $540. Ugh.

Can't really use the Viking Tactics light mount because of two reasons:
-It sits too high and will block your sights
-Hotass Ultimak + plastic = fail.

I have tried that setup and it did not block sights or micro dot. But yeah the plastic + gas tube is a bad idea.

[Lucas_061287]

Not to de-rail the thread, but can someone with an Ultimak rail take a infared heat reading of the rail after a few mags fired in rapid succession? I'm curious as to exactly how hot it gets.