AK 47 Rear Sights

[kayak-man]

My random and unsolicited musings about AK sights:

I shot a tactical rifle match yesterday. I was using my AK with stock iron sights. Everyone else was using an AR, and they all had optics. I was pretty confident because the last time I shot my AK, I was able to (eventually) hit clay pigeons at 100 yrds with the iron sights. I'm not a precision rifle shooter, so forgive my lack of nomenclature, but I was shooting from an unsupported (no sling/bi-pod/rest) standing position.

I know thats not mind blowing accuracy, but it was the first time I'd shot the rifle at that distance, so I was pretty happy with it. Anyways... at the rifle match, my problem wasn't the accuracy of the gun. My problem was how long it took to get a good sight picture. Add on to that, some of the targets were set up in such a way, that when I did have a good sight picture, I could barely see the front sight of my rifle.

I think the sights you want are going to be dependent on the type of shooting you'll be doing. A longer sight radius and more precise sights would be awesome if your planning on doing a lot of shooting at longer distances. On the other hand, if your doing your shooting up close, faster sights might be the way to go. Either an optic, or some kind of rear peep sight.

Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[SabbathWolf]

My random and unsolicited musings about AK sights:

I shot a tactical rifle match yesterday. I was using my AK with stock iron sights. Everyone else was using an AR, and they all had optics. I was pretty confident because the last time I shot my AK, I was able to (eventually) hit clay pigeons at 100 yrds with the iron sights. I'm not a precision rifle shooter, so forgive my lack of nomenclature, but I was shooting from an unsupported (no sling/bi-pod/rest) standing position.

I know thats not mind blowing accuracy, but it was the first time I'd shot the rifle at that distance, so I was pretty happy with it. Anyways... at the rifle match, my problem wasn't the accuracy of the gun. My problem was how long it took to get a good sight picture. Add on to that, some of the targets were set up in such a way, that when I did have a good sight picture, I could barely see the front sight of my rifle.

I think the sights you want are going to be dependent on the type of shooting you'll be doing. A longer sight radius and more precise sights would be awesome if your planning on doing a lot of shooting at longer distances. On the other hand, if your doing your shooting up close, faster sights might be the way to go. Either an optic, or some kind of rear peep sight.

Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

I set mine up with an Aimpoint for similar reasons like you mention.
I use a Krebs peep sight as a back-up.
The red-dot is still much faster on target than the irons.

 

[henschman]

No, the Tech Sights rear sight doesn't prevent you from using a side scope mount.

amd6547, putting the AR's front sight on the gas block was not made necessary because of rifle grenades. Many rifles have front sights at the muzzle and still use rifle grenades. The last 4 battle rifles in US military service before the M-16 all fit that description in fact. There is really no denying it -- Stoner just cheaped out. To be fair, the original AR-15 sight radius was decent enough... he wasn't probably expecting that the design would ever be shortened to the extent that it was on the carbine-length versions. But even so, it would only have added one very simple part to the design to do it right, and would only add pocket change to the assembly cost. It certainly could have been fixed when the M-4 was adopted... something like a dissipator setup should have been used.

And sure, a guy who is experienced with factory AK sights can shoot pretty well with them, like you did... all I'm saying is that almost anyone could shoot EVEN BETTER with longer sight radius and an aperture rear sight.

 

[SabbathWolf]

I just went to Tech Sights website and looked at them.
I see no way possible to use a side mount for an optic along with these sights.
It looks like you'd have to install your side mount first, then somehow hope the receiver cover will slide "under" your mount and into place...if at all.
Not the ideal set up at all for those who run a red-dot and also want BUIS.
I'd have to pass on these.

http://www.tech-sights.com/

 

[amd6547]

Henschman, you may wish to do some reading on a subject before you express your incorrect opinion as fact.
While add on grenade launchers were of course quite common for many military rifles pre dating the AR series, the AR was designed from the outset to launch grenades without the need for an add on launcher. The flash hider is the correct diameter for the grenade to slip over.

Here is a thread with some pics...
http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=3&f=123&t=427838

 

[mortablunt]

I keep thinking about one but I just dont see any real benefit over more plain old training. The sight radius on an AK is the same a carbine AR 15.

QFT!