Best AK Mount? Take this Poll IF YOU KNOW THESE PRODUCTS

[MTMilitiaman]

I've tried the Russian sidemount systems on my WASR with both a PK-AS-V and a late generation Kobra. I found zeroing both optics to be difficult, esp the PK-AS-V. This system was also obnoxiously tall, and nearly impossible to achieve a cheek weld with. The Kobra sits lower, but ran out of windage adjustment trying to get it zeroed. It's close enough to keep them COM out to at least 200 yards, but either the Russian optic just doesn't have the internal adjustment of Western red dots, or the sideplate on my rifle was mounted incorrectly by Century. Neither would suprise me.

My brother has an Ultimak/Aimpoint on his. I find that most people that do some experimenting also end up with this combo on their AKs. It is bar none the best setup available for that rifle platform. I'll be going the same route as soon as funds allow.

Both of our rifles rock ACE folders. I personally think the advantages of being able to have a folding stock on a carbine rifle outweigh any plausible advantages to having the TWS rail. Even if I got the TWS, I'd still only be putting an Aimpoint on it. Maybe if you have an AK with a fixed stock that you want to put something like an ACOG on, the TWS would be worth a look. Otherwise, I would go with the Ultimak/Aimpoint combo. It's proven and it works.

 

[jon_in_wv]

'm a big fan of two options listed here today. First of all, I've used the Russian BP-02 mount. Is a nice low mount, very solid, holds zero nicely. I had a Burris SpeedDot on one and was a great set-up. However, I'm not a big fan of having to rely on optics. They have batteries, add weight, can be knocked out or broken. I'd much prefer a lighter and simpler system and for that, my vote goes to the Texas Weapon Systems rail with the rear peep sight.
Awesome rail, works great, also very solid mount. I'd highly recommend one.

I"m sorry but I'm a little lost on this post. The Russian side rail optics can be removed with the flip of a lever while the TWS item is much more difficult to remove. If you have a scope mounted on it it would have to be on quick release rings and would still be slower to remove than a BP-02. I use the UTG mount on my Ak and it slides off or on in a second and allow me to switch between it and my open sights very quickly. It seems to me that would be more difficult with the TWS not less so. Maybe I'm not getting it.

 

[rangerruck]

actually , if you have the tws mounted, say with a scope or optic of some kind, and you need to take it off, the whole thing comes off pretty easy, with a good hard smack on the rear of it, while you have it unlocked from the back, but then you would not have your factory rear site. The best thing to do is get a tws rail with the built in rear peep site. I have 2 tws rails, with a eotech clone sitting up top , on the rear of the rail, and a small green laser, sitting in front of that.
So all along the top rail, I have the rail with the peep site, for plane jane usage, then a reddot/greendot site, for low light/fast work- keeps the piggies hopping at dusk, and a green laser, cowitnessed at 50 yds with the clone, for when the piggies start running. All in a row, straight line, right up top. Cheers!!! Beer and toilet paper for all my men...

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

What ever happended to the LaRue? It was supposed to be getting a makeover for the AK as a scount mount. I haven't seen anything at all...............

 

[jon_in_wv]

I have the side rail with a 1-4 power scope. If the scope were disabled I can remove it and use my open sights It works for me and its quicker to change out and less bulky than the TWS setup. The TWS setup is pretty sweet still.

 

[briang2ad]

Here is my Yugo problem:

This? http://ultimak.com/m9.htm

Fairly expensive, doesn't look as cool, but GOOD reviews here.


Or this?

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/yugom70quadrailsparthdg-ak-yugo.aspx

Much cheaper - more mounting options, and looks cooler (gets rid of the wood/tactical mix). But, I hear its heavy - true?

 

[AK103K]

The Ultimak is the only rail I know of that sits low enough to allow you to cowitness the irons with a dot sight, which eliminates the need to remove it should the sight go down for some reason. It also allows you to instantly verify your dots zero hasnt changed.

With it mounted forward, its not in the way of handling or cleaning the gun, nor does it block your peripheral vision like many of the higher, rear mounted sights. The rails that attach at the rear of the top cover look as though they would be painful to those who are accustomed to shooting with their head down and forward, like you do with the iron sights.

Most of the other mounts I've seen that mount forward like the Ultimak have been airsoft junk. They may look cool, but thats about it.

I personally, dont like a lot of junk hanging off my guns, so the need for all the other rails just isnt there for me. I like the feel of the lower handguard on most of the AK models fine as they are. The extra rails look as they would be annoying to shoot with, unless you covered them.

While the better mounts and sights do cost a good bit more money, they usually work and dont require you to keep putting out more money for even more junk that doesnt work. In the long run, its just cheaper to not be cheap, and put up the money for the better stuff. But then again, I already learned the hard way, and now know better. Now its your turn.

 

[Ivan244]

What about both? I have a Bulgarian AK 74 parts build on the way in. I have Troy flip-up iron sights along with a Aimpoint H-1 I would like to put onto it. The thought is that if the Ultimak and TWS are on the same plane then I can put the rear Troy sight on the TWS and the front sight on the Ultimax and the Aimpoint somewhere in between.

Anyone know if both rails are on the same plane?

 

[AK103K]

The Ultimak sits at, or just below the top of the top cover. The TWS sits on top of it.

I dont know if a folding front AR BUIS would work with the difference or not, since the front rail on the AR's is lower than the rear rail. Maybe you get to be the guinea pig and can tell us.

 

[Ivan244]

Lol, I may have too Second option is to go with Tri rail system:

http://www.zahal.org/products/ak-auminum rail system?path_parent=218287

Not sure how well it does. But it would give me both front and back rails plus lower rail.

 

[AK103K]

That looks a little to "prickly" for me.

I like things a little more simple. Either way, let us know how things work out. I always like to hear about stuff that works, even if it does suck the money out of my wallet just looking.

 

[jpwilly]

I voted Ultimak rail.

I prefer the forward red dot set up. I have had the Kobra witch was good too. A good cheek weld with an AK is difficult with most of the mounts and optics out there. Even my UTG with Micro Dot setup is a tad to tall IMO. It's workable and I'm sure it is the lowest setup you could possibly get with this combo. I'll eventually get a gas tube rail down the road so that I can co witness and keep a good cheek weld.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Only complaint so far with the TWS is that a long scope bumps into the top handguard when opening for disassembly/cleaning, and one could use a longer buttstock than standard to keep one's nose away from the rear of the mount.

 

[AK103K]

The problem with the longer stock is, the rifle doesnt shoulder and shoot properly. Your head belongs down on the stock with your nose on or along the top cover. Thats how the rifle is meant to be shot. The advantage to the Ultimak is, it doesnt change, or force you to change any of that.

A lot of all this is just how you shoot and what you want out of the rifle. If its a range toy and youre a bench shooter, some things, like a longer stock, may actually work better for you. Use the gun in another way, and its all wrong.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

AK103K, I'm not sure that is true for everyone I'm shooting an AK74 with a straighter fixed stock than a lot of other AK's. I also have long arms. I can manage with the original stock configuration, but another inch or so would be nice.

[/IMG]

 

[wnycollector]

I have a MTK-83 (essentially a higher BP-02) made in Belarus. It is mounted on my Saiga IZ240 w/ the factory SVD/dragunov stock. I LOVE it! with the cheekpad in the down position I can use the iron sights, with it up the scope. The added bonus is that you can remove the dust cover and clean the rifle w/o removing the scope.

 

[GunTech]

I voted Ultimake because I can't see bothering with any optical sight beyond a red dot for an AK anyway. These guns aren't tack drivers. Even the Vaunted SVD is a 2 MOA rifle at best.

A red dot or similar unity powered sight on a AK means a single focal plane, and thus faster target acquisition. If you are trying to build an AK based precision rifle, your are using the wrong platform.

Any sight that interferes with cleaning the weapon is a problem, IMO.

 

[AK103K]

The AK's factory stocks are the same LOP as most other combat rifles, right around 13". Once youre used to that, with any of them, even a little extra is instantly noticeable when you try to shoot them in a realistic manner. That extra 5/8" on the AR's with the A2 stocks drives me nuts. I have A1's on all but one of mine.

I know a lot of people complain about the AK's stocks, but usually when you watch them shoulder them, they are not doing it properly, and have their heads up to high and to far back. They seem to think their cheeks should be on the high part of the stock instead of the narrow part at the rear of the receiver.

The stock in the pic actually looks more like one you see on the milled guns, and appears to have more drop at the toe than any of my stamped guns. Maybe its just the angle in the pic, but it does look different.

Hey, its no biggie either way, if its what you like and it works for you. I myself just prefer commonality with what I have, as it keeps things simple and they all work alike. I like the Ultimak as it doesnt interfere with the normal, natural shouldering of the gun. I get the same cheek weld with the Aimpoints as I do with the iron sights, and the iron sights are right there, should I need them.

 

[FSJeeper]

I have 2 Ultimaks on Yugo 70 underfolder AK 47's. I have mounted Primary Arms T1 Replica Red Dots on them and can not be happier. This setup allows perfect co-witness with the iron sights and very fast sight aquistion. For these particular AK's, I can not imagine a better sighting system.

I have an RPK and am ordering the Texas Weapons Systems Dogleg scope mount with the rear peep sight option. Yes, it does get in the way when cleaning the weapon which is not optimum, but for mounting a rear mounted scope, this is the best system I have seen for the money.

For optimum performance with a red dot and stock sights, the ultimak wins for me. For a rear mounted scope, the Texas Weapons System.

 

[Ivan244]

I picked up the UTG stock conversion for a M4 stock that I have. I like the way it keeps the stock lower versus other conversions that raise the stock plane. If it does not work well I'll go with Fab buffer tube.

Once I get it in I'll find out if the gas tube has holes or not then order both the Ultimak and the TWS and see how they work together.

 

[rangerruck]

I am not sure on the ulti; but you have to remove the rear site of the ak, to install the tws. So if your ulti rail needs to use that space where the rear site was... then you are out of luck using them both.

 

[AK103K]

The Ultimak simply replaces the upper hand guard/gas tube. The rear sight is not affected.

The beauty of it is, nothing really changes with how you shoulder and shoot the gun. Same cheek weld, with both dot and iron sights in the same plane.

 

[Ivan244]

Well I found out the Gen 1 of the TWS is no longer in production. Apparently TWS is hard at work on Gen II to come out shortly.

@rangerruck I have a set of Troy flip up iron sights. The idea is to use the rear sight and Aimpoint H-1 on the TWS and the front Troy sight on the Ultimak.

I have the Aimpoint currently on my VZ-58 but would like to try it on the AK-74 to see how it goes.

 

[Nosidda Zneas]

Texas weapons systems has a Gen II rail out on full production, from all accounts it retains zero even repeated openings. Has a low rise so you can aim like you normally would and not have to raise your cheek like other models

http://www.texasweaponsystems.com/id1.html

 

[Girodin]

I have the gen II rail and wish I would not have bought it. I tried it on half a dozen AKs and it didn't fit any of them. There are multiple other online reports of this. It is sold as part that can just install but many people have found it requires fitting. Mine was too long for my guns, save one. On that one the charging handle couldn't be pulled to the rear because the cover impeded it. I tried to contact the company and the just never replied. The ultimak is well proven and less expensive than the TWS rail.