Ergonomic upgrade for your AK pattern rifle (and my introduction)

[Rail Driver]

Hi everyone. I'm "Rail Driver". I was invited here by "Reaver" and after looking around, I like the place. I live in Tallahassee, FL and have been into guns for a long time, and just started getting into prepping.

Anyway, on to the good stuff... Reaver said I should post this here after I got acquainted with him while looking to trade off my Draco Mini (still available for trade btw) and we got to talking about stuff.

When operating a semi-automatic or automatic rifle as a right handed, right eye dominant shooter, the AK style (and AR-15 style, more on that later) rifles can be a bit clumsy when it comes to mag changes, clearing jams, and charging the rifle due to the location of the charging handle.

Well, a buddy of mine showed me a great solution. Simply move the charging handle to the left side of the bolt carrier and cut a slot in the dust cover for clearance. It lets you run the rifle without ever leaving a firing position if need be, and you don't have to worry about brass hitting you in the face or anything.

After moving the charging handle to the left side and as far forward as possible on the carrier, it's much faster and easier to not only maintain a sight picture on your target(s), but to return to firing capability.
When in a firing position, it's simpler, faster and safer to drop the empty mag, seat a fresh one and charge the weapon with the off hand while maintaining eyes and sights on the target than it is to rotate the rifle and do the same, thus losing sight picture and taking your eyes off the target, as well as moving out of a firing position.

If you're of a mind to (and I plan on doing it this way on my next AK) you can use a small piece of stock, or build up a weld and mount the charging handle in a vertical orientation on the left side so you can still hang the rifle in a wall rack properly without punching a hole in your drywall (yep, I did it... my girlfriend was quite upset with me until I fixed it).

I also like to leave enough material on the right side for my safety lever to engage to act as a bolt hold open. This makes mag changes at the range (or showing an empty chamber at ranges that require it) a little easier as well.

I'll be converting a Saiga AK in the near future and will be performing this modification. I will take photos of the process and update this thread when I've got them.

*Also, this modification will work on left handed rifles by moving the handle to the right side instead, and has the same effect.

[southern patriot]

Great read [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co
Welcome aboard!

[Rail Driver]

Thanks

Anyway, I promised a bit on the AR-15 as well, and here's my take on things...

The Stoner design has the charging handle at the shooter's nose. Bad place to be if you have a jam and need to stay on target while clearing (culling hogs anyone?). I like the LAR Grizzly solution - cutting a slot in the upper receiver, milling the bolt carrier to accept the charging handle, and viola... instant left (or right) side charging AR-15. I'm not sure, but I think there are also non-reciprocating models out there as well, but I like the reciprocating charging handle. This receiver also eliminates the ugly forward assist because the charging handle also does that job. For someone with a B.A.D. lever this REALLY makes the AR-15 platform blazing fast in mag changes. 3 gunners speak up if you've thought about it or tried it! The cost isn't that much over most standard uppers if you haven't got the tooling to do it yourself. One note: The LAR Grizzly uppers do NOT have a gaping hole where the charging handle would go, that is sealed and thus eliminates gas in the face. These uppers are presumably ideal for those shooters that fire with a suppressor mounted.

[Reaver]

This should be moved to Weapons section. Yes

[Dave_M]

I'm actually not a fan. About 7 years ago I did this modification to a gun (several others have done it over the years so I'm not claiming intellectual property or anything ). What you have is a bigass hole in the left side of the gun, there all the time, not just when the selector lever is set on the, 'fire' position. It makes it incredibly easy to get debris in the FCG, removes the ability of using a side-rail optic mount, and also changes the overall manipulations.

No thanks.

[Rail Driver]

I'm actually not a fan. About 7 years ago I did this modification to a gun (several others have done it over the years so I'm not claiming intellectual property or anything ). What you have is a bigass hole in the left side of the gun, there all the time, not just when the selector lever is set on the, 'fire' position. It makes it incredibly easy to get debris in the FCG, removes the ability of using a side-rail optic mount, and also changes the overall manipulations.

No thanks.

The mod isn't without its shortcomings, I'll admit. Personally if I've got an optic on my AK, it's mounted on an ultimak. As far as changing the manipulations, that is the purpose of the mod. I've found the gun easier to operate, especially in (simulated) high stress environments. That being said, the hole in the left side of the gun is ~3/16"x4" overall. It's not much of a hole, all things considered. If it's an issue for you, there's this stuff you can get from the auto parts store that is used to keep debris out of electric window tracks (the brush type stuff on some GM model cars rather than the hard rubber lip); Attached to the dust cover with a little bit of epoxy will solve the problem of debris while still allowing the bolt to cycle properly, and if you trim it properly it can be installed on the inside of the dust cover, leaving a very finished look rather than a pieced together garbage look.

[Dave_M]

The mod isn't without its shortcomings, I'll admit. Personally if I've got an optic on my AK, it's mounted on an ultimak. As far as changing the manipulations, that is the purpose of the mod. I've found the gun easier to operate, especially in (simulated) high stress environments. That being said, the hole in the left side of the gun is ~3/16"x4" overall. It's not much of a hole, all things considered. If it's an issue for you, there's this stuff you can get from the auto parts store that is used to keep debris out of electric window tracks (the brush type stuff on some GM model cars rather than the hard rubber lip); Attached to the dust cover with a little bit of epoxy will solve the problem of debris while still allowing the bolt to cycle properly, and if you trim it properly it can be installed on the inside of the dust cover, leaving a very finished look rather than a pieced together garbage look.

I appreciate your candor. Yes, I have seen the gasket thing before. Two years ago I saw a great design that used a cut-down FAL charging handle that was non-reciprocating. However, there was still that big slot in the side and it never went into full production. It certainly piqued my interest though I must admit I no longer think a reciprocating CH is all that big of a deal.

Just because the upsides don't balance with me it doesn't mean it doesn't to you. Since you have considered both sides I totally respect that.

The LAR Grizzly was the first side-charging AR I had any interest in (ASA has made one for years but reviews are... sorted.) For a  precision build it makes more sense to me than a general carbine (laying in prone blahblahblah).

[Rail Driver]

The LAR receivers are more rigid than standard receivers by design (I think it says something about it on the site, but if not, the guys at LAR will tell you about it if you ask), so it makes sense that they're good for precision rifle builds, and also for a "single shot" system where you have to hand load each round because the OAL is too long for the mag (but not too long for the chamber).

The design also helps prevent carrier tilt when using hot loads.

Personally, I kinda dig the reciprocating charging handles, so that part of it isn't an issue, and like I said if the hole bothers some people, it can easily be plugged in such a way that the handle still reciprocates, so the hole isn't even really a shortcoming. The only real issue comes in with people that don't know how or don't want to learn new methods of doing things. Obviously it's not a "mandatory" thing, since it's a modification, but it never hurts to learn a new way of doing things. I like having as many different tools in my toolbox as possible.

[RONSERESURPLUS]

welcome Rail Driver

RON L here

I'm Glad that your here sharing your opinion and your work! I d want to thank Dave _M as well as I see a Lot of wisdom in his statements and inputs thanks as well! Good to heave you all here and making us all think a Little harder?


   RON

[tominphx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F01EqreQFoY

[Rail Driver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F01EqreQFoY

Glad to see somebody made some money on the idea