AK sight radius?

R

rdf.hack

New member
I've heard through the grape vine an AK has a poor sight radius, some comparing it to a pistol. What I want to know is why they say that, when the sights are perfectly adequate for its intended purpose?
 
It is a short radius but the weapon is not designed to shoot out to 500 meters. I've shot an AK with 3 dot aftermarket sights and it seemed to help but after 200 meters the 7.62x39 round drops pretty signifigantly so good luck even after adjusting the rear sight.
 
They say that, because it's true- it does have a very short sight radius.
This is because the rear sight is mounted so forward of the receiver, because of the design the receiver cover takes up the entire rear/top section of the rifle and you can't mount a sight on a removable receiver cover.

There is an aftermarket setup I've seen (but can't recall where) that modified the receiver cover and allowed for mounting a rear sight behind the receiver. Maybe someone else here has seen it...
 
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They're actually about the same length as an M4carbine. What sucks about them is that they're pistol style sights, which I think is why they aren't as 'good' as other rifle sights.
 
Just me, but I prefer open sights as to the apetures on ARs. Mostly due to the fact I have Myopia and astigmatism and even with correction I have trouble focusing with a ring easily.
 
What I want to know is why they say that, when the sights are perfectly adequate for its intended purpose?
Click to expand...

Maybe they aren't using the rifle for it's intended purpose, but find them somewhat limiting for other purposes?
I don't know why they say that, never heard that handgun radius part before....but I can't stand the sights on mine.
 
IMG_0001-5.jpg
 
If youre a bullseye type "target" or "group" shooter, youre probably not going to like them as much, or get the same precision you would the aperture type sights. If you shoot a little more realistically, and arent upset by baseball to large lope sized groups on targets without aiming points, you'll likely be fine with them.

Even with my now older eyes, I still have no troubles making good, rapid COM hits on silhouette/people targets out to 200+ yards from field positions with mine. Using my AR's or M1/M1A's etc, on the same targets, I get similar hits. Now if I shoot "bullseye" type targets, the difference is usually more noticeable, and the aperture type sights are usually the better choice.

Its been my experience that the people who bad mouth or complain about the AK's, usually havent spent any quality time with one to learn how to work and shoot them. They arent "AR's", and dont get run like them, although shooting wise, the principles are really all the same, head down and forward, nose to the top cover or charging handle. If you cant shoot an AK "reasonably" well, its usually not the guns fault.

I have forward mounted Aimpoints on a couple of AK's, and they do bring the guns into the 21'st century with things similarly equipped, like the AR's. Having and shooting both type rifles that are set up similarly, they shoot pretty much the same with the red dots to as far as you can hold them, assuming you understand the rounds.

Im not a fan of mounting scopes, or trying to make the AK's into AR's by moving the rear sight farther back and mounting a peep on it (among other things). The set ups Ive seen that do so, interfere with shouldering the gun, and getting a proper cheek weld and head position. Even if you were to get your head where it belongs, it looks like it would be painful and distracting to shoot.
 
RT, nice comparison picture of the simular sight picture of the M4 style AR and the AK.

You do know there is more to accuracy then the sight radius don't you.

Anyway, all else being the same, you'll be more accurate with the longer sight radius, its simple geometry. It's easier to see and correct an error in sight alignment with a longer sight radius.
 
Yeah I know. But too long a sight radius and it becomes difficult to align front-rear sight to target. I can handle a little past an M91 Mosin, but no more due to my astigmatism affecting me even with corrective contacts.

I'm comfortable with the AK the way it is, I also like the way the sights do not interfere with target acquistion, much better than the Garands and Mini-14s I've fired
 
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