Need Help Sighting in AK

[Thrasher416]

I need to sight in my new Romy G flatbuild, read the following threads but I still have some questions.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=177761

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=119322

The closest range around where I live is Circle S in Petaluma, but I've never been there before, would I be able to set up a target at 25 meters or do they have targets set already?

Also I'm tight on cash, I'm reluctant to buy a $15-30 windage tool that I've heard most people only use once (I have a vertical front post sight tool already). Is there anyone in Sonoma/Marin that would be willing to let me use theirs?

[TURBOELKY]

The windage is usually set up on them from the factory. The problem is, most people think the front sight is off to the side one way or another, and push it center. In the front of the front sight, there is a mark on the FSB and the actual sight itself. Leave the lines AS IS, and adjust up and down accordingly. I've had good luck so far on my builds, out of the box they are pretty accurate, but dont expect to drive nails with the thing.... you may be able to use a small "C" clamp and maybe a socket to fit over the other side of the front sight for a windage tool.

[Thrasher416]

I haven't messed with the front sight post at all, it's set how it came from Romania so I think I might do what you said and just see how it shoots. The FSB has a slight amount of cant to the left though, and if it's $10 to use Circle S I'd be disappointed if it was off and I didn't have a tool.

Does anyone know the range of the targets at Circle S? I've heard AK's are supposed to be sighted in at 25 meters, would I be able to put a target up at around that range there?

[SKSer]

The windage is usually set up on them from the factory. The problem is, most people think the front sight is off to the side one way or another, and push it center. In the front of the front sight, there is a mark on the FSB and the actual sight itself. Leave the lines AS IS, and adjust up and down accordingly. I've had good luck so far on my builds, out of the box they are pretty accurate, but dont expect to drive nails with the thing.... you may be able to use a small "C" clamp and maybe a socket to fit over the other side of the front sight for a windage tool.

If your rifle is shooting to the right or left, why would you leave it the way it is?

For the OP, after my build, my rifle was shooting to the right, and i adjusted it without a tool. You can use a brass punch (a spent brass case works too) and a small hammer. On the front sight block you will see a circle on the side, that is the drum, you adjust windage by moving that left or right, a little goes a long way. Its best to spray some sort of penetrating oil and let it soak because they can be pretty tight especially if they have never been moved since the factory. Many people will tell you that you cant do this or you shouldnt, but that is BS, even in the saiga manual it describes this method.

I should probably describe how to do it in better detail, lol. It is best to have two people. Have your helper hold the rifle by the buttstock and lay the front sight block on its side on a sturdy surface like a solid table. If your worried about the table top messing up the rifle surface, then bring a 2x4 to use as a buffer between the table and your FSB. Tap it as needed. You will see the index marks on the front of the FSB where they are usually put on by the factory. Use these as a reference to see how far you moved the drum.

[ZX-10R]

Sight 25 yards out. Aim for the bulls. If you hit paper you are good out of the box to start fine tuning your AK / WASR. The AK tool is handy depending on where you shoot and need to adjust windage so spending $25 for one use is not true you will use it when needed.

If you have a cant on it, the windage probably was set for your rifle with cant included. as a result the windage barrel may be way left or way right. Leave it as others have said and adjust the elevation (you can use needle nose plier) if you are really that broke (you can buy ammo to shoot but not buy a tool?) If you do need to adjust windage, take somethign with rubber end and tap the windage barrel as needed. I would try and fix the can't if you can but you run the risk of having the windage way to left or right. It will still be useful but off looking.

Get a POSP scope for an AK or scope mount and mount a scope if you want. I had a scope on mine and loved it. Am deciding on what to do with my WASR/ AK now. Scope and scope mount or POSP.

AK is great shooter but do not expect AR results.

Good luck.

[CHAD PEZZLE]

Circle S has 50, 100, 200, 300 rifle distances. They have what I think is a 20 yard pistol range but you won't be able to use your rifle at that end.

I would bring a few clay pigeons and lay them out against the backstop of the 50yard target. Shooting at the clays will allow you to see dirt flying up and help you adjust easier. If you're close you can start punching paper, but at 50 yards the holes will be difficult to see with out a scope/binocs. You could also get some shoot-n-see targets to help figure out where your hitting.

[SJgunguy24]

Pull the bolt and bolt carrier. Set up in a vise and somewhere around 5-10 yards hang a piece of paper with a big black dot.
Look through the bore a untill you can see the dot on the paper. Adjust the rifle so it's steady and you can see the dot clearly. Now look through the sights. If you can see the dot through the sights the same as the bore then your gonna be close at 50.

This is what I do for eveything as a baseline set up, hasn't failed me yet.

[Thrasher416]

Thanks for the tips, I think it is probably worth it to buy the tool. I guess I should have said that I was reluctant to get the tool because I thought it would be one of those expensive things you need but only use once.

I don't have the tools to fix the cant, but it's not that much anyway so I'll just try to adjust it, if it isn't good already.

As for the range, I guess I'll just have to work with 50 yards, but I might try SJgunguy24's suggestion and boresight it. My friend said he'd come with me to the range schedule permitting to spot with Binocs.

I just have one more question though: Does taking the cleaning rod out really affect accuracy? I heard it affects the barrel harmonics or something. Sounds like FUD but I'd like to hear if anyone knows anything about this.

[diginit]

Mine shot well from the factory after the build. But AK's are not tack drivers. Sounds like the barrel was installed a tad off center to the reciever and the pin didn't correct it. No biggie with an AK.
The hammer technique works, but it is east to overcorrect if the blow is too heavy. Then you end up going back and forth until you finally get it centered. Adding penetrating oil will just cause you to lose zero if it is ever bumped. You will have to site it in again. Leave it dry. Get the site tool to make very small adjustments alittle at a time and then sell the tool to another new builder in the marketplace.

As for the cleaning rod... This an AK-47. A military weapon. Not a target or sniper rifle. If you want absolute accuracy, An AK is simply not the way. Unless you have a REAL Dragonoff.

[SJgunguy24]

Mine shot well from the factory after the build. But AK's are not tack drivers. Sounds like the barrel was installed a tad off center to the reciever and the pin didn't correct it. No biggie with an AK.
The hammer technique works, but it is east to overcorrect if the blow is too heavy. Then you end up going back and forth until you finally get it centered. Adding penetrating oil will just cause you to lose zero if it is ever bumped. You will have to site it in again. Leave it dry. Get the site tool to make very small adjustments alittle at a time and then sell the tool to another new builder in the marketplace.

As for the cleaning rod... This an AK-47. A military weapon. Not a target or sniper rifle. If you want absolute accuracy, An AK is simply not the way. Unless you have a REAL Dragonoff.

Wanna bet? James, I take posts like this as a challenge. I will make you retract this statment.