AK Dust Cover with Rail

[Yerman]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any experience with these AK dust covers with rails on them? I'm concerned that they might not be sturdy enough to hold a good zero with a scope. Thanks.

[jonc]

ummmmmm

TWS AK rail works good...

has to be the hinged rail..

[Carsgunsandchics]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any experience with these AK dust covers with rails on them? I'm concerned that they might not be sturdy enough to hold a good zero with a scope. Thanks.

Your concern is for good reason. They don't work that well for holding zero. There are a few that work much better. One of them is by Texas Weapons Systems, and appears much sturdier with good reviews.

[Richard Erichsen]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any experience with these AK dust covers with rails on them? I'm concerned that they might not be sturdy enough to hold a good zero with a scope. Thanks.

I wouldn't bother with the one in the pic. The price may be attractive, but it relies soley on the fit to the receiver and through firing it will shift point of aim. Some folks report that after a bedding in period they shift less, but they are not a solid mount for optics. If you only wanted to mount a lightweight iron sight and stop using the rear sight leaf, it may be less prone to shifting but then that would probably defeat your intentions.

There are three ways of adding a rail over the receiver that form a solid base and maintain zero. 1. Texas Weapons Systems Dog Leg 2. Polish Beryl style mount that bridges at the rear trunnion tang 3. Kalinka or similar side mount with rail

The advantages of the TWS Dog Leg 2 include that it sits very low, forms a tight fit to the top of the receiver and retains zero even after a full field strip. The top cover replaces the rear sight leaf with a pin and e-clip, turning the rear sight base into a hinge that you can quickly flip open to strip the weapon with no risk of setting the cover aside and losing it. The disadvantage of the TWS Dog Leg 2 is the installation can be a chore if you are not accustomed to replacing the recoil spring and if you have a telescoping recoil spring guide instead of the two piece wire (paper-clip) guide, which will require you buy a front wire guide segment and retaining clip from Apex/Kvar/Midway, etc. The reason for the solid attachment is that it replaces the recoil spring guide with a custom machined steel recoil guide that fits tightly into the T shaped slot on the top of the trunnion (something Tech-Sights do with their AK100/200 series rear peep sights). Because a tight fit is important, you may have to use a set of jewelers files on it to make it fit - I have 3 of these and had to file both Bulgarian kits and the Yugslavian kit to make it slide smoothly. You can finish by using valve lapping compound then polishing compound to smooth out the filing and 120 grit lapping compound. These procedures mean extra work to get the positive lockup and repeatable point of aim and lets face it, many folks are lazy.

The Beryl mount is simple and attaches at the front in hinged fashion by replacing the sight leaf as with the TWS, but unlike the TWS it just bridges over the top cover instead of replacing it. The method of attachment is through the top tang used to secure the buttstock and a somewhat longer screw to keep enough threads in the buttstock through the mount to hold it firmly in place. This mounts takes minutes to install, but is much higher than the TWS mount for obvious reasons. Users report they are very solid and have the ability to maintain zero after field stripping. I own one but haven't used it yet because I have either Tech-Sights or TWS railed covers on my AKs.

Finally there are a number of side mounts that can be adjusted to sit a lot lower than tradional "high" optics mounts do. The practice of using high mounts was so that you could transition from optics to iron sights without a quick release, a simple solution to the problem of optics being damaged, batteries wearing out or just needing faster target acquisition than is usually possible through a magnified optic. If you have a side rail, this is an option. A good quality adjustable side optic mount will generally cost close to $100. The cheaper ones are flimsy and literally bounce every time fire or bump the weapon around. The heavier the optic, the more solid the mount needs to be. The flimsy type are only suitable very the very most basic optics that are light and generally too fragile to be on an AK. Russian optics are very thrash-worthy and that extra mass demands a solid mount to hold them firmly.

Good luck.

[Mail Clerk]

I have one simular to the pic but in reality haven't tried it at the range. The cover from my old IO Casar didn't/wasn't fitted well from the factory and when trying to put it back on I needed a rubber mallet and had to bend the left rear edge just to get it ti fit. Now that I have my replacement AK the cover fits much better and doesn't reuire a rubber mallet.

If you intend to use that cover I suggest you use the smallest and lightest red dot or scope on it.

[SJgunguy24]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any experience with these AK dust covers with rails on them?
Yes, they suck

I'm concerned that they might not be sturdy enough to hold a good zero with a scope. Thanks.

You are correct

Don't waste the money, use that for something constructive like porn.

[Yerman]

Thanks a ton guys, especially Richard for your detailed response...

[bodiebill]

scope rail

mount a rail on the left side of the receiver---the Com Bloc way.
It is fixed and stable. Then get a scope rail that is compatable with the side reail. I have several and they are rock solid.

[sapu5]

Texas weapons system

I have a Texas weapons system. Did beta testing for them. It is rock solid! I also have a mid west ind hand guard rail system and they line perfectly to create a near monolithic platform! Well worth the money!