CarlosC's guide to sights and tools

CarlosC · 04-07-2009, 12:53

This post will be in two parts. In the first part, I'll tell you how I adjust my sights and how to use the standard sight adjustment tool. For the second part of this post, I'll show you how to make your own adjustment tools that will beat anything you can buy.

So, you're old-fashioned like me and want to use the old irons on your AK. Not sure how to adjust your sights? No problem, it's actually quite easy. Keep in mind all your zero windage and elevation adjustments will be made using the front sight. That is, your initial settings will be made up front. The only adjustments you'll probably ever have to make after that will be elevation using the rear sight.

As a note, I sight in any new rifle, or any rifle I have replaced the sights on, at 50yds just get get on paper and then in the center of my target. The local range I use has a maximum of 100yds, so that is where I move to after doing my initial 50yd sighting.

So, let's get started. First, understand your sight. All sights have a letter or symbol at the lowest setting. The letter or symbol used will depend on the AK's country of origin. Regardless, that is a battle setting that predicts - and it's a stretch - that with a properly sighted rifle and that setting, you should be able to hit a bad guy at 350meters. Good luck. The rest of the settings are self-explanatory, corresponding to different distances in meters (thank goodness they got away from Arshens).

If you have an AMD-65, AK-47 or an AK-47 hybrid (ie., MAK-90 or SSR-85C2), your sight will be incremented from 100 to 800 meters. If you have an AKM or AK-74, your sight will extend to 1000 meters. Got to hand it to the Ruskies, they were optimistic if nothing else. If you are lucky enough to score some strange AK version, your sights may be something else, like 600 meters.

The rule of thumb is to adjust the front sight to where you bullets are currently hitting as viewed from behind. Remember that. For example, suppose you set your sights on a target at 50yds, dead center. You squeeze off three rounds and find you have a small group high and to the left of where you aimed. The adjustment you should make on your front sight would then be to unscrew the post a little and then drift the drum to the left. The drum is also called a stud or sight block (sight block can be confusing), but I call it a drum.

Here is your typical sight tool.

In this picture, I am using the tool's screw to adjust elevation. Every 1/4 turn = about one inch at 50 yds.

CarlosC · 04-07-2009, 12:54

Now, let’s move on to windage adjustments. The c-clamp portion of the tool is used to make adjustments. As you push the drum left or right, it slides into the hole on the opposite side seen below.

Install the clamp as seen below and tighten the clamp to get the drum to move to the left. Obviously, it would be set up on the opposite side to move it to the right.

In this picture, you can see how the drum moves into the c=clamp’s hole as the clamp is tightened.

How much do you move it? Who knows? I have yet to figure out the increments on the front of the sight block and what they mean in relation to the center marker on the drum. I just adjust a little and see the difference. Adjust a little more, and look again, and keep doing that until I’m where I want to be windage wise.

CarlosC · 04-07-2009, 12:54

Okay, so you’ve got that down. As I said earlier, most of the tools out there to adjust front sights look like the one I showed above. However, if you have some experience with AKs, you’ll realize they probably used a 10-ton press to install the drums, added super glue, and then painted them for further immobility. I bent my adjustment tool several times on a few sights just trying to get them to budge. Using WECSOG ingenuity, I finally freed a few using different size sockets and a vise. But there had to be a better way, no?
There is. And it’s cheap, but you have to do some work. What you wind up with is two adjustment tools that will defeat ANY stubborn front sight. ANY. Here are my home-made tools compared to the standard AK tool. Beefy, huh?

CarlosC · 04-07-2009, 12:55

How do you make it? Easy, my friends. Along with the parts I listed below, you’ll need a hacksaw, vise, Dremel, taps, and a few drill bits. Here is what one looks like as basic parts.

Here are the parts you’ll need (all the bolts are internal wrenching)…

What you need to do…
1. Drill out one threaded end of the c-clamp to 1/2" or larger. This is the hole the drum will drift into.
2. Drill a hole through the 3/8-16x2.5” bolt just below the head and then tap it for the ¼-20x2.5 bolts. Install the bolts from both ends. If you want a nice flush look, you’ll have to cut some of the threads off the ¼-20x2.5 bolts so only the shank is showing when installed.
3. Drill a hole in one of the flat sides of the ¼-20ALA and then tap it at ¼-20. Insert the ¼-20x3” bolt into the hole and tighten it.
4. Cut off the head of the bolt. Cut a groove into the remaining nub and then drill a hole in the middle for the sight post to go into.
5. Install the two ¼-20x2.25” bolts on both ends of the ¼-20 ALA and tighten them against the 3” bolt inside. That will keep it from moving as you make elevation adjustments. Same thing applies for the flush look here.

The beauty of this system is that should you break the ears on the elevation tool, who cares? Just go get another bolt and make yourself a new one.

Aceman · 04-07-2009, 14:31

You writing a book Carlos? If so, I'm buying it!

DaGroaner · 04-07-2009, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aceman

You writing a book Carlos? If so, I'm buying it!

No kidding, me too. How do we go about getting these tremendously informative posts stickied?

Carlos, you are definitely the king of the Kalashnikov Klub.

CarlosC · 04-07-2009, 15:25

Thanks guys. I see the same questions coming up fairly often, so I figured I'd do up some posts to answer the most common ones. Enjoy.

uz2bUSMC · 04-07-2009, 15:39

Good info Carlos! Thanx.

1985 4Runner · 04-07-2009, 16:46

Most Excellent!

Thanks for the effort.

Noodles McGee · 04-07-2009, 17:38

Hammer and drift work just as well for windage.

Titurel · 04-07-2009, 18:27

Wow, thanks! I was ready to go buy a sight adjusting tool, now I see that I already have the parts to make a better one.

KYJoe · 04-07-2009, 18:29

we need to sticky this. thanks carlos

gp35fn · 04-07-2009, 19:06

Damn, this crap was new to me-about 25 years ago-this along with the AK bayonet "info". History does repeat itself. What's old is new again.BFI

**DJ Niner** · 04-08-2009, 00:35

Good info, good post, good job!

Stickied!

**DJ Niner** · 04-08-2009, 00:38

More good stuff:

"CarlosC's guide to bayonets and mounts"
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1033129

(Don't want to get too many threads Stickied; some folks complain)

**DJ Niner** · 04-11-2009, 21:48

The Bad News: I'm going to UnStick this thread.

The Good News: I'm going to add links to all of CarlosC's threads to the "Resources/links for AK owners/users..." thread already Stickied on the main forum page.

Sorry, CarlosC; you're a victim of you're own success. You've started too many good/informative threads to Sticky individually; the forum's whole first page would be nothing but Stickys!

Thanks for your time and efforts on these threads.

.

CarlosC · 04-11-2009, 22:14

No problem DJ. The goal was always to get some information out to my fellow GT AK enthusiasts.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's kind words and efforts.

Ronaldo · 04-13-2009, 07:48

Carlos, quick question...

I have the use of a short indoor range and want to use it to do some rough sight-in work on a recently assembled AK. I agree that the 50 yd zero method you outlined works fine but I need to do some functional checks and want to get on the paper using the 25 yd range I have at my disposal.

So the question is, in order to hit dead center at 50 yd, where would I sight at 25 yd? My math isn't what it used to be. The old rule of thumb I used in the past was 1 inch high at 25 yd but that may not be optimal on the AK.

What do you suggest??

Ronaldo

Cruiser702 · 04-13-2009, 09:48

Great info, thanks Carlos !

CarlosC · 04-13-2009, 14:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronaldo

Carlos, quick question...

I have the use of a short indoor range and want to use it to do some rough sight-in work on a recently assembled AK. I agree that the 50 yd zero method you outlined works fine but I need to do some functional checks and want to get on the paper using the 25 yd range I have at my disposal.

So the question is, in order to hit dead center at 50 yd, where would I sight at 25 yd? My math isn't what it used to be. The old rule of thumb I used in the past was 1 inch high at 25 yd but that may not be optimal on the AK.

What do you suggest??

Ronaldo

I calculate .75 inches low at 25 yards to hit zero at 50.

G23c · 04-13-2009, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlosC

Thanks guys. I see the same questions coming up fairly often, so I figured I'd do up some posts to answer the most common ones. Enjoy.

CarlosC, wow, great information (the pix really help), thanks and ... CarlosC for President!

skanless · 02-22-2010, 21:36

CarlosC is a world of information on ak's. Thank you sir.

Mofeen · 02-27-2010, 21:42

Sorry. New to rifles. What is the best way to sight these in? Should I be shooting from a bench with a sandbag? Any recommendations?

glocked-up · 03-08-2010, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlosC

No problem DJ. The goal was always to get some information out to my fellow GT AK enthusiasts.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's kind words and efforts.

Carlos can you explain how the rear sight works on an AK?...I have a Saiga 7.62 and one time my cousin asked how the rear sight worked and I couldn't tell him.....It seems when u lift the rear sight up it blocks the view of the front sight, evidently I'm not using it correctly. School me on the Ak sights and how to use them properly. Thanks

JGguns · 03-08-2010, 18:26

Excellent post. What part of sc are you in? I am in greenville and besides the gun clubs (to expensive for me right now) there is only 25 yard ranges. However using your .75 math I should be alright for a good rough site in until I can get to a longer range... Thanks for the info!