Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/661228
It is widely known that AK is not the most ergonomic firearm system. I believe there are many shooters out there who believe metal and wood to be the perfect composition that is not vulnerable to time and it shouldn't be changed. What is more, the true shooter can be recognized by their ability to use a basic version of rifle, not the one with fancy scopes and gadgets. However, there is also a big group of shooters who come from the tactical community and just need all optic sights and other modifications for operational reasons. In this article, I will express some of my opinions on AK modifications. Let's start from the back of the weapon. ButtstocK No matter which version of AK you use, (sticking to Polish and Soviet AKs) you have an option to change the buttstock. There is a variety of aftermarket buttstocks available, including foldable and fixed ones, or telescope with an adjustable cheek riser etc. The stock is the base personalizing the rifle. This modification is extremely important, if the AK user is a tall guy with long arms. In my case, with 190cm height and chimpanzee arms, every standard buttstock is too short. In my AKs, I have mounted longer, adjustable buttstocks. This helps me to strike proper shooting position and also enables me to use more arm strength to control the gun. One of my favorites and cool solutions is the new Zhukov buttstock from MAGPUL. It is both foldable and adjustable, with the option to attach a cheek riser. The problem with Zhukov stock is that the cheek riser position is fixed, so when the stock is in its longer position, it is impossible to have a proper cheek contact with the riser. The choice of the buttstock is crucial for the correct sight acquisition. Shooter must consider his anatomy and the height of used optics mount. Basically, I recommend stocks with adjustable cheek risers. You can find telescopic stocks with additional cheek risers (e.g. MAGPUL CTR) or AK dedicated products, with integrated adjustment options (e.g. PT-1 from ZENIT Co.). www.fragoutmag.com