Tech-Sights for the AK47. Marksmanship Made Possible, by Mark Laughlin

By NC ScoutPublished On: September 26, 2020Categories: AP Editorial Staff, Weapons29 Comments

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at brushbeater@tutanota.com or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

29 Comments

Alan Burquist September 26, 2020 at 08:14

Have had Techsights on my Norinco SKS since 2013, and my Yugo M70 since 2015..

The SKS TS200 is just fantastic, combined with the narrow front sight post it’s even better.. Solid, very accurate, fast target acquisition, great sight picture, offers very long sight radius.. Although field strip requires a flat screwdriver, which is part of the SKS cleaning kit.. Requiring a tool is a minus, but the benefits to the SKS are WELL worth it..

The Techsight for the M70 AK was not as flat out excellent.. Took some work to make it solid.. The sight wobbles in the rear trunnion slot, due to the cross lock button for the top cover, particular to the Yugo pattern rifles.. On the Romy rifles with no cross lock button, I imagine this problem doesn’t occur..

Problem.. The adjustment set screw in the channel on the Techsight is supposed to remove the excess play when it slides into the rear trunnion.. But machining for the the Yugo cross lock button leaves a raised burr in the channel inside the rear trunnion.. So when you get the set screw adjusted just right, it only goes down into the trunnion until it hits the cross lock channel, and will not seat into the bottom of the trunnion.. So, you loosen the adjustment set screw, then it goes past the obstruction, all the way down into the trunnion slot, but then it wobbles.. LOL, Techsight is fine, rifle is problem..

So I took a pick, and ran it down the inside of the trunnion slot, found the raised burr.. Then a needle file and started working it down.. It was better, allowing me to tighten the adjusting set screw a bit more.. But not good enough, still had just a little wobble to it.. Final solution was to remove the cross lock button, (unneeded anyway), use a dab of Pro-Bed 2000, epoxy bedding compound, in the bottom of the trunnion slot to take up the extra play.. Coated the Techsight with release agent, pushed it down into the slot until it seated firmly, let it set up.. Rubber mallet to pop the tight loose after the epoxy cured.. No more wobble, Excellent..

Note that the rear Techsight will block use of optics on the standard AK side rail.. And the little buttons for the top cover can be pretty aggravating.. But, without a doubt, once fitted correctly, the Techsight is the best Iron sight you can get for an AK.. I have tried all kinds..
- Johnny Paratrooper September 26, 2020 at 10:10
  
  The venerable SKS. Never disappoints.
  - Alan Burquist September 27, 2020 at 08:58
    
    LOL, yep, best $99 gunbucks I EVER spent.. I love that thing, bought it in 88, brand new production.. Chicom chrome lined barrel and chamber has shown amazing longevity.. After 30+ yrs of ruthless abuse and neglect as a loaner/thrasher rifle, it’s still reliable, and will still shoot 2.5″ at 100yds with the Techsight.. How can ya not love that?
    - Johnny Paratrooper September 27, 2020 at 11:10
      
      I can make 38/40 headshots @ 200 yards all day. And she cools down real quick. And, I tested 5 different ammo types on 1 zero. All grouped on the same POI. I was truly impressed.
      
      Would purchase again if it wasn’t for the ban in Maryland. I have to store mine in PA.
    - Artie Fufkin September 27, 2020 at 11:32
      
      Have a couple laminated 54′ Izzy SKS’s both with TS200 and thin front post in mint condition (when I got them). They were clearly never issued nor refurbished. Love those rifles ! You can practically run those things over with a vehicle and it will brush it off.
      
      The TS200’s made all the difference along with a bit of a trigger job to making them more accurate and usable. Not a slick AR but a great last resort weapon.
      
      Been toying with the idea of putting a Smith Vortex flash-hider on them but they’re long enough already ! Thinking I might get a couple AR15 vortex’s and bore em out to .30 cal to keep the size down a little. Gotta hide that flash !
      
      Just not crazy about the length it will add.
      - Alan Burquist September 27, 2020 at 13:05
        
        Mine has the AK74 style pin on brake, the barrel being unthreaded.. With the longer SKS barrel, It does a fair job of flash mitigation as well.. You lose the bayonet option, but I broke the bayonet mount doing drills with it, ages ago, lol.. Now has a 3 slot Pic mount for a bipod, matched with a Korean 75rd drum mag it makes an Ersatz LMG.. Over the years it has pumped out lots of rounds.. LOL, like I said, ruthlessly abused!
      - Johnny Paratrooper September 27, 2020 at 13:25
        
        I would personally save the money and time. And just buy some quality ammo and food. If you needed anything like that.
        The idea of a radio that gives you a GPS coordinate appeals to me. I don’t know what the battery life is though. But that only matters if you have a map and compass.
        My friend and I dropped about $600 on some excellent imagery. It matches up to my “Grid Squares” AKA Square Compass actual name “Coordinate Scale and Protractor” US Army training Aid.
        I have satellite imagery of the high density Metropolitan Area south of me. I have my first series of maps on my North/South for 30 Klicks total. 10 clicks each. I just need to get some for the east and west of me. And a north satellite of the same size.
        Pricey, but invaluable. And I have plenty of GREAT atlas road maps so I can use terrain association on intersections.
        I practice keeping up to speed on land navigation by listening to the local Police/Fire scanner, and looking up the intersections they call up. It’s NOT easy. But is a good, real world exercise.
        
        They are ready. We should be too.
Anonymous September 26, 2020 at 08:48

5
James September 26, 2020 at 09:18

Awesome!I felt I had too much money and needed something to buy!

I did after reading do some research and seems many are very pleased with results of this site.

Alan,thanks for your review and your cure.A lot of the reviews/few videos I saw seems a lot of folks had to do some very fine filing to get it to fit,as you mentioned more likely a burr in the rifle and not the site.

I have a Ceaușescu and perhaps will have a easier time with it,feel will give this a try,will down the road post results.

This unit seems to be going for about 120,will do some research and see if can find a better price but if it works as claimed by many worth the bucks.
Johnny Paratrooper September 26, 2020 at 10:07

That’s pretty cool. Kinda like an FAL style rear sight. I think we will see this as a factory option pretty soon.
- teslawasframed September 29, 2020 at 15:11
  
  GG&G makes a ghost ring rear sight that replaces the traditional leaf/notch sight. It works very well, installs easily, and has the benefit of still being able to mount optics if that’s the way you roll with your AK. I bought mine on sale, but would pay full price for another if I had a second AK that needed it. GG&G sells ’em in several different colors (or plain) so your yardage adjustments are easy. Paint the front sight post red or orange, and you’ve got a fast, sleek set of irons.
  - Johnny Paratrooper September 29, 2020 at 17:20
    
    Thanks. I don’t have the money for an AK right now. I’m all about Signals. But I will remember this. I do like some good irons.
175jfs September 26, 2020 at 12:04

Eh. Learn to use the original fixed sights. Or if your eyesight is going (and it will with age and/or repetitive eye strain) get a red dot. This is a combat rifle not a Camp Perry showpiece. Keep it simple, because chances are (the way things are going) the AK you pick up to use may not be yours. For the record I’ve been running the AK system since 1981.
vyt1az September 26, 2020 at 23:06

Nice shooting.

I’m curious to know how the Fins kept zero with the RK 62 rear sight mounted on top of that dust cover. It doesn’t look like it has any odd rear spring mounts like this solution.

The RK 62 option or a Texas dog-leg / AK-P type picatinny top cover with a rear sight wouldn’t involve having gaps in the back of the dust cover where grease / gas can blow into your eyes or let more dirt in that normal.
- Johnny Paratrooper September 27, 2020 at 11:17
  
  I would suspect that after they disassemble and clean their weapons, the first round they fire is “off”, and then the gun “Resets” back to normal, and resumes staying on target once the parts settle back into their “home”.
  
  Just a guess though. Or they engineered a serious bar spring into the rifle receiver that maintains a proper “home” for the sight/cover.
  
  Or perhaps it’s similar to the process of selecting barrels for MGs. Make a bunch of them, test them, note the POI and when you have two matching barrels that are “Close Enough in POI and headspace” you issue them as a pair based on the gun.
  
  BTW, That is the reason machine-guns are so expensive. It’s not because the price of steel and welding magically jumps 10x. It’s the processing, recording, testing, and storage that requires so much time and money.
Him September 28, 2020 at 17:08

Practice target acquisition and shooting a lot faster. Flash hider will be needed because lots of shooting will be at night. You may need buddies who can lay down suppressive fire when you scoot. Good luck.
Cold Warrior September 29, 2020 at 08:54

I have been running tech sights on my pre-ban Russian Ishmash for 12 years. They are awesome; doubles the sight radius, plus adds the advantage of rear-aperture. I also replaced the coarse front sight with a fine one (I think it was like going from 7MOA post to 3 MOA front sight). Tech sites hold zero perfectly, don’t believe the nay-sayers. I teach and shoot 3-position every month, minimum. I can shoot prone (USGI sling) at 3MOA or better and it benches at 1 MOA at 100 yards. It’ll shoot 4 MOA standing (w/sling). That’s with standard Tula or Brown Bear 124 gr HP. Believe it people. I have so much faith in my AK with Tech Sites. That’s why the AR is set up as my 600-800 yard rifle, but my AK is set up for grab & go, patrol, and GTW.
- brunop September 29, 2020 at 16:43
  
  AR = 600-800 yard rifle? Bullet BC = .395 in a best-case scenario (Hornady 75 gr. BTHP). There’s a lot to say about drop (230 inches) and wind (6 feet at 10mph) with that kind of BC, and more to say about energy (~350 ft. lbs.) on that bullet weight, but if you don’t spend a mountain of time shooting that stick at 800, you aren’t going to be hitting much (or anything) except on still/quiet summer morning – and even that ain’t a freebie.
  
  YMMV of course.
  - NC Scout September 29, 2020 at 16:45
    
    600 is plenty doable. 800, not so much.
    - Cold Warrior October 1, 2020 at 14:33
      
      Gentlemen, I agree. I apologize for the hyperbole… my comment was meant to highlight the difference in philosophy of use (POU) of the AR and AK with me. Full disclosure, the AR is a 24″ HBAR 5.56 that is very reliably 4 MOA or better (prone w/sling) at 400 yards (M855). I have fired it to 600, and could hit, the group does open up (!), and I believe I might be at the limit on my glass on the come-ups. I haven’t been on a range yet to try it at 800…
      Again, sorry for the supposition of my abilities to 800, which, truth be told, I haven’t done.
      If any newer shooters want to learn how to reliably hit at 400, I respectfully recommend you check out Project Appleseed, as they have a program beyond their normal rifle marksmanship clinics that lead to events known as Known-Distance (KD), which is out to 400 yards.
      - NC Scout October 1, 2020 at 15:04
        
        No worries brother. ;)
Arkindole September 29, 2020 at 16:19

Very Valmet-ish.

Kyse on vitun ajasta…
- NC Scout September 29, 2020 at 16:19
  
  It is!!
Anonymous September 29, 2020 at 17:53

3
Anonymous September 29, 2020 at 19:10

2
NorthGunner October 4, 2020 at 18:04

Here’s another option for rear sights courtesy of ‘Rob Ski’ of AK Operators Union: 47-74:

AK Iron Sight Upgrade – but does it HOLD ZERO?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbYnfWbvNg&t=5s

Personally, I’d first learn to be ‘one’ with the regular sights
and THEN decide if (due to age, vision problems, etc) if one
NEEDS to enhance/replace the sights.

Since there will be some folks that are new to owning an AK
pattern rifle, here’s a overview on how the sights work and
how to adjust them properly (btw, the front sight of the AK/AKM
carbine can be considered a ‘Poor Man’s Eotech’ due to it’s
layout; also on most, the width of the front post corresponds to
approximately 18 -20 inches at 100 meters [109 yds +/-]).

AK Iron Sights – User Guide to AK 47 (AKM) and AK 74 Iron Sights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sgczy78m48&t=627s

Speaking of which, here’s a link on how to zero an AK, the
‘American Way’:

NEW VIDEO – Zeroing AK47: The American Way!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnRGM7OvjSE&t=608s

AK 25 Yards Express Zero: how to zero your AK fast and be on target up to 300 Yards!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6_733xwsqc

And speaking of ‘natural point of aim’:

Natural Point of Aim – Ice Cream Baby!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDGdvIFnZyY

Killing It with AK Iron Sights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqL9IOBSfvE

Here are two items that imho are indespensible when owning/running an AK:

Magna-Matic AK Front Sight Tool
https://magna-matic-defense.com/akfst-front-sight-tool/

AK Boot Camp Book – New Edition
https://shop.akoperatorsunionlocal4774.com/AK-Bootcamp-Book-NEW-EDITION-AK-Bootcamp-Book-NEW-EDITION.htm

My AK is a ‘Serbian Beauty; a Zastava ZPAP M70. Here’s the original and latest videos that
Rob Ski did on this version of the AK (was seriously leaning towards a Wassar; glad that I waited!):

New Import AK – 2020 Miracle!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4wN6GRjo-I

Best AK For Money Paid: Zastava ZPAP Z70 improved – 5000 Rds Final!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prtlXNh4MiM

What sold me on the ZPAP wasn’t just the overall excellent quality of the rifle
but that Zastava had wisely incorporated an optical sight feature on the left
side of the receiver. I definitely made use of that, mounting an RS Regulate
#307 mounting system to use a Primary Arms Gen III 3x ACSS 7.62x39mm
BDC scope.

Good news for now (at least) is that those who want to run the same optic system
on their AK (if it allows for mounting a side rail system) can order the same basic
setup:

Annihilator Gen 3 Optic Combo Pack 7.62 Version
https://shop.akoperatorsunionlocal4774.com/Annihilator-GEN-3-Optic-Combo-Pack-762-Version-Annihilator-762-Version.htm

And even though these are currently ‘out of stock’ I’d let PA know that I’d like to be
kept in the loop for when they’re available again. They screw into the front of the
scope and the scope flip cover assembly fits right over it:

PA anti-reflection device for 3x prism scope
https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-anti-reflection-device-for-3x-prism-scope-only

Hope that helps!

Stay well and enjoy spending time out training with your favorite AK carbines!

NorthGunner – The Truth Is It’s OWN Defense!
- NC Scout October 4, 2020 at 18:08
  
  Why do you feel the need to add a signature to every comment you make?
  - NorthGunner October 4, 2020 at 18:35
    
    Hi NC Scout,
    
    Hope you’re doing well in your AO btw.
    Great weather here in Arizona!
    
    Why?…
    It’s just how I roll baby!
    No pressure man, only respect and love.
    
    Have a great weekend, especially if you’re out sending
    rounds downrange in practice.
    
    NorthGunner – The Truth Is It’s OWN Defense!
    - NC Scout October 4, 2020 at 19:32
      
      Good for you.