AK-47 canted front sights

[Da Nerd]

I have seen several posts around the net concerning "canted front sights ".
How can I tell if my FS is canted or not? IS it visible to the naked eye?
Is it the post or the sight base that is canted?
Illustrations would be nice... any one got some help on this matter>?
THANKS

[ftierson]

Many front sight bases on AKs are canted. Often, they're canted enough to be easily visible to the naked eye.

Also, often, the rifle has been zeroed with the canted front sight base. So, don't screw with it until you make sure that there's a zero problem.

For example, I have an Arsenal SLR-95 with the front sight base canted to the right (visible to the eye). However, the rifle shoots exactly where the sights point. This situation bugs me a little when I think about it, but not enough to screw around with a rifle that shoots well...

And, Da Nerd, if you haven't noticed it before, don't go looking for something to worry about...

:)

Forrest

[Hot Diggity]

Sounds like WASR- poor quality control? It's usually the whole front sight sight assembly that's canted, but the gas block may also be canted, so sometimes it's hard to tell. If you sight down the barrel from slightly above the sights you can usually spot this. I don't recommend this, but after making damn sure the piece is unloaded and maybe removing the bolt for good measure, you could view it from the muzzle end and see the cant better.

The fix is to remove the two pins that hold the front sight assembly to the barrel, correct the cant, redrill the pin holes while holding it in the correct position and reinstalling slightly larger pins. No easy task, but it can be done.

Note that the SAR/WASR pins seem to be very brittle, and tend to break in half, sometimes during normal use. If it'll hit paper at 100 yards I'd probably leave it alone and just build another one from a kit that's not canted.

HD

[W.E.G.]

You could bore sight it I suppose.

But most folks just put 'em together, and if they hold minute-of-trash-can at 50 yards, they call it good.

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[instr8]

Does anyone know if this a problem with the Romy "G" parts kits? Or kits from other countries?

Or is it just a problem with Romy guns made for commercial resale.

[ftierson]

Originally posted by instr8
Does anyone know if this a problem with the Romy "G" parts kits? Or kits from other countries?

Or is it just a problem with Romy guns made for commercial resale.

It can be found in any AK...

The Arsenal SLR-95 is a top end milled Bulgarian manufactured AK...

I also have a Saiga (manufactured by Izhmash) .308 rifle that has a straight FSB but a dramatically canted (to the left) gas block. However, the rifle is a tackdriver and completely reliable...

I have not noticed a canted FSB in any of the Romanian G kits that I have, but I wouldn't be surprised to find some eventually.

Again, if the rifle is sighted in and the FSB is canted, don't worry...

If the rifle cannot be sighted in because the FSB is canted, then you have a problem that must be dealt with...

Forrest

[motosapien]

It's just the "pig iron totem pole" way. Some times the FSB is canted, sometimes the GB and others times the RSB. Many times they are all in different orbits around the barrel.

It's has something to do with Vodka I think.............

[Kyrottimus]

I have 3 AK's:

2 Romanian (GP-75) Parts-Kit-built (1981, 1986) AKMs
1 Bulgarian SLR-101 SB Milled AK-47 (2003)

All three of them shoot straight at 100 yards (about an 8" group firing off the shoulder, not bad if I say so myself)

The first Romy Kit I built, the front sight block itself was straight in-line with the rear-sight block, however the actual front post itself was moved all the way to the left. But it shoots straight, so I don't complain.

The second Romy kit, the front sight block is actually canted to the right a bit, but the front sight post was moved (and even tilted a bit) all the way to the left. Doesn't matter either, the rifling in this rifle is amazing and it shoots perfectly straight with the current front sight post position.

The Bulgarian SLR-101 SB everything is straight, except the front post is a tad to the right. But it's very subtle.

All in all, while an AK may not be the most symmetrical or beautiful rifle, if you get one that shoots straight where the sights line up, be happy.

:biggrin:

[motosapien]

I've built 5 of them and enjoy them very much. I just finished a bulgy 74 that is a real beauty. I've got a Russian 4X scope on it and it shoots into 3" at 200 yds. with Wolf HP.

I was'nt bashing the AK, just amused by the haphazard way they are assembled often times.

[Sig220]

Originally posted by Da Nerd
I have a Romanian 2002 SAR-1. The FS post is screwed mostly to the left.
The sight base seems straight enough.. The rifle hits what I aim at, rocks etc, have not tired it on a paper target yet.
You are prolly right, don't go looking for trouble.

Hey Big Bob........just tilt your head so far and the sight will seem straight!! :uhoh:

BTW, I like that term from Gary........."minute of trashcan". And one other comment, I really don't like the one I got.........just don't like the ergodynamics I guess........shoots okay.......just don't like it!! So its my truck gun!

[MGoBlue]

I recently purchased a Romanian GP-WASR and the front sight sure appeared to be slightly canted. Some companies sell the sight adjustment tools and windage adjustable rear sights and I thought that might be the route I might have to go. However, I shot it at 50 yards (fearing the worse) and the windage was perfect! I will try it at 100 yards next, but I was pleasantly surprised.

[bradterry]

I am worried. I have had a SAR 2 since 2000 that i had not test fired yet waiting to finish it with threaded FSB and muzzle brake. I finally finished it and shot it friday. My FSB is canted right. I started shooting it and it was grouping left. I moved sights to the right and it is still 2-3 inches left AT 25 METERS. I ran out of time to figure someting else out. But man that gun shoots sweet. MOSES BRAKE and less recoil and jump than any m-16 or M-4 I have shot. Now if I can get it to hit what I aim for.

[DYNOMIKE]

Originally posted by Sig220


Hey Big Bob........just tilt your head so far and the sight will seem straight!! :uhoh:

BTW, I like that term from Gary........."minute of trashcan". And one other comment, I really don't like the one I got.........just don't like the ergodynamics I guess........shoots okay.......just don't like it!! So its my truck gun!

Hey SIG:
Is that the "WELD-O-MATIC" AK?
:devil:

I liked it by the way:wink:

[moses]

Brad, If it's shooting to the left you need to move the front sight to the left.

That should fix it.

[owlcreekok]

I got a couple Romy's with straight front sights, a half gallon of varnish on the wood and THEY shoot minute of trash can. Hell, MOPP as well. Ugly summitches eat mag's full of Wolf, till I get so tired of fillen em, I gotsta go lay down and rest a bit.

I wanna go somewhere that I can be a hunnerd miles from anybody, hold an AK in each hand and wave em around alloverhellandahalfofthearea while dumping two 40 rd mags as fast as I can milk the trigger.

I will prolly need a cigarette and a nap after that. :biggrin:

Now if I can get it to hit what I aim for.

Do what moses said, and also kinda wave it around a leetle when ya shootin er off. Works fer me.

[motosapien]

Originally posted by owlcreekok
I wanna go somewhere that I can be a hunnerd miles from anybody, hold an AK in each hand and wave em around alloverhellandahalfofthearea while dumping two 40 rd mags as fast as I can milk the trigger.

I will prolly need a cigarette and a nap after that. :biggrin:


Don't forget the rags for yer head.