AK Rail Estate Solutions - MI, Ultimak, or Texas Weapons Sytems?

General Firearms Other Semi-Automatic Rifles
1

What is the concensus on the MI railed AK handguards? I can’t search by MI. It is considerably cheaper than Ultimak’s rail options, but how secure is it?

Also, anyone using the Texas Weapons Systems dogleg rail? It seems like a neat design, but I’m not sure how sturdy it is.

http://www.texasweaponsystems.com/id1.html

Ultimak railed handguards?

So, if you were looking to add rails to your AK in order to add an optic, light, and possibly a different rear sight, what would your setup entail?

Thank You

2

If I were to add an optic and light to my AK, I would get an Ultimak top rail and go with a black plastic Bulgarian/KVAR lower handguard. You can bolt some picatinny rail into the handguard and mount a light like that or you can use a VTAC offset light mount and stick it on the Ultimak.

This way will save you a lot of money, and a lot of weight. As far as I know, the MI does not co-witness with the AK irons, whereas the Ultimak does.

3

I have the MI rail and so far I have mixed feelings on it. It certainly is a fairly cheap way to add a light and optic without comprising on quality. It also give you a little more flexibility with a front sling attachment point. However, your optic won’t cowitness(though I might have a solution for that), and it makes the gun front heavy. The rail has done what I’ve asked of it and it seems like a fairly decent set up. That being said, the ultimak gas tube rail, looks a lot lighter and is a proven setup and I would have went that route if it would have worked with my optic.

4

I went with the Ultimak gas tube rail and with a low RDS I have a 1/3 lower co-wittiness. You can get several different kinds of lower rails.

Check the AK PIC thread.

5

I’d check out Krebs Custom…they’re not cheap, but probably the nicest made…IMO.

http://www.krebscustom.com/PartsPages/KalashnikovParts.shtml

6

A couple of things regarding the VTAC on the Ultimak:

  1. The VTAC is polymer and the Ultimak gets HOT even when firing slowly

  2. The VTAC will block the front sight post

I had VTAC mounts on Ultimaks on both of my AKs. Due to the above reasons I switched to VLTOR offset mounts on both.

7

I prefer the UM to the MI system personally. I found the MI really f’d up the balance of the rifle. If you want to add a light, I would simply go with the VLTOR off set mount on the UM… I have never handle the other option you mentioned…

Here are a couple of mine with the UM…

8

I have a Texas Weapons Systems rail and it is rock solid. It only works on a fixed stock AK. They also sell a BUIS for it. It is lightweight and doesn’t change the balance.

9

Ninja any pics? I would like to see your setup if you have any pics. It sounds like it is a better option than the MI.

What type of BUIS is it? Is it like the tech sight that attaches to the dust cover? I was able to check one out at Vickers AK class this year and I was surprised at how much of an improvement it was to the standard AK leaf…

10

Might want to check out some of the tacked threads above, including the one on how I’ve set up my SLR-106.

11

I don’t have my rifle handy since I am OCONUS, but here is a pic from a typical Iraq Ninja range day in Texas.

The rail is on the plum Ak.

12

Love it! I see why the balance is a non issue. The VZ looks great too. Stay safe and thanks for the pic.

Kinda looks like my range day.:smiley:

13

The Krebs rail is indeed nice; however it sits extremely close to your eye. I find it bumping my eye pro from time to time when on the range with it.

14

To date I have yet to see anything better than the UltiMAK solution. I tried to get them to make a thinner, lighter version of the lower HG (with a built in QD attachment point) but they never moved on it.

15

I just got the MI quad for Christmas and really like it so far. I don’t have any attachments on it. I’m wondering how some rail covers would holdup. It gets hot, but not as bad UltiMAK does because the rail system does attach to the gas piston tube. But wear it attaches to the barrel is wear most of the heat is.

I had a AFG on it and it don’t melt down.

16

With the Ultimak, how much of a real issue is the heat from the gas system? Will it ever get hot enough to cook a $600 Aimpoint Micro?

17

It’s not going to cook a T-1.

18

Ultimak + AP Micro = currently the best optic setup available.

19

I dig the Samson/T-1 setup on my M-92:


20

I don’t think the Ultimak is going to affect any attachments unless they are made of poly. I was just stating that the AKs with an Ultimak that I’ve shot have got hot on the rail. Its never really been an issues on equipment just hot to the touch (so don’t touch it). And the MI quad rail gets heat on the bottom due to the fact the rail is attach to the barrel (but is vented and cools pretty well).

I not saying the MI is better that the Ultimak, the MI is just what I have!