Aks and Rails

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Jimski

nice AK!
although for the rail story I'v seen super-badass warriors with duct taped scopes and flashlights, it's sad but fully railed rifles scream 'airsoft' more and more to me...

Depends on rails, I avoid anything that doesn't have a "real steel" counterpart. But if it's a real part -- specially something i see being used by troops -- I have no problem with it.

The other unfortunate truth is that real rails are expensive. Take the pic of the AMD-65 I posted: between the Ultimak gas tube rail and bottom rail, and the Ergo Husky, you're looking at USD$400. The actual AMD-65 (good one from Atlantic Firearms) goes for under USD$500 in the US. For the price the AMD is an awesome AK (and you won't find people ragging on 'em like the WASRs -- although they're $200 cheaper), but having to almost double the price just for rails... not everyone's gonna want to do that.

[Crunchmeister]

When it comes to looks, I have to agree that a barebones wood and steel AK is what does it for me. There's just something about the barebones simplicity and ruggedness of the gun that's very appealing visually. I don't mind the side-mounted scope mounts on them either. Again, it adds to that rugged, barebones appeal of the AK.

That being said, when it comes to using one in the field, be it in airsoft or actual real steel combat, given a choice, I would MUCH prefer a gun with rails on which I could attach appropriate sights, lights, etc as required for whatever mission. Be it AK or otherwise, I want the tools that will make my weapon most effective and increase my chances of shooting the other guy before he shoots me, and I don't give a rat's ass about what it looks like.

I LOVE my RS Type 56 rifle, but only game it once in a while for kicks, because I like my optics. As civvies that play airsoft, our lives don't depend on our guns, so we can have the option of choosing cosmetics over function. However, in a real situiation, I prefer substance over style any day.

Then there's the other extreme of people with every accessory known to man attached to their rails for no particular reason. That just makes me shake my head. One guy at Border Wars had an RIS M16 with more shit hanging off of it than anyone should ever need. And the guy was maybe 5'4" at the most, and it was obvious that he was seriously struggling with his gun every time I saw him. To me, that's just stupidity. Yeah, that may look good with your gun hanging on a wall, but in the field, that's retarded...

[zone 69]

I don't mind rails on an AK if there made of metal.