AKS-74U RIS Handguard advice.

[MooseHead92]

Hello comrades!

I'm steadfast on my way to completing my AKS-74U build. However, the task of providing some minimal RIS space without turning my shorty into a Soviet SOPMOD is giving me a lot of headache, and I now turn to you for advice, comrades.
I have always had a deep love for Eastern European weapons - especially for the AK - as a result of my nationality and birthplace. I recently bought a stamped steel Dboys AKS-74U "Kalash" to turn into my primary, and even though I would like to have some minimal RIS space I do not want to rid myself of the beautiful wooden handguards. My goal is to either:

1) Maintain the original wooden lower handguard, while replacing the upper wooden handguard with a single top-running RIS system handguard.
or
2) Maintain both handguards, but mount (somehow) a Picatinny Rail on the top wooden handguard.

In both these situations, I can then mount my tac assembly directly onto the rifle, reducing "dot fishing", maintaining the folding stock functionality, and eliminating any stress to my lower receiver and side-rail mount. But I'm not sure how to achieve this... Does anyone here know of any RIS set (airsoft stuff, I can't afford anything expensive) that I can adapt?

Any help would be appreciated, comrades. Ura!:salute:

[Styrak]

Why are you worried about "stress" to your receiver and optics mount? They're there to mount optics on...

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Why are you worried about "stress" to your receiver and optics mount? They're there to mount optics on...

Because the strength of sheet metal and assembly they use in the Airsoft industry isn't even close to the strength of RS equivalents. I doubt my DBoys can hold up a 1PN34 NSPU scope like RS AK's do, just as an example. It's like comparing a T34 to a Prius... I've read of airsofters with AK's bending their lower receiver walls and even loosened side mounts completely from mounting heavy optics/tac packages. And honestly, with a package of 800g, I do not want to risk it good point, tho. It's just unfortunate that Airsoft sidemounts aren't meant for more than a Kobra sight

Another problem I have with the idea of mounting my tac package to the side mount is that it puts the optical sight too close to my eyes, and it makes it very difficult to operate a flashlight without pressure switches (which i insist on not having, for the sake of not over-SOCOMing my AK).
Also, considering my 455mm barrel, I still want to be able to fully fold my stock in CQC, and not have to half-ass it and flap it all over the place.

So, in the end, I'm thinking that a handguard upper RIS is the most functional and structurally sound option. One thing: is the length of the handguard upper-half the same on the AK series (47&74)? I'm thinking about the CYMA polymer AK handguard set, and if I can use the top half only.

[Anthology]

74SU RIS hand guards are fairly limited in selection to begin with. The configuration you have in mind is going to take a considerable amount of time, effort, and possibly money to bring into fruition.

The RIS I have for my 74SU relies on a bottom RIS hand guard to secure it to the gun; the top handguard is then secured to the bottom hand guard. The few 74SU front rails I've seen all rely on this mechanism given that the top hand guard is designed to allow the gas tube to cool and not compromise its integrity through mounting (mock gas tubes which VFC and its clones got rid of in trade for battery space). That's my experience with your number one option. You will probably have to go shopping/custom. This option will cost money but require less modification.

As for number 2, I have limited experience. If your top wooden hand guard is anything like my stock ones, there is no way your 800g setup will be secure on those little pieces of wood and metal. This option will cost less but require modification and testing.

Another suggestion is the side rail, but find a way to secure your folding stock into a semi-closed position after you fold it. This will probably be your easiest option... Sometimes you just can't have it all.

If you want a couple of links to my rail or some of the others I have found, send me a PM.

Cheers!

[MooseHead92]

I see your point, but I think I may still be able to figure something out. My foregrip-mounted tac package would only be about 600g (eschewing the use of a ~220g side-mounting RIS). Also, at least for airsoft purposes, aren't the lengths of the handguard top half the same for all AK series? In this photo, both AKS-74 and AKS-74U seem to have identical lengths.


The Dboys system is attached in the photo so you can see it. The handguard is mounted/removed off the handguards by twisting it on the horizontal axis, and aligning the ridge on the handguard with the channel in the tube's end brackets. So it got me thinking, I could take my chances and run to Huang's AirsoftDepot and check out if I can mount the top half of this rail onto the battery-tube using the same technique. If I can, I think I found my solution.
Now that would make any wobble unacceptable, since I'll have optics mounted on there. But I believe that is simple to solve with some Gorilla glue and improvised spacers.

[Anthology]

While it is true that they might have similar lengths, they way they attach might be slightly different due to obvious differences in the gas block (this may only mean modification, not complete incompatibility). In that photo specifically, you can see that the 74SU top hand guard appears to be taller than the 74S.
See this photo as well: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/...b27ab51f03.jpg
I have no experience with this as I don't own the 74S.

What you're thinking might be possible. It's going to take a heck of a lot of glue and wedges to secure that much metal onto the top hand guard. Not to mention the fact that it's got to stay there while running and gunning.

[Kingsix]

[Raskas]

Yours might not, but my ICS has a bit of wobble on the front grips, both top and bottom. I wouldn't want to put an optic there to begin with.

[MooseHead92]

Originally Posted by Kingsix

How'd ya do that, and where d'ya get it from?

Originally Posted by Raskas

Yours might not, but my ICS has a bit of wobble on the front grips, both top and bottom. I wouldn't want to put an optic there to begin with.

I'm experimenting with rubber and metal pieces to use as spacers and negate that wobble.
Also, awesome STALKER style AKS-74U in the siggy

[MooseHead92]

Update: In its current state, this project is done. Got all the stuff in, after some practical research decided the side mount is sturdy enough, aaaand we're done here

The photos are in. Did some handiwork to the pistol grip - punched out the useless 1mm thick drilled-out grip screw hole, and recycled a scope mount knob with an Allen screw and small rubber washer to improvise a sturdier grip screw.
Kept the wooden handguards, and thus did not un-Commie my AK completely. Although that tri-rail riser still looks funny... Initially I was gonna slap it on what is now only the memory of a VLTOR M4. But hey, you give and you take. I might switch for a short riser for the R-Dot and behind it mount offset double 45* mount to make it sleeker and compact that tac package.

Te side mount I love, even that small height increase reduces the need to "lean into" the weapon to properly sight it; the added weight is IMHO offset by the improved ergonomics and acquisition speed. I can finally use goggles now in a decent fashion. What do you guys thing of that tri-rail riser? For all its ergonomics, it still adds a whole 4.5CM height difference between the iron sights and the R-Dot center. I'm a bit worried about it.

Waiting for this gearbox to crap out, then after that it's a different story
Thanks to everyone here for their inputs!