How to make your AK airsoft gun tactical?
Is tactical AK possible?
The question posed in the title of this paragraph is somewhat of a truism. Of course, that possibility exists. But where does the opinion come from that the peak of ergonomics in this platform is a flashlight attached using insulating tape? In my view, there are two main reasons for this reasoning.
The principle of operation of the AK firearm consists in the movement of the gas piston. Both in 7.62x39 and 5.45x39 variants. This may make the felt recoil slightly stronger than the popular designs of the AR15 platform. And while it still makes sense in the case of this older design with a larger calibre, I can say from experience that shooting the 5.45 variants is not overly "kicking" at all. So, this argument is at least partially refuted. And completely in airsoft realities where recoil is absent.
Another argument is related to how constructions based on AK are presented in pop culture. These are often old-fashioned, dilapidated rifles with wooden stocks and covers. They often constitute a narrative counterbalance to the modern constructions of Western armies in computer games or films. For those familiar with the subject, it is also an easy argument to refute. There are many modern accessories for this platform that improve the comfort of use. If you put an AK equipped with a well-known manufacturer's grip set next to an old-fashioned M16A2, which one would look outdated? I bet that this 20-inch musket, to which you can attach a flashlight with a grey repair tape, because the front grip does not have any mounting rail.
The truth is that, like the competition, the AK platform has many years of continuous refinement and development of the market offer of additional accessories. The difference lies mainly in our approach and, especially in the case of airsoft counterparts, in the richness of the store's offer. Let's check what we can do with our AK airsoft gun.
AK platform - two basic problems
There are two issues that, in my opinion, are the biggest problems of this platform. You can say that these are the starting points for every further way of our alterations. The first is the ergonomics of the grip and the second is the assembly of the optics.
There is no denying that the described replicas are a bit heavy on the front. The best way to deal with this problem is to regularly attend the gym and build muscle mass capable of supporting this weight. Fortunately, this is not the only solution. We can bet on a few clever additions. In my opinion, the basic folding stock made of plastics, as in the AK 74M model, is enough to improve the comfort of using such an airsoft gun. However, if we want to go a step further, it is worth equipping our toy with an adapter and using some type of stock with adjustable length. This will allow us to adjust the length of pull to our needs and improve ergonomics. It is also worth paying attention to what we mount on the front of the replica. Personally, I'm a fan of plastic furniture. Currently, we can easily find them in variants that allow the installation of additional accessories. However, I would be careful with the installation of vertical grips. It is true that they can help keep the airsfot gun on target, but due to the use of magazines with a large bending angle, they can interfere with reloading.
Another issue is the assembly of optics. And here we have a lot of different solutions. The simplest ones are those that give us a short mounting rail in the place of the original rear sight. This is an effective solution, but it has its drawbacks. First of all, it makes it impossible to mount the red-dot and magnifier set, and often - the scope. In addition, it condemns us to very low red-dots, because others will look bad and will often be too high to aim comfortably. Another solution is to mount the RIS on the side rail. It is a relatively cheap and effective solution. With a bit of luck, it will also allow you to mount a scope or magnifier. Unfortunately, with such a rail, we will not be able to fold the stock and it will be difficult for us to get under the cover to the airsoft gun's battery. In my opinion, it is best to immediately put on a cover with a mounting rail or a rail in place of the gas pipe. These solutions provide a lot of space for accessories, are stable and do not interfere with the operation of the replica. It is true that the latter eliminates sights with magnification, but it is enough to be used with collimators.
Details are important too
Once we have dealt with the most important issues regarding our ergonomics, we can move on to what will make our airsoft gun tactically cool. It's about all the little accessories that can make a big difference in the reception of our gem. A relatively rare small item that the owners of these replicas rarely change are the triggers. Maybe it's a matter of personal preference, but you have to admit that the nice, tuning trigger looks good on an AK airsoft gun. I use it myself and it would be difficult for me to go back to a different solution.
There are three small items that, when mounted on an AK replica, immediately make me understand that its owner knows what's going on. The enlarged charging handle, ergonomic fire selector and additional enlargement of the magazine catch are inconspicuous, but important elements. It is true that the first one in replicas is mainly a visual element. However, it can be useful to people who often change the settings of their hop-up system or users of GBBR airsoft guns. As a person gifted with smol hands, I especially appreciate the fire selectors with a special shelf that helps to reach it even with shorter fingers. In turn, the tactical magazine catch gives us a bit more options when it comes to changing the source of ammunition. It won't replace training, but it can definitely help.
Is it worth upgrading your AK airsoft gun?
The last part of the article again contains a very simple question. Of course, it's worth it. Few things give as much fun in airsoft as a successful modification of your airsoft gun. Installing additional accessories is probably one of the simplest things we can do for our toy. Admittedly, it may happen that the purchased parts will not fit our specific replica. Here it is important to carefully read the product descriptions in order to verify whether a given item is dedicated to a replica in the appropriate standard. Online groups and forums will also help if needed.
AK platform airsoft guns are getting better and better right out of the box. Manufacturers see their growing popularity. Undoubtedly, this state of affairs is influenced by the wide representation in computer games or film productions. Increasingly, the described platform is presented as modern and functional. This brings with it trends that we also see in skirmishes. Now no one is surprised by an airsoft gun of the described platform with a decent red-dot, an adjustable stock and a few other accessories. It is worth taking advantage of this popularity and try a few modifications yourself.
Author: Boreq
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