sonofliberty 6 Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 I want to move my front sight to the gas block for balance and reduced snags. This bolt-on front sight from Ace looks like a good candidate but I would like to get some feedback from folks who have used it to see how it holds up. Any input in this regard is appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 (edited) I'll let you know, I just ordered one friday and should have it very soon.(I hope) Edited November 16, 2010 by ACWeller Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Awesome. I assume you intend to cut off your standard front sight block. Good luck man. I'd like to see some pics when you get it all set up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 Awesome. I assume you intend to cut off your standard front sight block. Good luck man. I'd like to see some pics when you get it all set up. I do plan to remove the front sight post. I'll post pics as soon as I'm able. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KC913 324 Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 A buddy of mine uses one. It is functional, it lines up well with his rear sight, it just looks like crap and stands out like a sore thumb on his rifle. The profile is way too "blocky" for it's location on an AK, In my opinion. But it all depends on your setup, I suppose. If you have railed handguards and such it probably wouldn't stand out as much. It also wouldn't look quite as bad if the screw heads were set in flush with the unit rather than protruding, but someone could fix that in a few minutes with a drill press. If you only care about function, it's a decent unit. Just seems like they could have at least rounded it off for aesthetic purposes on an AK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 agree completely.. I was attracted to it from a function standpoint.. but the thing is hideous at best.. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 I was thinking about that. I'm mostly interested in reducing the front end weight as much as possible because its so front-heavy as it is. I wonder what the ace bolt-on weighs vs. the cut off factory fsb. Hey ACWeller, I don't know if you have a scale available but if you get a chance to weigh the two out let me know what kind of results you get. I don't know if these things are steel or aluminum or what but I bet a little weight could be saved on rounding it up with some grinding without necessarily sacrificing structural integrity. The aesthetics are not really a concern for me but I see what you mean about it being so blocky. I really like the drill press idea to get the screws to set flush. -Random side note: When I typed "aluminum" it gave me the misspelling squiggles and suggested "aluminium." Does anybody else get a "British English" spell check result? Kind of weird. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leadslinger 37 Posted November 17, 2010 Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 OK help me out with this one. I am curious as to what advantage it offers over the stock front sight? It looks as though you are adding weight (55 g.) to the front end as this unit bolts right to the existing FSB using the windage nut from your weapon. does it just raise the front sight? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) It is pointless unless the factory front sight is removed when you bolt this one on. It does not raise the front sight at all to my knowledge. I don't know if it will be better for me yet because I don't have one yet. In theory it should make for a slightly more balanced weapon by pushing the front sight block back to the gas block which is closer to your front grip. Also it could reduce snags when walking through brush and the like since it reduces the hook-like profile at the end of the barrel. I don't know if the bolt-on weighs less than the factory fsb or not but I am hoping to find that out. Some, probably including Gabe Suarez, would possibly dislike losing the hook-like fsb protrusion in the factory configuration as he is very aware of the AKs capabilities as a melee weapon or "Klingon weapon" as he puts it. This, of course, is totally sensible but I prefer a configuration less likely to get tangled on the foliage. One thing I am concerned about is the reduced distance between the front post and the rear sight possibly diminishing accuracy when using the irons, especially since I have no optic mounted. I have heard that this is the case and it makes sense to me but I don't know how pronounced an effect this will have. I may have to invest in one of those Krebs dog-leg top rails with the built in peep sights at the back over top of the pistol grip but goddamn those things are soooo over priced! Edited November 17, 2010 by son_of_liberty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 17, 2010 Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 I was thinking about that. I'm mostly interested in reducing the front end weight as much as possible because its so front-heavy as it is. I wonder what the ace bolt-on weighs vs. the cut off factory fsb. Hey ACWeller, I don't know if you have a scale available but if you get a chance to weigh the two out let me know what kind of results you get. I don't know if these things are steel or aluminum or what but I bet a little weight could be saved on rounding it up with some grinding without necessarily sacrificing structural integrity. The aesthetics are not really a concern for me but I see what you mean about it being so blocky. I really like the drill press idea to get the screws to set flush. -Random side note: When I typed "aluminum" it gave me the misspelling squiggles and suggested "aluminium." Does anybody else get a "British English" spell check result? Kind of weird. I can weigh the two and see what kind of difference there is. I'm sure its not much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 17, 2010 Report Share Posted November 17, 2010 Ok, I have it in hand and the bolt holes are counter sunk so the bolt heads DO NOT stick out. more to come later... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leadslinger 37 Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 my bad i thought this bolted on the existing FSB didn't realize it was blot on replacement. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted November 19, 2010 Report Share Posted November 19, 2010 Ok, I have it in hand and the bolt holes are counter sunk so the bolt heads DO NOT stick out. more to come later... complete pics when done please... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted November 19, 2010 Report Share Posted November 19, 2010 THe only thing I can see is it gets in the way of removing the gas tube for cleaning the port but that can be worked around Im sure. Plan on using it when I shorten my barrel down to 18" on the 308. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 THe only thing I can see is it gets in the way of removing the gas tube for cleaning the port but that can be worked around Im sure. Plan on using it when I shorten my barrel down to 18" on the 308. Rhodes, that is not the case at all. Once bolted on I removed the gas tube and all was well, went back on as easy as it came off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted November 20, 2010 Report Share Posted November 20, 2010 can we see some detailed close up pictures.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 can we see some detailed close up pictures.. For sure, I'll get some up tomorrow. I just got home so the thing is in parts from me hacking off the fsp with my dremel. Lemme clean it up and get some good pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Hey ACWeller, thanks alot for being the test subject on this man. Much appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 Hey ACWeller, thanks alot for being the test subject on this man. Much appreciated. no problem at all. I absolutely love this thing. It totally make my rifle look different. Also... its mirrors the krebs sight perfectly but I dont have the post or drum installed yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 21, 2010 Report Share Posted November 21, 2010 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOkay! Well... here come the photos I promised. If ya'll want more photos just let me know. looking down the Krebs peep sight. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magikbike 2 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Kind of HKish... But cool. I think it works, with the stock foregrip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 (edited) can you measure the base at its widest point? and tallest... Edited November 23, 2010 by vladtepes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Kind of HKish... But cool. I think it works, with the stock foregrip. That's exactly what I like about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 What about the weight vs. the factory setup? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 What about the weight vs. the factory setup? its heavier than the stump I ground off. lol I would guess that it weighs the same or slightly more than the fsb/shroud combo. You wouldn't notice the difference much, atleast I don't notice it. VladTepes, I'll get your measurements later tonight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VladTepes 160 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 What about the weight vs. the factory setup? its heavier than the stump I ground off. lol I would guess that it weighs the same or slightly more than the fsb/shroud combo. You wouldn't notice the difference much, atleast I don't notice it. VladTepes, I'll get your measurements later tonight. trying to figure out if it will clear the Ultimak rail.. thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ACWeller 3 Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 What about the weight vs. the factory setup? its heavier than the stump I ground off. lol I would guess that it weighs the same or slightly more than the fsb/shroud combo. You wouldn't notice the difference much, atleast I don't notice it. VladTepes, I'll get your measurements later tonight. trying to figure out if it will clear the Ultimak rail.. thanks! Actually...yes it will. I've seen pics of it with an ultimak. I'll share the love \/. http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=4&f=80&t=124203 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KC913 324 Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Judging from the pics, the lines on it seem to kind of flow with the lines of the Saiga gas tube shroud. Doesn't look bad at all with the factory handguard covering the lower half of it. Nice, ACWeller. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigsal 757 Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 This actually looks good due to the fact the bolt on unit is largely out of sight by the stock handguard, I really like this a lot, good job ACW! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonofliberty 6 Posted November 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Have you had a chance to take her out yet? I assume that sighting in will be exactly the same but let us know. I'm still wondering if the shorter sight radius is noticeable. And more pics are always welcome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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