Modifying the Kalash: A Basic AK Upgrade

I’ve had a lot of questions concerning the AK platform since the last several articles I’ve written about it, and a lot of them revolve around modernizing the weapon. None of this is really anything new or revolutionary. in fact, the couple of mods I’m going to discuss here have been around for a looong time, but have become an industry standard for the high-end AK manufacturers such as Rifle Dynamics and Meridian Defense.

The first modification in bringing your Kalash to the modern era of combat is to ditch the wood for polymer. Yeah, I know, I’ve got a strong affinity for that classic look too, but anyone who’s put a lot of rounds through the AK rapidly knows that wood handguards get scorching hot in a hurry- so much so that they’re impossible to run without gloves. And the wood holds that heat. Russian polymer, such as the handguards found on later AK-74s and the AK-100 series, is constructed with a heatshield that cools it down faster. I still run gloves no matter what, but, as some Russian SOF guys are quoted as saying, “only the Americans run wood on AKs anymore”.

Not sure I totally buy that in all cases, but their point is made. And they’re not wrong.

Contractors running Ultimak-equipped AKs overseas.

I’m a giant fan of the Ultimak, which replaces the gas tube on the AK and is secured by two U-bolts clamped to the barrel. It is rugged, dependable, can be easily mounted by the operator, and I’ve seen them used overseas in both Iraq and Afghanistan by PSD contractors and more elite units of local national security forces.

And not without good reason. The simplicity of adding an Ultimak in place of the AK’s gas tube allows a forward mounting of a mini red dot sight. This is a setup which is naturally intuitive and points well. In the decade or so since I set my first AK up like this I realized that it was lightyears faster than iron sights alone, added little weight to the gun, maintained that lower-third cowitness in case of optic failure and, arguably most important, didn’t change or interfere with the manual of arms.

Optics on the AK can be tricky for sure, but one of the more serious hazards comes from racking the bolt after a magazine change or malfunction drill. In both cases you’ve got to tilt the weapon, going either over the bore or under it in order to chamber a new round (unless you’re left handed). You run the risk of hitting the optic under duress. Being forward mounted means the red dot is well out of your way.

Red dots have come a long way also. It used to be that the only real option was an Aimpoint T1. If you wanted to try the setup you’d maybe buy a Bushnell TRS-25 or any of the other inexpensive mini red dots, but they left as lot to be desired and I’d personally never run one in combat. In the decade since the technology is lightyears beyond those options. I’m currently working with a Holosun 403, and so far i can’t find fault with it. It’s held up to the heat and reciprocating long stroke piston of the AK just fine, keeping a rock solid zero. Pick up some extra mags and you’re good to go. The whole setup puts lead on target fast and effectively while keeping the minimalist approach I favor these days.

No bullshit, all fight.

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

13 Comments

  1. Alan Burquist August 24, 2020 at 08:58

    #1 AK mod, replace the trigger/hammer pin retainer, (aka shepherds crook or hairpin), with a retainer plate.. Cheap mod, and provides 100% positive retention of the pins.. Never cared for the Ultimak, bolted to the barrel it holds zero well.. But it also acts like a heatsink, if you aren’t careful it’ll melt down your optic, I know from experience, melted down a TRS25.. Removed it, I have it sitting in the box around here somewhere.. Prime trade goods..

    My Yugo M70 has the TDI M-Loc rail and Khyber Custom Cheese Grater, Traditional AK74 style muzzle brake, ACE AR pignose left side folding knuckle and M4 stock.. An RPK windage adjustable rear sight, and a narrow target front post, coated with yellow fluorescent sight paint.. I don’t use an optic on AKs.. My M92PV pistol and VEPR12 are set up very similarly..

    There is a new rear aperture sight on the market for AK, windage adjustable, think I might try that..

    For me, modding AKs has always been a compromise.. Give a little to get a little..
    Never quite ideal, but good enuf.. That’s life with AK, just the way it is, so I accept it!

  2. Anonymous August 24, 2020 at 09:37

    5

  3. Curious Passerby August 24, 2020 at 10:55

    I like to upgrade the grips. Magpul’s grip is good in my opinion. I like the handy storage option inside and the larger grip over the original model. I think CAA also has a storage grip, too. I’ve also tried the Zhukov stock. It’s OK. If you put a scope on a side rail, the Zhukov can be upgraded with cheek risers (available in 3x levels), which is handy because not all rail mounts are created equal.

    • NC Scout August 24, 2020 at 11:28

      Those are nice. My favorite grip is the Tango Down Battlegrip.

  4. Ralph k August 24, 2020 at 13:30

    A quick question, slightly off topic, what are your thoughts of the AK74 platform, the round 5.45×39? I only ask as I have a couple of these rifles purchased several years ago, and just brought them out, wondering if I should keep them or trade them for other firearms/ammo. Your opinion means a lot to me. And, btw, your interview with Mike Adams was great.

    • NC Scout August 24, 2020 at 13:53

      Thanks brother!

      The AK-74 is a great weapon. I could probably write all day on it and the 5.45 specifically, but I’ll say up front that the ATF ban on 7n6 really hurt it here in the States. Back before that, it was the cheapest thing to shoot- $140 or so per 1k round tin- and they even built ARs chambered in it because of this.

      But that said, the 5.45 is not the man killer its made out to be. The so-called ‘poison bullet’ reputation in Afghanistan was grossly exaggerated more as Soviet propaganda than anything else. All the Afghans I knew, including one who had been a Muj fighter, didn’t have much regard for it and preferred the 7.62. The Russians also learned from their experiences in Chechnya that 5.45 comes up short in woodland environments and performs poorly in urban areas, leading them to develop special loads for the older AKM such as 8M3 and the newer 8V3 from Vympel that would greatly outperform the smaller rounds. This reality is also why Venezuela and India have adopted the AK-103 and 203, respectively, as their weapons of choice in their woodland and jungle environments. It works, plain and simple.

      This is not to say that the 5.45 is bad- its a capable round in a similar capacity as the 5.56. It offers an extended range and greater accuracy due to its ballistic coefficient and low recoil. Finding magazines is an issue though, although easier today than in years past due to a lower demand, and the ammo is not as widespread in distribution.

      So long story short, if you’re sitting on a mountain of ammo and mags for it, by all means hold onto it. They’re obnoxiously fun to shoot and damn near perfect for arming newer or smaller framed shooters. But if you’re just now diving into the AK, I’d stay away from it.

      • Curious Passerby August 24, 2020 at 20:05

        I used to have a couple Romak74s. I liked them well enough. Females could shoot them a bit easier than the 7.62. I sold mine, though, since I already had a couple 7.62s.
        I also heard a story that made the 5.45 sound less than desirable.
        I met an old Soviet Army engineer who had done border guard duty in Siberia. He told me they had a Chinese border guard go crazy, cross the border, and take a farmer, his wife, and daughter hostage in a yurt, where he proceeded to rape the women. The frontier apparently had a simple sensor system consisting of charged wires that would set off an alarm when pressed together, such as when someone walked or skiied across them in the snow. They quickly found the Chinese border guard and the yurt. He told me the problem was their Ak74s couldn’t penetrate the frozen leather walls of the yurt. They just bounced off. The Chinese guy’s 7.62 rounds passed through easily. He said his LT was killed leaning against the wall of the yurt, preparing to toss a grenade in.

    • Johnny Paratrooper August 24, 2020 at 13:54

      If you sell now, you can get max price.
      Personally, I think the AK’s greatest “pro” is the cheap steel core ammo.

      The only con, is mounting an optic. But that isn’t a big deal anymore.

      That Steel core stuff is AWESOME. It goes through everything(within reason)30 inch trees included. You have to reconsider what you think is cover after an afternoon shooting stuff with Steelcore 7.62×39.

      Literally the AK’s best attribute. It’s criminal not to load your weapon with that stuff.

      If they make a steelcore 5.45×39, you should keep your weapon. That would give you a good blend of penetrating power, control ability, and accuracy.

      You can disable equipment, troops, and vehicles with the Steel Core all day.

      I don’t have an AK, but my Mosin and my SKS shoots silver tips @ About 3MOA. The only reason I keep those guns is the steel core ammo.

  5. Johnny Paratrooper August 24, 2020 at 13:44

    There are people who don’t wear gloves when they operate weaponry?
    You are just asking to slice your hand open, burn yourself, or rip a fingernail off.

    You can miss me with that nonsense.

    Personally, I like the Irons on the AK.
    But you should swap them out with something that glows in the dark. Which isn’t an easy task.
    Meprolight has a good option. But the trillium might already be a few years old.

    I read the above comment about fire roasting an optic. That is an unfortunate possibility. My SKS has a similar rail system to the Ultimak but with quite a bit more heat sink and shielding. I run a Scout scope 2×6 on it. It’s the Simmons Magnum Pistol Scope. It works good for less than $200; And has 1/2 MOA adjustments. Which is good enough for the AK. I zero it two clicks low at 100 meters. I was taught that trick by an 82nd Sniper. It kinda stretches for a bit more effectiveness on longer range engagements. And, curiously enough, if you have a real steady position, your double taps stay “kinda were you wanted them” a little better.

    Just one man’s opinion.

    That trick works well with a 25 meter zero on Eotech and Aimpoints as well. There is a lot to be said for a 100 meter zero. I keep a 100 on all my bolt guns. “25 Low” on everything else.

    I’m curious if you guys have tried out the heavy spring For AK’s from MCarbo.

  6. Tim McCann August 24, 2020 at 15:15

    I changed my wood AK furniture for Magpul’s ZHUKOV-S Stock. The greatest advantage it provided was an increased Length of Pull by about 4″.

  7. Badlands Rifleman August 24, 2020 at 15:22

    “No bullshit, all fight.” If only everything in life was like that! Your continuous communist brain washing on the AK is starting to take hold on me comrade, I’ve got a C39V2 that I acquired a few years ago. No side rail on it so I’ve been tempted to update it in the same fashion you described above but is it worth it for this rifle? I’ve read they have a checkered past reliability wise and I don’t like unreliable stuff, but I don’t like internet hype either. If you had one sitting in your safe would you mess with it?

    • NC Scout August 24, 2020 at 15:43

      I’d snag up a Texas Weapon Systems railed top cover. Those are awesome and I still have one floating around here somewhere. The C39 I shot was a nice weapon. Didn’t get the round count to see if any issues would pop up, but I certainly didn’t see anything to give me cause for concern.

      Century faced an uphill battle stemming from their early days as an importer of pretty shady weapons kits and even shady-er builders cobbling them together to meet 922r. But from the quality I’ve personally seen form the VSKA, and the several documented long term tests that show few issues, they look good to go. I have one on the way and will know more next week.

      We’ll be running the tar out of it in my AK Class this weekend.

      • Badlands Rifleman August 24, 2020 at 16:44

        That’s relieving to hear, mine shoots very good using a sand sock beneath the magazine like I’ve seen Robski do, grouping about 1 inch @ 100 yards with Tula 124 grain ammo. I’ll look into that top cover, thanks for the good info!

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