Dovetail and how one can use it well

They say the AK was made to be good with iron sights - but only till the nightfall. Working with it in low-light conditions is made possible thanks to optics, which can be mounted on the weapon in several ways—ranging from absurdly unsafe to well-thought-out and reliable solutions. Some even benefit from solid engineering choices made by the AK’s own designers—for example, the side-mounted dovetail rail.

Time to break down what it is, how it’s used, and what other mounting options exist.

Mounting Optics on the AK Platform

Overall, optics can be mounted on AK-pattern rifles in several ways.

For instance, one can replace the rear sight block with a Picatinny rail. This is a relatively simple and inexpensive solution, but it’s far from ideal in terms of redundancy—if the mounted optic fails, the rifle is left without iron sights, making aimed fire impossible.

Another controversial option is replacing the receiver cover with an upgraded version that has an integrated Picatinny rail as part of its monolithic design.

However, it’s important to understand that the AK’s mounting surfaces weren’t originally designed for precision attachments issued to the average grunt. To minimize play, tensioning mechanisms (such as set screws or clamps) are often used—but even these don’t fully eliminate lateral movement. This can become a major headache in real-world applications - from making cleaning more difficult to constantly needing to re-zero the optic to being unable to fix the issue in a critical situation. On top of that, having the direct loop of feedback from Ukrainian armed forces fighters included in R&D, and we consider the previously mentioned interfaces viable for the civilian use and recreational shooting, yet they don't have as hight regtards within the military for zero holding issues and possible dissasembly complications - rifle reliability comes first.

KPYK’s Approach to AK Optics Mounting — and the “Dovetail” Explained

When it came to mounting optics on iconic Soviet and post-Soviet firearms, we took a different route—we developed our own side mounts based on the dovetail rail system. This system has its own history and a number of advantages worth highlighting.

The dovetail is a sliding rail interface used on firearms for attaching optics. The term refers to any direct mounting bracket with a trapezoidal profile. This mounting system originated in the Soviet Union for attaching optics like the PSO-1 and 1PN58 night sight, and it’s still in use today on rifles like the SVD, SKS, RPK, PKM, and even the RPG-7—though these dovetail mounts are not cross-compatible between platforms.

Devetail mounting of PGO-7 scope on an RPG-7 Grenade launcher - source

This system is still widely used in firearms across many of the world’s armies that use the AK-pattern weapons.

Our version of the mount, the CRC 9U028, was developed in line with the specifications and standards of the Soviet dovetail system, and it’s compatible not only with KRUK’s own brackets. The mount is secured by replacing the trigger group pins with screws provided with the mounting kit, and it has proven its reliability—we have a sample with a 30,000-round test (on various AK models).

Our CRC 9U028-MIL unit, with an impressive 30,000 rounds put overall through the rifles it was mounted on

KRUK Mounts

As for our mounts, they offer a reliable and structurally sound solution for attaching optics to the AK without significant modifications to the core structure of the firearm. They are also compatible with the standard dovetail rail, as seen on the AKS-74M and AK-74N, and can be mounted on AK-74, AKM, RPK-74, and are conditionally compatible with AKMS and AKS-74. However, on the last two models, the standard stock cannot be locked in the folded position if the dovetail rail is present.

On the AKS, you can use a side mount with a right-handed stock.

Locks with the flag tensioner

Includes mechanism to prevent accidental detaching

Optics Mount Interface - Picatinny Rail (MIL-STD 1913)

When it comes to specific models, the CRC 2U072 mount is positioned at an optimal height, allowing users to utilize the iron sights or remove the bolt carrier without disassembling the mount.

The quick-release CRC 2U073 mount is set low above the cover, and while it is incompatible with iron sights, it can be quickly detached without tools. The mount is secured with a lock and clamp, and it doesn't require re-zeroing after removal.

Both CRC 2U072 and CRC 2U073 are compatible with dovetail rails from other manufacturers, provided they adhere to the standard.

Conclusion

Considering all the mounting options mentioned above, you should choose the one that best suits your personal needs, tasks, and capabilities. This should be the foundation not only for choosing a sight mount but also for any modifications to the firearm in general.

On our YouTube channel, you can also find installation guides and product reviews.

To summarize, it's not all lost with this sighting system, as some might think. Order your mounts on our website, or if your combat buddy went without such a mount, go for the dovetail rail + mount combo, and you'll have things sorted out the way it should be.

Rifle setup from Ukrainian Army serviceman