Best VALUE for mounting an optic on an M85 NPAP pistol?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best VALUE for mounting an optic on an M85 NPAP pistol?

Posted: 5/7/2017 10:43:47 PM EDT

I would love to add a red dot to my NPAP, and I know there are a variety of options from $50 rails you need to drill the top cover for to $150-$200 replacement covers with integrated rails. Somewhere in between you have Ultimaks. MFT makes some polymer handguard with a rail section, but polymer and I don't know how durable they are.

What are you using, what did it cost, where did you get it?

Posted: 5/8/2017 9:55:19 AM EDT

[#1]

I would not put an optic on a polymer rail in an AK or any gun for that matter. But YMMV, I just bought a used TWS dust cover that replaces the stock one so I can't wait to try that out. I've had experience with railed top covers before and they do work (TWS dogleg and Zenit). If you want to keep the weapon traditional, I'd go with the standard piece of rail bolted to the area between the hinge and rear sight on the dust cover, it's minimal and won't look tacticool. But if tactical is what you want, ultimak, MI, and TWS make great mounting solutions.

Posted: 5/8/2017 2:34:03 PM EDT

[#2]

I've got a M85pv model that I'm currently getting a Manticore Arms Renegade forearm with a Burris Fast Fire mount on the top/gastube.

All the YouTube reviews I checked out gave the Manticore Renegade high praise. It's also within my budget, so this really guides my direction and options.

Still working on getting the fast fire. Probably try to get the ff 3 model. I'm hoping to keep these upgrades under, or around the $300.00 range to include the fast fire.

No experience with any of it yet though.

Posted: 5/8/2017 4:41:18 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would not put an optic on a polymer rail in an AK or any gun for that matter. But YMMV, I just bought a used TWS dust cover that replaces the stock one so I can't wait to try that out. I've had experience with railed top covers before and they do work (TWS dogleg and Zenit). If you want to keep the weapon traditional, I'd go with the standard piece of rail bolted to the area between the hinge and rear sight on the dust cover, it's minimal and won't look tacticool. But if tactical is what you want, ultimak, MI, and TWS make great mounting solutions.

View Quote

Isn't the Manticore a polymer set? They seem to be highly regarded, but I share your concern.

Posted: 5/8/2017 6:07:05 PM EDT

[#4]

if you're handy and not scared to do some cutting, you can take an Ultimak M1b and cut it to fit on the M85. here's a pic of mine, it has a Primary Arms AMD on it now.

Posted: 5/8/2017 9:33:20 PM EDT

[#5]

Manticore is a poly handguard with an aluminum optic mount, absolutely love mine.

Posted: 5/8/2017 9:43:15 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
if you're handy and not scared to do some cutting, you can take an Ultimak M1b and cut it to fit on the M85. here's a pic of mine, it has a Primary Arms AMD on it now.
http://i856.photobucket.com/albums/ab126/sagillman/SBR/IMG_0948_zpsoovggyin.jpg

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I have an Ultimak that I think is an M9b. Looks like the package was marked m1b and then hand corrected to M9b

Is that a standard Magpul AK handguard?

Posted: 5/9/2017 9:09:59 AM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:

I have an Ultimak that I think is an M9b. Looks like the package was marked m1b and then hand corrected to M9b

Is that a standard Magpul AK handguard?

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The M1B is around 1/4-5/16'' longer then the M85 gas tube. I'm not to sure if the M9 will work or not, you might want to sell or trade it for an M1 if you're looking to go this route. yes it's a AK MOE hand guard, I removed the factory handguard retainer (properly) and used a bolt on AK retainer.

Posted: 5/9/2017 9:38:41 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

Isn't the Manticore a polymer set? They seem to be highly regarded, but I share your concern.

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The optic plate on the manticore is aluminum and has two 'U' brackets that mount to the gas tube and secure the plate.

Posted: 5/9/2017 1:44:43 PM EDT

[#9]

I've got a set of CAA handguards on my WASR and Hogue handguards on my Draco, both are polymer with rails molded in to the upper handguard. And both are cheap. Hogue fits just like factory handguards so you can just use the railed upper if you prefer.

Both sport TRS-25s and hold zero to 50 & 25 yards respectively, no issues.

Neither setup will allow use of irons but they put the optic at a preferable height for me.

I also ran a UTG quad rail on the WASR, although it fit fine and held zero with no issues I just didn't like the look or feel.

Posted: 5/10/2017 8:47:36 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've got a M85pv model that I'm currently getting a Manticore Arms Renegade forearm with a Burris Fast Fire mount on the top/gastube.

All the YouTube reviews I checked out gave the Manticore Renegade high praise. It's also within my budget, so this really guides my direction and options.

Still working on getting the fast fire. Probably try to get the ff 3 model. I'm hoping to keep these upgrades under, or around the $300.00 range to include the fast fire.

No experience with any of it yet though.

View Quote

I just put a Fastfire 3 on my M92 but I put it on the dust cover. Stormwerkz has a dedicated Fastfire
Mount that I used. Only involved drilling 2 holes in the cover and didn't have to tap anything. Pretty easy
install but you're committed to Fastfire. It's $50 compared to $70 for the Renegade optic mount.

Stormwerkz

Posted: 5/10/2017 1:43:07 PM EDT

[#11]

I went with stormwerks rail for my slr104 sbr. If I take the rds off it looks just like a real krink. Took like 5 minutes to install.

Posted: 5/11/2017 4:16:12 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
I just put a Fastfire 3 on my M92 but I put it on the dust cover. Stormwerkz has a dedicated Fastfire
Mount that I used. Only involved drilling 2 holes in the cover and didn't have to tap anything. Pretty easy
install but you're committed to Fastfire. It's $50 compared to $70 for the Renegade optic mount.

Stormwerkz

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've got a M85pv model that I'm currently getting a Manticore Arms Renegade forearm with a Burris Fast Fire mount on the top/gastube.

All the YouTube reviews I checked out gave the Manticore Renegade high praise. It's also within my budget, so this really guides my direction and options.

Still working on getting the fast fire. Probably try to get the ff 3 model. I'm hoping to keep these upgrades under, or around the $300.00 range to include the fast fire.

No experience with any of it yet though.

I just put a Fastfire 3 on my M92 but I put it on the dust cover. Stormwerkz has a dedicated Fastfire
Mount that I used. Only involved drilling 2 holes in the cover and didn't have to tap anything. Pretty easy
install but you're committed to Fastfire. It's $50 compared to $70 for the Renegade optic mount.

Stormwerkz

Well, I counted my chickens before they got hatched, and missed out on being able to get the manticore handgaurd with the Burris mount. ( Arfcom ee sale )

So, back to the starting line. I'm cool with that stormwerkz mount. Thanks for your guidance. I think I'll pursue this route Instead.

Posted: 5/12/2017 11:18:27 PM EDT

[#13]

I could have went either way as I've got the hand guard minus the optics mount but I like the way it turned out. and you can co witness.

Posted: 5/12/2017 11:51:15 PM EDT

[#14]

I used a MI forend from my spare parts box on my M92. I removed the factory handguard retainer to allow the MI forend to fit, it's not the correct Yugo specific model. I believe it was for a Saiga?? Stuck a Vortex sparc on it that was laying around.

Posted: 5/14/2017 11:21:20 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
I used a MI forend from my spare parts box on my M92. I removed the factory handguard retainer to allow the MI forend to fit, it's not the correct Yugo specific model. I believe it was for a Saiga?? Stuck a Vortex sparc on it that was laying around.

View Quote

Any chance of detailed pics?