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Posted: 1/28/2010 4:37:35 AM EDT
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So . . . . after getting a regular (read: rifle stock) AK-47 recently, I've been eyeing the underfolders. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to look at one and raised it to my shoulder to check the fit and feel. Geez, what do you do with your cheek? Where do you put your face? Do you really nuzzle up to those hunks of steel? How do you get a good sight picture?
Or are these just for looking cool, bump firing, holding overhead in a Wolverines stance, etc.? |
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A lot of us wrap the strut that your cheek goes against with para-cord. Check out the AK forums and I'm sure you can find a thread or two about it.
It makes it a LOT more comfortable to shoot. Still not as good as a regular stock, but that's the price you pay to have an underfolder instead of a side-folder. 
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Or are these just for looking cool, bump firing, holding overhead in a Wolverines stance, etc.? Looking cool ,firing from the hip and holding the rifle overhead were very high on the list of Soviet Army priorities. 
Well, I assumed that the underfolders had their place in actual military use. I can imagine that they're great for guys who ride in vehicles or troops that do close quarter stuff. That doesn't mean the stock is ideal for more traditional uses, though. |
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So . . . . after getting a regular (read: rifle stock) AK-47 recently, I've been eyeing the underfolders. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to look at one and raised it to my shoulder to check the fit and feel. Geez, what do you do with your cheek? Where do you put your face? Do you really nuzzle up to those hunks of steel? How do you get a good sight picture? Or are these just for looking cool, bump firing, holding overhead in a Wolverines stance, etc.? That's pretty much it. You fogot to add that they tend to go wobbly with use. BSW |
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I've always disagreed with the whole philosophy that Russians didn't make AK's to be used for any kind of accurate fire. It's often stated that these rifles were made to be fired on full-auto and suggested that Russians tended to just use AK's with a spray-and-pray philosophy, which simply isn't true. I think they're often confused with Iraqi conscripted soldiers and insurgents that used AK's with just that mindset. Believe me, they received training in semi-auto and marksmanship, same as our troops have.
The original UF design was adopted when a use for a compact weapon was identified. Back then, they were still milled. They pretty much took the idea from the German MP-40 from what I've heard. It was a pure afterthought. When the 74's came about they came up with a triangle side-folder design specifically to address all the things an UnderFolder lacked (which for the most part, it did). However, the UF's were not made to simply spray a 30-round mag until it's dry and hope it lands somewhere. They were made to be used with shoulder-figure, same as a fixed stock. They were issued to troops or situations where a solid/fixed stock might not be practical. Namely paratroopers, which Russia has always invested very heavily in (and still does to some extent). The AKMS is still commonly used with forces both back in Chechnya and some were even spotted in Georgia being used by Russians. It seems that in a lot of videos and pics I've seen that are recent, you still spot an AKMS or two (sometimes even the whole fire team) all the time. You never see them with a fixed stock AKM though. To the OP, they're fired the same way you would fire any shoulder-fired rifle. Are they as comfortable? Absolutely not. I have a fixed stock and an AKMS clone and it's not the most comfortable stock to shoot. But I do just fine with it. In situations where a fixed stock is allowable, you'd use one of those. But in situations where having a folding stock for either ease of carry or ease of stowing, a UF may not be your most comfortable but can often make sense. You'll get varying responses from people using them. Some love 'em, some hate 'em. But I'd be willing to bet you'd get the same mix when asking Russian soldiers. |
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really? Its that hard to use a UF? Isnt difficult...really. Its not like using a M16A2 stock, but it works. http://www.thanks.us/ShortBus.jpg Nice. |
| The AKS and AKMS were made to enable the crews of transports, etc. to carry the rifle but in a more compact form. Basically, to facilitate the issue of the same type of weapon but for easier storage and carry. The Russian military wasn't really worried about the comfort of the design as much as making it practical. Within the last several years, the "comfort" aspect finally caught up with the Russian designers and they started taking a cue from what we were doing with the M16/M4's. |
| Much better to snuggle up to an uncomfortable stock than incoming lead. They needed a folder to make the rifle more compact and that was what they came up with. I do however think it's odd that underfolders exist as the side folder seems much simpler to use, and easier to make. That's usually the route the Soviets chose. |
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I have no problem getting a good cheek weld with a good quality underfolder like the Yugo or the Polish (have both).
Not sure what the OP was handling, but the new coobled together UF's from Century built on WASR's absolutely suck. The stocks dont extend strait out from the rear trunion...junk. |
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Quoted: I like the uf stock because when you fold it, the rifle stays the same width. Sure a standard fixed stock is more comfortable but i personly dont find the underfolder to be uncomfortable. The underfolder looks awesome too. Pretty much my thoughts also. I have three underfolders (Polish, M70AB2, M64) and like them well enough. |
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Not sure what the OP was handling, but the new coobled together UF's from Century built on WASR's absolutely suck. The stocks dont extend strait out from the rear trunion...junk. I take it you've never seen a Chinese made UF. The design is just different. It mimics the drop of the original (AK 47) wood stock, rather than the AKM stock. |
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I have no problem getting a good cheek weld with a good quality underfolder like the Yugo or the Polish (have both). Not sure what the OP was handling, but the new coobled together UF's from Century built on WASR's absolutely suck. The stocks dont extend strait out from the rear trunion...junk. Not sure how much experience you have with AK's, but it's obvious that can be quantified on the head of a pin. They're supposed to be angled downward. That's how the rifles (turned parts kits) upon which they're built were originally made. |
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I have no problem getting a good cheek weld with a good quality underfolder like the Yugo or the Polish (have both). Not sure what the OP was handling, but the new coobled together UF's from Century built on WASR's absolutely suck. The stocks dont extend strait out from the rear trunion...junk. LOL!! someones been drinking the wrong Kool-Aide!!! LOL!! |
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I use the cheek rest that comes with the rifle.
First adjust the sling so it can be pulled back to the butt plate. 
Then pull it over the top of the butt plate. I like it to be tight, so I fold the butt plate a little so I can slip the sling over the top. 
Pull back down to shooting position, place cheek against sling,shoot & enjoy. 
This works best with the thick canvas slings, & obviously best for right handers. |
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