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5/19/2011 9:37:31 AM EDT
Can the factory AK side rail (like on the Saiga, SAR, SLR) be removed?
5/19/2011 9:45:34 AM EDT
[#1]
Why would you want to?
5/19/2011 9:57:01 AM EDT
[#2]
Slightly less weight, less width, looks better.
5/19/2011 10:33:12 AM EDT
[#3]
On the stamped receiver rifles I've examined the rear rivet for the rail also secures the shet metal to the stock block. That rivet woould have to be replaced.
The holes for the other rivets should be welded closed.
All that seems like a lot of work for little gain. YMMV
5/19/2011 10:36:04 AM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
On the stamped receiver rifles I've examined the rear rivet for the rail also secures the shet metal to the stock block. That rivet woould have to be replaced.
The holes for the other rivets should be welded closed.
All that seems like a lot of work for little gain. YMMV


Exactly.

I don't see the AR guys milling the rails off the top of their receivers to save weight.
5/19/2011 10:46:49 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Slightly less weight, less width, looks better.

You're talking about hardly any difference in weight or width. if those are your concerns and you are that focused on it, i would suggest changing many other things first.
5/19/2011 11:38:45 AM EDT
[#6]
The side rails on a AK are ugly.  I thought about doing this myself.  Also after the holes are filled in the receiver will have to be refinished.
5/19/2011 11:47:37 AM EDT
[#7]
Side rail Stamped AK's command a premium.  Sell your hated side rail and buy one without it.  





5/19/2011 11:59:10 AM EDT
[#8]
In my case since I hate the look of a side rail, I make sure the AK's I buy don't have one. However when I bought my Saiga .308, I had no choice. When my smith restored the gun to look like an AK, I asked him to remove the rail, but he refused, saying it would create more problems, so I live with it. The gun turned out nice with wooden furniture, & a Romy side folder.  GARY  N4KVE
5/19/2011 12:47:27 PM EDT
[#9]
Does any1 want to donate a (romanian type) side rail to me?  I'd like to mount it to my golani.  I can give u an ak mag in exchange.
5/19/2011 1:00:30 PM EDT
[#10]
Side rails have been standard for twenty years now, they are just as much AK as any other part of it.




Z
5/19/2011 1:42:21 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
On the stamped receiver rifles I've examined the rear rivet for the rail also secures the shet metal to the stock block. That rivet woould have to be replaced.
The holes for the other rivets should be welded closed.
All that seems like a lot of work for little gain. YMMV


That's what I thought. My rifle isn't here yet but based on ones I've used I thought it would be more trouble than it's worth. I wish Arsenal had made this an option with the SGLs, like it was with the SLRs. Oh well.
5/19/2011 2:26:28 PM EDT
[#12]
The SGL's are Russian Saiga's, so they all come with the rail. The SLR's are Bulgarian AK's, where you had a choice w or w/o the rail.  GARY  N4KVE
5/19/2011 2:38:06 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
The SGL's are Russian Saiga's, so they all come with the rail. The SLR's are Bulgarian AK's, where you had a choice w or w/o the rail.  GARY  N4KVE


Right, but they are made separately (e.g. the SGL Saiga conversions don't have the bolt-hold-open feature like the Saiga sporters). Rail-less would have been a nice option. I understand the SGL was to be a very close 100-series copy, though.
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