I just bought a vector underfolder ak style carbine. The store owner, who seemed knowledgeable, wasn't very helpful when I asked him the same thing. He suggested I simply leave my ak scopeless because the topmounts had a tendancy to be loose. Makes sense to me. If, however, you purchase an ak with a factory sidemount it would seem to me it should work just fine. What kind of optics are you interested in?I am going to add some kind of optics to my rifle but I am wondering is a top mount or a side rail better?