Are we talking EoTech, or something else?

Have you considered how you're going to get a cheek weld on your stock? That's kinda important.

What's wrong with the rail? Do you have a folder? Need more info.

 

I will likely get an Eotech 512 or something similar. The AK is a Zastava with standard wood in the nicer laminate. Correct me if I am wrong but is it not true that the Eotech does not require a cheek weld?

 

For the AK, I recommend the XPS models. I have already posted the reasons why for another AK optics question, but suffice it to say that EoTech models that don't use a transverse battery mount have issues with the batteries battering and subsequently bending the contact springs in the battery compartment, which leads to failure.

The EoTechs were designed for M4 carbines and M16 rifles, not weapons with heavier or sharper recoil impulses. The XPS models solve the battery contact spring issue.

The cheek weld to the stock is about creating more points of contacts with the weapon to assist with accurate and controllable rapid fire, and necessary with or without optics. The EoTech sits high enough to make this difficult for many shooters with a standard AK stock. It also differs depending on how you hold the weapon.

The wood stocks of the type I'm familiar with on Zastava AK's have slightly higher combs than standard AK stocks and, depending on the shooter, may still work.

The TWS rail is not the lowest possible mount for an Aimpoint Micro or Trijicon RMR, the Ultimak mount is. If you look at pictures of both mounts, you can't help but notice that the top of the Ultimak rail is below the top of the dust cover. That said, the TWS is still pretty low, which is what you want.

The TWS mount places the optic behind the iron sights and between your hands, so the weight of the optic is dynamic versus static, which is a good thing. The TWS mount costs a little more than the Ultimak, but not much more.

I have an Ultimak, but not a TWS. I don't see any specific advantage to replacing the dust cover, rear sight mechanism, and recoil spring guide versus just the gas tube and the XPS doesn't make the AK overly nose heavy.

If it were me I'd use a low optics rail mount from Arsenal or RS Regulate for a fixed stock AK. The Ultimak weighs no more than the part it (the gas tube) replaces and is lower than the TWS or side rail mounts, but then the weight of the optic is over your forward hand, which helps with recoil control, hurts pointability slightly, and becomes static weight that you have fight against while holding and aiming the weapon. We're talking about relatively light optics here, but I'm pointing out what is or should be obvious.

Everything is a trade-off. I favor recoil control with the AK and choose to take the weight over my support hand, within reason. You may favor slightly faster aiming.

The cost of all the mounts we've talked about is so little, relative to the other options, that I don't consider it a factor in the decision.

 

I appreciate the high level insight. What is your understanding of the TWS holding zero? while firing? after cleaning?

 

I appreciate the high level insight. What is your understanding of the TWS holding zero? while firing? after cleaning?

As I previously stated, since I don't own and use one, I can't comment on how well it works. I understand why someone might want one, but my own limited experience with top rail covers (Chinese dust cover optics rail on a Chinese NORINCO MAK-90) was difficulty maintaining zero. My expectations are no more than 2 MOA shift at 100 yards and I think that's a reasonable expectation.

I've never owned the exact model you're interested in.

I've not seen many of them at the ranges I frequent. Might be something to that. Have a look at these two threads from the AK Forum.

http://www.theakforum.net/forums/22-optics-accessories/165156-two-years-tws-gen2-dogleg-rail.html

http://www.theakforum.net/forums/22-optics-accessories/155356-side-rails-suck-rs-regulate-300-series-side-mount-review.html

I've never had an Ultimak damage my optics, and I use it now because I have a side folder (and the MAK-90 I had previously had no side rail and the top cover mount didn't work very well) and I want the mechanism to function as intended for vehicle storage (you can't fold the butt of an AK with an optic mounted to the rail and I want to use optics and fold the stock, thus the Ultimak). I'm sure the heat does affect the optics in some way, but it hasn't BBQ'd my XPS or Aimpoints, so I'm not too worried about that at this point.

Since you have a fixed stock and rail, I would like to know what's wrong with using the optics rail.

RS Regulate has pretty much answered the common problems with side rail scope mounts. Arsenal mounts have less tech or ingenuity into them, they're just usable products.

Not that I would suggest going with an optic you don't like, but have you considered an Aimpoint Pro? For what the XPS runs these days you could purchase an Aimpoint Pro and pay for most of the cost of a RS Regulate mount and have a very sturdy and usable combination that can co-witness and be removed for cleaning with only a very minor loss of zero.

 

I am not married to any of them at this point. I will investigate the Aimpoint a little closer.