Is AK cowitness necessary?

[masternave]

I've been doing some poking and reading about AK co-witness owing to finding some threads about the default T-1 aimpoint mount screw breaking off. According to everything I've been able to google, the LT low mount for the aimpoint doesn't cowitness, but the ARMS and aimpoint throw mounts do… but barely.

And then I found this article: http://akoperatorsunionlocal4774.wor...witness-drama/ (tl;dr no one needs cowitness anyway, and according to this post, russian special forces don't care.)

It would seem that there are not a few people smarter than me who have built or are running AKs without cowitness… http://soldiersystems.net/2013/11/08...f-inspired-ak/

I don't know. I'm a dumb armchair general. I was wondering how you guys have been thinking and running. Thanks in advance.

[fhk96]

I don't think it is necessary. Side rail optics are generally quick detach and return to zero.

[SteyrAUG]

I actually LOVE co witness. It is one of the greatest things about ARs and their tall sights.

That said I have been shooting for decades with scopes up high on "see through" mounts. It was just the way things were if you were shooting HKs or scopes on AR carry handles. We did things just fine, nobody was running around crying "I can't see it, I can't shoot anything." It was a thousand times better than trying to run an offset scope like on a M1 Garand.

But people with scoped Garands did just fine. People with HK with high scoped see through mounts did just fine. People with ARs with carry handle mounted optics did just fine.

In another generation there will be something new and a bunch of guys wondering how anyone ever used something as horrible as a co witnessed EoTech or a T1.

[RMiller]

IMO, cowitness on an AK isn't a priority.

However, I'm a big believer in the AK side mount and even more of a believer of RS regulate side rail mounts.

With the RS mounts the Aimpoint attaches directly to it. The optic and mount can easily be removed, and installed with minimal zero shift.

The Russians put a LOT of thought into the side rail. Don't over think it.

[interfan]

If you're looking at utility, the questions to ask are not about the necessity of co-witness, but rather this:

1. Do you trust your optic?
2. Do you have a comfortable cheekweld/ergo for you?

With Russian (or Russian style) AK sidemounts, if the optic goes down, ditching it and using irons is about as easy as falling out of bed. My own setup on an AKS74 clone is an Aimpoint M3 in the Aimpoint extra low mount clamped on a Molot sidemount. It is very low, but doesn't co-witness with irons as the rear sight is a little too low to do so. For me, the level of the optic is optimal for using the optic and I am fine to not have it co-witness. I know that the irons are there, they're zeroed, and can be used in the rare occasion that the Aimpoint goes dead. I trust my optic as reliable, so not co-witnessing with the irons isn't a problem.

Now on the HK side, I fondled one of Hakan Spuhr's HK94s at Milipol and again at SHOT. His M4 stock adapter with a Magpul CTR was nice. http://www.milehighshooting.com/spuh...stock-adapter/ He had an Aimpoint Micro mounted on a one of his own prototype releasable mounts and it was an ergonomic transformation. HK stocks have never been terribly comfortable, and this is something that is very comfortable to use. The downside, if you can call it one, is no co-witness. I spoke to him at length and HK ergo with the low sights are something he has worked to specifically address, and IMHO, has done well.

[Dave_M]

Non cowitness is a non-starter for me.

[english kanigit]

Necessary? No.

Nice? Yes... if it doesn't detract from anything else.


YMMV, especially if you buy cheap, bargain-bin optics that crap out often!

Ek

[soldier_twiggy]

Most of these allow cowitness.
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/...ategory_ID=241

essayons

[A-of-1]

RS Mounts rock! RS plus Aimpoint is now my go to for Zombies!

IMO, cowitness on an AK isn't a priority.

However, I'm a big believer in the AK side mount and even more of a believer of RS regulate side rail mounts.

With the RS mounts the Aimpoint attaches directly to it. The optic and mount can easily be removed, and installed with minimal zero shift.

The Russians put a LOT of thought into the side rail. Don't over think it.

[Peshawar]

My opinion is that it's not a big deal, as long as you can detach the optic quickly and resort back to the irons if necessary.