Why do some guns have the handle on the right side? Wouldn't it be easier to have it all on the left so you could be able to cock the gun without having to flip or turn it at all?
Do they make AKs with the handle on the left side?
>>28363258
Majority of people are right-handed.
Gotta cut a hole for the bolt handle to connect to the bolt carrier. Easiest to make this hole on the same side or part of the ejection port, which you want away from the shooter.
I would image that's so the ejected shell doesn't hit your arm, but it could be for another reason
>>28363258
For AKs it's because Russian doctrine is to charge with primary hand, for easier retraining of conscripts who were used to bolt-action
>>28363305
>Majority of people are right-handed
And yet they still pull back the bolt with their left hand, having to flip the gun over to do so.
Why not reload with their right hand then?
>>28363317
The charging handle can easily be on a different side from the ejection port so no.
early production guns like the garand, sks/ak series have the charging handle on the right side because people had been used to working bolts with their right hand, so it was a natural transition.
modern ones are typically ambidextrous. the ones that have it on the left are under the idea that it's better to keep your strong arm on the gun, so that you can choose to reload with a loaded chamber and still be able to fire 1 shot during the reload instead of being caught completely off guard.
just like how some people store their pistol loaded with the magazine in a different drawer, they get one shot if thye need it before the mag goes in
The AK's bolt handle is reciprocating for cheapness. It could be on the left but most people don't like having the moving bolt handle that close to their faces. And then in later AKs they put the optic mount on the left side which permanently kept the charging handle on the right side.
Non recip on the left works fine (provided you don't want to use the optics mount). Here an example, which by the way prevent use of the optics mount that's right below it.
Also see the Galil Ace. That has a left side reciprocating charging handle with a spring loaded dust cover. They put the rail on top dust cover which is usually not a good idea for AKs because they're not secure but I guess they worked something out to keep the dust cover rail stable.
>>28363458
How does a railed dust cover like this work?
>>28363506
By being a dust cover that just has some rails slapped onto it. That thing is so ferociously ugly that Mikhail is turning in his grave.
People forget that not long ago keeping your rifle pointed at your target constantly wasn't a thing so reloading could be done however. I personally get it, keep the rifle on the target but people really need to think about taking cover instead of standing up like a jackass and reloading. It seems like somewhere in the mix competition shooting got mixed in with combat shooting.
>>28364618
The rail ties into the leaf sight with takedown pin and stuff somehow
Also
>hating on the space AK
>>28363379
To keep your finger near the trigger. Youre engaging a target, you dobt want your shooting hand to do the movement.
>>28365050
But it isn't. Your right hand doesn't move, you load the weapon, turn it, rack the bolt with your LEFT hand, release, turn the weapon and then place your LEFT hand on the fore grip.
Meanwhile on something like the G3 you load the weapon, pull the charging handle, slap it back into place, and you've done it all with the left hand and you didn't even turn the weapon at all.
>>28363414
is right though, traditionally the right hand was used to operate the bolt and so the right side of the weapon is where the bolt charging handle stayed.
>>28363506
Unreliably. Some people have been lucky with it, others find it doesn't hold zero at all.
A railed gas block is a much better mounting point.
>>28363506
Usually there's some sort of clamp or something that keeps it held firmly down.
>>28363506
All the other guys are idiots. The particular model you posted replaces the rear sight and attaches there.
>wanting a piece of metal digging into your back
>>28364717
not him but TWS isn't close to a space AK
simplicity.
>>28363258
AK46 prototype had all of the controls including thumb selector and left handed charging handle. During trials troops that actually had to use the damn thing and march around with it. They found the controls to be in the way and get caught on things much like you will find US servicemen with their M4's, M16's, etc. safeties accidentally disengaged because it caught on their gear.
>>28363377
>>28363414
>The primitive Russian mind cannot grasp the concept of using a different hand to operate a weapon.
nice meme
>>28365622
Funny thing is, the spring on the G3 is so fucking stiff, you have to place the stock on your thigh to charge it.
>>28365622
On the L85 there's a bolt release catch on the left. So as long as you're reloading rather than just loading you don't have to touch the bolt at all
That's why I bought a Tavor. You can drop mag, reload mag and charge without taking your finger off the trigger.
>>28363258
because left handed people
>>28368517
The rear sight is only half the system. The rear of the dust cover has a part that wedges into the receiver to keep the rear stable.
How about this thing? Now you can hk slap your ak.
http://www.parabellumarmament.com/RCS.html
