Enhanced Hand-Stop/Finger-Stop for AK

[iznthesky]

Unlike AR’s…where adding accessories is modular…simply screwing it onto a M-Loc or a 1913 rail……. The AK requires a little more creativity. The more I shoot my AK…the more I miss some of the niceties from my ARs. One of the things I miss is the “Finger Stop”.
I recently ordered some VZ- Grip clearance items and one of the items I ordered was a “Hand-Stop / Finger-Stop. I figured if my experiment didn’t work out…it wouldn’t be a great loss of $.
The Finger-Stop is of course designed to go on a flat Mloc rail…so there’s that……I had to cut the base to fit the AK round hand guard.

Then drill an additional screw hole in the rear side of the finger stop.

Countersink the holes so that the screws do not protrude the grip surface.

Next, select the spot on your hand guard where you want your hand to grip……more importantly….where you DON’T want your fingers on the HOT parts holding the hand guard. Then use masking tape and mask off the area where you want the Stop mounted. (Double check this….as we are going to epoxy this on…and a re-do could be ugly). No going back ……now using a small file and an awl, scratch up the surface where the Stop is going. This scratched area gives the epoxy a texture to hold on to. Mix up your favorite epoxy compound and apply an even coat of it in the masked area. Now press the Stop squarely into the area you marked off. You now have a couple of moments to examine the placement of it and gently shift it slightly to ensure that it is straight and plumb. Examine it from different angles….letting your eye be the judge to it’s correct placement.

Remove the masking tape and using a plastic card or your finger nail inspect your job and scrape any excess epoxy off that the masking tape to did not stop. The epoxy will be like rubber at this stage ……get it now….cause in a couple of minutes it will be like a rock.

After about 10 minutes the epoxy will be hard enough and you can re-drill the same holes……this time you will be drilling through the hand guard.
Install your hardware, and tighten the screws down.
I had to re-Epoxy my heat shield to the inside of my hand guard.

Re-Assemble everything and let the epoxy cure overnight.
Now…good times !

AK hand guards are usually slick….and they rely on you holding on to it “tightly”.
The Finger-Stop enables me to :

1. grip the AK less tightly….AND…I am able to pull the gun back into the “Pocket” of my shoulder….with less grip effort.
   

   

2. Places my hand in the same place consistently.

3. AK hand guards are small….and everything in front of…&…behind the hand guard get HOT ! Hot enough to burn you. Most guys running an AK wear gloves.
   The Finger stop indexes your grip to the correct location……EVERY TIME…keeping your hand from sliding back or forward.

4. When your carrying your gun (one handed) holding it vertically….again it requires less grip tension on your hand.
   

   

Less grip tension on you equals less fatigue……more enjoyable shooting experience.
More control….is SAFE and Accurate……and most of all this is supposed to be FUN !

[GuitarGuy]

Nice modification!

[rockymountainjeep]

That looks great

[xerts1191]

Very informative

[iznthesky]

I This is “Average-Guy” gun smithing. Just some epoxy, hand tools and your eyeballs

[Joshlovesguns]

Great write up!

[GamecockOperator]

Very nicely done. Looks like it came that way almost.
quick side question,
ist that the tailhook brace you have on that ak? if so how do you like it? im looking at getting it for an MP40 project im working on soon.

[iznthesky]

Yes it’s a GearWorks Tail Hook. I have had several different models of the arm brace on some different AR’s……including the folding triangle brace that came on the PSA-AK-104 and by FAR….The TailHook arm brace is the best one I have used. It is a precision made arm brace…it’s fit is perfect…no shifting positions…no bending…no noise and unlike other braces that are uncomfortable to actually use as a brace….this one works brilliantly. Yes…I would certainly pay the extra $ to get another one……when my next Pistol project comes along. 5 stars.

[GamecockOperator]

@iznthesky

5 stars

thanks for the info. this is great to hear. is yours the newer compact model? That’s the one im looking at getting. I was hoping to keep the amount invested down so that i would have less invested in the pistol brace of it than i wwould have if i had bought the actual underfolder stock setup that came on them / is available for them. However its looking like i’ll have more invested in the pistol brace setup than i would in the stock setup, save for the fact i wouldnt have to buy a tax stamp because it’d be a SBR then. That’s perhaps the saving grace on this project. Either way, I spent more than anticipated already, so as they say, in for a penny in for a pound. lol. anyways thanks again for the quick review, i appreciate it a lot, and it reassures me that buying the brace is a good thing to do, and i wont regret it in the long run.

[iznthesky]

Today I was at my LGS looking at the Tail Hook Mod-2. It is made just as good as the original Mod-1….which I have. I have Not seen the Mod-1C (Compact)….but it looks exactly like the Mod-1….only more compact.
They are expensive……but they are WELL made….and worth the extra $ $ you invest in it. My AR’s with SB tactical on buffer tubes are……”just Okay”……But when I was reloading my AK-104, I would put the the folding triangle brace under my arm….and I didn’t like the way my SB tactical brace flexed and wiggled around. That TailHook is “Rigid” brace. You are going to like it more than the other pistol braces you use. Fact is that most people don’t recognize it as pistol brace……it’s so nice and integral…most people think it’s a stock.

Post some pics of your build……I can always use some ideas for a new build.

[GamecockOperator]

thanks. I will post some photos of it as i go along…

i was planning on getting the Tail Hook Mod-1C. I’ve not seen the Mod-2 at all.

I really love my SBa3’s so if its that much better, i may be in trouble. lol