New AK-P owner questions

PSA Products AK-P
1

I picked up my first AK gun recently, an AK-P. I took it to the range and had a great time with it. I’m looking to make some upgrades, and hoping to get some feedback

  1. My AK-P came with the “mini krink” brake. I don’t like it, but my understanding is it provides necessary blowback pressure to reliably cycle the action. A quick search online and I see the Bulgarian “4 piece” flash can has the same threading and seems popular. Palmetto offers a single piece flash can that looks similar, for a fraction of the price. So my question is: is the Palmetto flash can functionally the same as the 4 piece designs, and does the Palmetto device provide the blowback pressure needed for an AK pistol? Or are these flash cans just for looks and reducing flash? Is the mini krink functionally better or worse?

  2. I see there are some extended safety levers offered, to keep the bolt held open. This seems useful for the range. Is this an easy upgrade, and does it work well with the AK-P?

  3. the iron sights leave something to be desired. My AK-P has a rail. What kind of optic or combination of optic and iron sights do people commonly use? I’m considering a reflex sight in addition to upgrading the iron sights, and co-witnessing. What height optic is needed to co-witness with the iron sight? It seems low, so would I need a mini red dot? Also, are the palmetto rear sight leaf and front sight post “standard” components I can easily replace with aftermarket AK rear sight and front post?

2

As for 2), yes, changing safety levers is stupid simple. The psa blog has videos:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/blog/category/Ak.html

As for 3), i would use a low mount pistol red dot. I use one on my AR-V. I use a RDS on my 104 which also has a railed dust cover but it does not cowitness.

3

Thanks for the reply! do people not commonly co-witness on AKs? how do red dots hold zero on the railed dust covers?

4

Mine has held zero just fine. Cowitness happens easiest on a railed gas tube, but honestly depends on the optic and mount. But the reality is AK’s, unlike ARs, were never designed to have a long sight picture.