by Rob Kay
Just in time for Christmas, this will make the perfect stocking-stuffer for an AK-aficionado interested in a fire control group upgrade.
Manufactured by ALG (a division of Geissele) it is the company’s first foray into the AK space. For those not familiar with Geissele, this family-owned business out of North Wales, PA makes fantastic triggers for the AR platform. (In fact I w recently reviewed Geissele’s spiffy SSA in a recent story).
With my earlier experience I had big expectations for their AK trigger and I was not disappointed.
Well…let me clarify that statement.
I first became personally acquainted with the AKT trigger at Big 3 East, a firearms journalism event last October in Daytona Beach, Florida. While there I had a chance to try the first incarnation of the trigger.
I liked it but…it had a really light pull. We’re talking in the neighborhood of 2 ½ pounds. Mounted on an Arsenal AK-74, it was fun to shoot but far too light for my liking. I mentioned this to ALG General Manager, Ashley McCarthy who was at the event. She said a lot of folks had similar feedback so ALG responded with an enhanced version of the product that gives users an option to add an additional “auxiliary” spring to the FCG. This essentially adds another pound or so the pull and offers a bit more uptake.
She promised to send me a unit to test and about a month later it arrived.
Fit and finish were beautiful on this single stage trigger, which is machined from triple alloy steel, coated with a Manganese Phosphate finish.
Along with the extra spring, which is mounted on the trigger pin, they also provide an optional replacement for the standard hammer spring. It’s a much better quality spring than what comes stock with most AKs.
The other major difference between this product and the industry standard G2 made by Tapco is the “lightning bow” configuration of the trigger which is less curved.
Installing the unit for most AK users pretty much just involves swapping out the old trigger system for the new.
However, perhaps 25% of the time (according to my buddy, Mr. Gunsngear) you’ll need to add a small roll pin (supplied in the kit) to the trigger so that the safety will function correctly.
Indeed, we needed to add the pin to my Saiga to get the safety working properly. To do this entailed a bit of gunsmithing, an all-too-common pastime in the wonderful world of AKs.
Actually it was not a big deal. All we did was to file down the pin until the safety kept the trigger immovable when in the “safe” position.
The resulting, improved AKT is in my estimation, nothing short of great. There’s a teensy weensy bit of uptake—not quite enough to qualify the trigger as a two-stage–and then a predictable break which is as crisp and clean as any AK trigger I’ve ever squeezed.
In fact the break is much more suggestive of Geissele AR trigger than what you’d typically find on an AK. The pull on the enhanced trigger is about 3.5 lbs. The reset is equally decisive and short.
For anyone interested in a trigger upgrade, go no further than the ALG AKT. The price on this baby is under $50 which is really a bargain considering the quality.
A very sweet deal on what may very well be the best AK trigger on the market.
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Fix It Stick
If you’re like me (and everyone else I know) you’re forever making adjustments on your firearm while at the range. Whether it’s tightening up a loose screw on a mount or tweaking your front sight, maintenance is a constant. Havimg the right tools on hand can make the difference between throwing in the towel prematurely or enjoying a full day of shooting.
That’s where Fix It Sticks shine. Best described as a variation on the multi-tool, it consists of a T-bar with a set of 16 different bits, a 25 and 65 lb torque limiter, a 1/2″ Socket and 1/4″ bit adapter set and, a pair of replaceable Fix It Sticks. All of the items easily fit in a zip-up pouch that you can slip on your waist belt or stuff in a bag.
The first incarnation of this product was actually made for bicyclists and it went over like gang-busters. The editions for gun enthusiasts are brand new.
According to the website, the Fix It Sticks were the brainchild of Brian Davis, a cyclist who was frustrated with the multi-tools he carried in his pocket. He experimented with different devices but found they all had the same problems — compact tools provided no leverage, and tools that gave you leverage were not compact enough. He came up with the “T-bar” solution, and I must say, it’s pretty nifty.
There are several advantages to this system. First off, they are incredibly easy to store–hence it’s not an exaggeration to call it a stocking stuffer! Secondly they are ergonomic. The T-shape feels quite comfortable and easy to manipulate. What’s more, they work very well and are high quality tools.
If you’re someplace remote and need to tighten down your scope or what have you, this is a killer app. There are three different options of kits all priced the same but with different torque limiters.
Price is $112.
Robert F. Kay is the author of How to Buy an AK-47 which is available on Amazon. Read more of his articles at OnTargetHawaii.com.
Photos courtesy of On Target staff.
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