Parabellum Armament AK Adaptive Rail System (AKARS) Test & Review

Mrgunsngear · November 27, 2012, 04:21 PM

How it works:

Horizontal stability is achieved by the three 'fingers' that go into the rear sight mount (as you can see in the video it's very tight). The factory rear sight is removed but the spring is retained.

Vertical stability is achieved by the top cover being pressed up into the carrier return spring by the rear sight spring, or at least that's how I understand it....

You can move the top cover slightly up and down but it always returns to the same up position due to the spring pressure.

Testing:

I zero'd the TRS 25 on my SGL-31 then ran 90 rounds through it, removing the top cover after each magazine then I fired the test shots and groups (shown in the video) at 50m while removing the top cover and banging on it from a few different angles.
I then moved back to 100m and removed the top cover again and took a few shots at a 10'' steel plate ––-all hits (again shown in the video). After I turned the camera off I continued to fire/remove the cover several more times throughout the day.

Pros:
-Maintained zero throughout testing.
-Fits most AK variants (not Yugo/Serbian variants)
-Easy installation. Hex wrenches were provided and the directions are pretty straight forward.
-The finish on the product is even and generally looks good. It matches the Arsenal paint pretty closely.
-Made in the USA.
-It has a lower 1/3 co-witness with micro dot type red dots.
-The rear sight is integral to the unit so you don't have to purchase a separate one.
-It allows for easy cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo as opposed to gas tube type optics mounts.
-Reasonably priced.

Cons:
-The top cover rubbed against both the Krebs safety used in the review and the factory safety. I have since took a file to the inside of the top cover eliminating the issue but I'd like to see it modified like the Romanian top covers to eliminate this.
-I'd like to see the rear sight moved to the rear of the unit allowing for a longer sight radius.
-When removing the gas tube the lever gets stuck on the 'fingers' of the front of the rail (hard to explain in writing but I demonstrate it in the video and you can see the marks in the photo above).

In the end, none of the cons would stop me from buying another but everything can be improved. The most important thing most of you are likely concerned with is whether it maintains zero and mine certainly does.

Here's the video review so you can see it in action and explained much better than my literary skills allow:

AKARS HD VIDEO REVIEW LINK

spacecoast · November 27, 2012, 05:02 PM

Good review of a pretty cool product. How (much better) does the dot sight function vs. putting it out in front on an Ultimak rail? I always thought it a bit strange to try to aim with the sight that far away from your eye, part of my hesitation to go that route.

Mrgunsngear · November 28, 2012, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Good review of a pretty cool product. How (much better) does the dot sight function vs. putting it out in front on an Ultimak rail? I always thought it a bit strange to try to aim with the sight that far away from your eye, part of my hesitation to go that route.

It's not better at all really; just different. You'll have a wider field of view through the tube if (probably more important if you shoot with one eye closed) but other than that it's not much different. To me the big advantage is being able to clean after shooting corrosive ammo without losing your zero.

Tengu01 · December 1, 2012, 01:50 PM

Nice ! Is the rear sight adjustable for windage also ?

Ridge_Runner_5 · December 1, 2012, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Nice ! Is the rear sight adjustable for windage also ?

I doubt it. It looks like one solid piece. You'd have to drift the front sight.

Mrgunsngear · December 1, 2012, 10:47 PM

Correct.

5.56RifleGuy · December 2, 2012, 12:56 AM

Hey thanks for these reviews. I usually have nothing to say about them, but the have a lot of good information. Keep up the good work.

November 27, 2012, 04:21 PM	#1
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Parabellum Armament AK Adaptive Rail System (AKARS) Test & Review How it works: Horizontal stability is achieved by the three 'fingers' that go into the rear sight mount (as you can see in the video it's very tight). The factory rear sight is removed but the spring is retained. Vertical stability is achieved by the top cover being pressed up into the carrier return spring by the rear sight spring, or at least that's how I understand it.... You can move the top cover slightly up and down but it always returns to the same up position due to the spring pressure. Testing: I zero'd the TRS 25 on my SGL-31 then ran 90 rounds through it, removing the top cover after each magazine then I fired the test shots and groups (shown in the video) at 50m while removing the top cover and banging on it from a few different angles. I then moved back to 100m and removed the top cover again and took a few shots at a 10'' steel plate ––-all hits (again shown in the video). After I turned the camera off I continued to fire/remove the cover several more times throughout the day. Pros: -Maintained zero throughout testing. -Fits most AK variants (not Yugo/Serbian variants) -Easy installation. Hex wrenches were provided and the directions are pretty straight forward. -The finish on the product is even and generally looks good. It matches the Arsenal paint pretty closely. -Made in the USA. -It has a lower 1/3 co-witness with micro dot type red dots. -The rear sight is integral to the unit so you don't have to purchase a separate one. -It allows for easy cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo as opposed to gas tube type optics mounts. -Reasonably priced. Cons: -The top cover rubbed against both the Krebs safety used in the review and the factory safety. I have since took a file to the inside of the top cover eliminating the issue but I'd like to see it modified like the Romanian top covers to eliminate this. -I'd like to see the rear sight moved to the rear of the unit allowing for a longer sight radius. -When removing the gas tube the lever gets stuck on the 'fingers' of the front of the rail (hard to explain in writing but I demonstrate it in the video and you can see the marks in the photo above). In the end, none of the cons would stop me from buying another but everything can be improved. The most important thing most of you are likely concerned with is whether it maintains zero and mine certainly does. Here's the video review so you can see it in action and explained much better than my literary skills allow: AKARS HD VIDEO REVIEW LINK __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel Last edited by Mrgunsngear; November 27, 2012 at 06:19 PM.

December 1, 2012, 01:50 PM	#4
Tengu01 Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 37	Nice ! Is the rear sight adjustable for windage also ? __________________ "He is best who is trained in the severest schools."

December 1, 2012, 10:47 PM	#6
Mrgunsngear Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2011 Location: Carolina Posts: 3,415	Correct. __________________ Mrgunsngear Youtube Channel

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November 27, 2012, 05:02 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Good review of a pretty cool product. How (much better) does the dot sight function vs. putting it out in front on an Ultimak rail? I always thought it a bit strange to try to aim with the sight that far away from your eye, part of my hesitation to go that route.

December 2, 2012, 12:56 AM	#7
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	Hey thanks for these reviews. I usually have nothing to say about them, but the have a lot of good information. Keep up the good work.