First Target Shooting With The IO AK47-C

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After just "fun" shooting in the woods with the IO AK47-C, it was time to do some target shooting to see how well I can shoot with the rifle. As indicated before, I am not the best target shooter. Many can do better. My target gives me a real world example of what the rifle can do in MY hands.

I installed the UTG rail system and added a vertical grip. I like the handling of a tactical rifle with a vertical grip. I also wanted to give the Tapco polymer magazine a good workout. I am still not convinced about the use of plastic in a rifle magazine.

I went to an Shooters Express. They have an indoor range that allows rifles. You can't use the surplus or "Wolf" ammo. They use steel jackets. You must use the more expensive ammo that you buy at places like Wally World. Basically, if a magnet sticks to it, you can't use it! I had some Winchester "White Box" ammo that was fine for this indoor range.

I modified my pistol target for an AK47 or SKS rifle. Basically, I got the ballistics data from Remington's "Shoot" program and used it to modify a target to let you sight it in at 25-yards and have the bullet be dead on at 50 and 100-yards. I mounted my target and sent it down range to the 25-yard mark. I then loaded 10-rounds in the magazine. Here are the results:

I am happy with the grouping. The gray dot just below the bull's eye is where the bullets should be striking to be dead on at 50 and 100-yards. On an AK47 and SKS rifle, all adjustments for windage and elevation are done on the front sight. The rear sight is adjustable for distance only. It takes a special tool to adjust the front sight. I didn't have one on this day, but I have one on order. I will return to adjust the sights on another day. Until then, this is sufficient. When I do a final adjustment, I will post the results.

Dressing Up The AK47-C

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When I first received my IO AK47-C rifle, I was a little disappointed. The Thermold polymer magazine that came with the rifle was crap. It wouldn't even stay in the magazine well. That being said, it turned out to be a good thing!

You never know what kind of customer service a firearms manufacturer is until you have a problem. IO Inc. came through with flying colors. I called them and explained about the crappy magazine and they rushed me out a brand new METAL magazine. It fit like a glove and really looks great. I guess I am a metal-head when it comes to magazines.

Now that I have decent magazines it's time to turn to the rifle itself. The handguard that came on the AK47-C was functional and nice looking, but it was a bit bulky. I also wanted options for accessories like optics, flashlights, lasers, and vertical handgrips. This means I need rails.

I found a fantastic handguard/rail system for the AK-47. The UTG 478 AK Quad Rail System by Leapers is a very reasonable priced and functional addition to my AK. The installation is simple and can be performed with minimal tools. After installing the UTG 478, I added a vertical handgrip. The UTG vertical handgrip was a good choice. I have some pictures of the rifle after the installation. Here is Warren displaying the rifle:

We took the rifle for a test drive. We loaded up four 30-round magazines and headed to our favorite shooting spot. We used the metal and the Tapco polymer magazine. The Tapco functioned perfectly, but I am still gravitating towards metal magazines. I love the vertical handgrip. It helps me put the sights on target quicker and helps stabilize the muzzle end for more accurate shots. I don't have optics yet, but when I do, I will just mount it on the rail above the gas tube. The new UTG handguard seems very stable.