Magpul Zhukov Stock and MOE Hand-guards – things you have to know about these before purchasing!
Next stop for these: FARM!
So what you think guys, is “plastic” really that fantastic? Is Magpul design appealing to you?
Support Union! Shop for AK accessories from our Union Store!
According to Magpul, the Zhukov-S extended hand guard weighs 14.9 oz. The cleaning rod weighs 1.85oz according to my scale and I’m guessing the hand guard retainer weighs about 2oz as well (have not yet cut mine off). The stock hand guards are roughly 6oz, so the net gain is about 5oz give or take. The Krebs fore end is 12.6oz and to my knowledge is the lightest full length hand guard on the market, but 2.3oz mid length isn’t a huge difference in weight and I doubt it would be discernible to any of us (maybe at the muzzle it would). The kebs unit runs $250 and also requires removal of the original hand guard retaining collar. Most other metal rails that weigh in the 12oz range are not as long so grip positions are more limited and they don’t manage heat as well. This looks like a very good solution, especially given the cost. What do you think about areas it could be lightened up? Looks to me like the “heat shield” could be reduced in weight by drilling holes throughout without dramatically affecting its strength. It will be interesting to see how well these hold up.
Yes, you are correct, most of the weight gain comes from the heat shield, it is very beefy…i think they they did this to better protect polymer from heat…drilling holes would be an interesting solution…i think you can even get away with slots if you have small machine to do this…
I have access to a hand mill at work, I may do some milling before installation to see how much I can take off. Usually the biggest issue with heat is not so much radiated, but conducted heat. The metal rails become unusably hot because the rails conduct heat to the operators hand, aluminum is an excellent thermal conductor and the rails have a fair amount of thermal mass, so once they heat up they stay hot for a while. Polymers are very poor thermal conductors, so the “heat shield” I have my doubts about how well it actually shields, I would suggest that magpul’s thermal performance claims of 5 magazines straight with 1 round per second are achieved largely because the polymer does not conduct heat to operators hand much like the stock hand guards. The same milled slots we see in the Krebs rails should be doable with the Magpul without compromising its integrity. I’ll be the weight of the rail could be reduced a good 30% to 40% and the entire system could be brought down to even with the Krebs possibly even less!
Rob, can you weigh the “heat shield” by itself and tell me how much it weighs compared to the rest of the fore end? Magpul claims the entire fore end is 14.9oz. Krebs has the lightest full length hand guard at 12.6oz, but it’s pricey and polymer will take about as much abuse as a 6061 if not more which is much softer than 7075. The Krebs and all the other hand guards are 6061 so for the cost being half (can then buy the butt stock), if I can get the weight comparable that would be and excellent solution.
Heat shield is 7.1 oz
Wow, thats almost 50% of the hand guards weight. A 40% weight reduction of the mount / heat shield would bring the entire thing down to about 12.1 oz total, which is even less than the krebs at 12.6. As soon as my zhukov handguard arrives, its drill time!
After putting some rounds down rage with my Zhukov handguard installed, I believe the aluminum heat sheild actually makes this handguard hotter! The aluminum mounting block/heat sheild acts as a full length heat sink that gets very hot, then transfers that heat right to the plastic, the full length of the handguard. Because of the thickness of the aluminum used in the mounting block/heat sheild, it also takes a loooong time to cool down. I wonder if the front 6″ of the mounting block are really necessary to be there. Heat would dissipate better with a lighter, or more ventilated mounting block I believe.
Interesting. I didn’t play much with Zhukov yet…
Will the longer magpul hand guard fit a milled sam7R ?
Please check with magpul if they try to do this…
Hey Rob, any chance of close ups on the attachment method, both on and off the gun? I’m wanting to try the short hand guard on my AMD65 and was wondering if it will fit without too much, or no modifying.
Thanks,
Sure. I will email you pics.
I’ve got no issues with plastic. It’s more than proven itself in all forms of firearms accessories and furniture from the first Glock to the latest Magpul AK furniture item. There’s no question of it’s toughness. I’d even wager that this zhukov handguard protects against heat better than native wood furniture or even your typical zastava polymer handguard. The only non-fantastic part of plastic furniture is its appearance, and I for one appreciate most magpul plastics in appearance. I’d wager that the CTR stock is probably the most prolific stock used in the last decade. For my AK, I will stick with the MOE stock and handguard, for weight of course. I’ve never needed or desired a folding AK stock.
Actually, I’m not going with the magpul stock but the minimalist stock. Though between the zhukov and moe, I’d prefer the moe. Question for Robski, does that zhukov or the MOE stock come with a basic cheek piece or do you have to order a separate one?
You have to order cheek piece…it is extra piece…
Is there any way to make the extra long extended zhukov handguard fit a dad gave npap rifle?
Dremel tool and some time to kill and i think someone is going to make it…
Hey guys still really liking this c39v2 which handguard works the moe or the one with the cutout gonna pick one up soon
You don’t need cutout version on short rail for C39V2. It will work.
Thanks Rob your advice on the AK is the best by the way I got a mission first tactical stock it works really well check one out if you haven’t already
Lol, i agree, that’s why we have it in the store: http://shop.akoperatorsunionlocal4774.com/BMS-Minimalist-Stock-Mission-First-Tactical-Stock.htm
Lol yeah I like the minimal stock but I got the mbus the one with storage and a real good thick recoil pad I was wondering when yall are gonna have the zenit muzzle for 14mm left hand all I see is 24mm right hand and thanks again for the help on that phantom muzzle brake Rob
Rob-Ski
Zhukov stock folding mechanism… How long term durable do you think it is? Also how good is lockup of stock to the rifle? For me I am deciding between Zhukov and Canis adapter. My main concern is durability. Thanks
Canis is more solid than Magpul. Metal > polymer…
I need some help. I bought a DDI stamped Ak 47 with the MOE handguard which I am supposed to be able to mount hardware on using the MOE system right? Well, when I took the gun apart it became clear that I cant mount anything because the handguard’s heat shield is in the way! What am I doing wrong here? Or is this a design flaw. Help me out Rob Ski! Thanks a lot. Your videos are the best.
MOE is using Mlok system. Rails and accessories with Mlok will install on it.
Will the zhukov forend fit a vepr in 5.56? Thanks
It will but with mods. You have to make clamps bigger because of the barrel diameter.
Hey Rob Ski, first of i want to thank you for all your videos. Extremely helpful for alll those first time ak owners like myself. Im currently looking for a hand guard heat shield but cannot decide which one to buy.. what do you recommend. I Own a wasr 10
Thanks Rob,
Just get one from Kvar with built in heat shield. There isnt much what you can do about heat…other than use magazine grip…:-)
Just an FYI I discovered today:. Arsenal folding stock will not lock in place with MOE handguard without a little dremel action.
That is correct, we talked about last year. But little dremel action is all it takes…lol
I have a polish parts kit ak, I was thinking about getting the Zhukov hand guard for it. Is it worth cutting the metal piece out to install or keep the small moe?
Keep the small MOE. That’s my honest opinion.
Shaw
You need to remove the heat shield from the moe hand guard to install the mlok rails.
Hi Rob,
Have you heard of or tried out the Bonesteel Galil folding stock? Wasn’t too impressed with the Zhukov stock as it stopped locking up tight. Switched over to the Bonesteel, which is overall much better built and considerably more rugged.
Thanks, Wes.