when i've built AK's with a dove tail, i prefer to properly install rivets (with a press and bucking bar) then spot weld and dress down from the interior. it's clean, secure, and repeatable with a little alignment and welding jig i made for the purpose.
Sounds like the right way to do it, I'm definitely setting up a jig if I have to do it again so it's no longer such a pain in the ass.
That whole project was somewhat difficult and some would say unnecessary. Mostly because it was on an SKS rather than an AK and the rail turned out to be crappier than expected. It was the
Belorussian Russian ("Est Prime" brand one) from Kalinka, their narrow rail. Screws were thrown out right away, we replaced them with rivets, added some pins for the two smaller holes, attached everything and spot-welded the rivets and pins. Turns out that wasn't enough.
Fun part came later at the range when the SKS recoil impulse managed to somehow break the connection between the rail and the rivets holding the rail in place. No idea how it happened, everyone was mystified. Pins still kept it lined up, but it developed a side wobble making it impossible to use. After that the rail ended up welded straight to the receiver on both sides, it's one solid chunk now and no issues since. Yes yes, welding shit like that straight to the receiver is usually bad practice, but had no options left and the SKS has enough meat on the receiver.
Lesson is, don't buy side rails from mystery steel. Still, it ended up being a decent setup and much better than any other scoped SKS I've seen. Keeps zero well, the scope is centered when used with the proper Molot mount, none of that offset scope business.
Edit:
What exactly about it looks bad? Sure it doesn't have the same connectivity that the Zenitco dust cover has with Zenitco handguards (neither does TWS) but it doesn't appear to my eye to be any worse than the TWS dust cover.
I think I was sperging out about these some time ago in here. The main issue is indeed the lack of connectivity due to it having only one solid attachment point (by the rear sight), the concern is that the dust cover rail won't be able to maintain zero as every shot will cause it to move around somewhat. With a magnified optic it will be a significant enough amount of movement to knock you off target, and the effect will be more pronounced with heavier optics like thermals or night vision.
You want your optic to be mounted to something that is solidly attached to the barrel/receiver assembly so it has no play whatsoever. That's why I'm not entirely sold on the gas tube rail concept but I haven't had much hands-on time with those so I can't say for sure.
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