AK-105 Sport Carbine Builds and Their Weight

Why Upgrade the Stock Configuration?

The AK-105-pattern platform in its factory form offers no rail surfaces on either the handguard or the receiver cover. For sport shooting applications — where mounting a red-dot or other optic is essential — the stock setup is simply not enough. Zenitco accessories solve this by adding mounting points for sighting devices and improving overall ergonomics.

An optic can be positioned above the receiver, above the rear sight, above the gas tube, or at a 45-degree angle on the handguard. The two most popular paths to achieve this are the B-13 dovetail bracket and the B-33 receiver cover.

Build 1 — B-13 Dovetail Bracket

The B-13 is the most straightforward and budget-friendly upgrade option. It mounts via the side dovetail and provides a stable optic platform. An added benefit: when used together with the PT-1 stock, the stock will fold with positive locking — a useful feature for compact storage and transport.

Build 2 — B-33 Receiver Cover + Short Handguard

The B-33 receiver cover is considered the optimal solution for optics mounting. It delivers excellent point-of-impact retention — Zenitco has published video confirmation of this on their channel. Important: the B-33 requires a handguard replacement, as the handguard acts as the structural base for the cover.

Compatible handguards for the AK-105 with B-33 include:

Short handguards: B-10M (Picatinny on three sides), B-10U (Basis on the sides, Picatinny on the bottom), B-10L (lightweight), B-10LS (Basis on three sides, reinforced lower Basis).
Long handguards: B-30 (Picatinny on three sides), B-30U (Basis on the sides with mini Picatinny on the right, Picatinny on the bottom).
Kits: Sport-1 and Sport-1S (lowered Picatinny on top, Basis on the remaining sides; Sport-1S adds reinforced lower Basis).

All of these handguards are CNC-machined from aviation-grade aluminum and are pressed into the receiver with a mallet for an extremely rigid, reliable foundation.

For this article, Zenitco used the B-10LS handguard (weight: 101 g). If you want to reduce weight further, the B-10L is lighter than both the B-10LS and the stock handguard.

Adding the B-19N gas tube rail bracket brings the weight to 3,286 g. Short handguards (B-10L, B-10LS, B-10U, B-10M) can be used either with the stock gas tube cover or with a B-19 bracket. The B-19N features a lowered Picatinny rail above the gas tube, while the standard B-19 provides a full-height Picatinny rail.

With B-10LS + B-19N + B-33 installed, total weight reaches 3,374 g. Adding the Vzor-3TK red-dot sight (including battery and lens caps) brings the total to 3,522 g.

Weight Comparison: B-13 vs. B-33 Build

Short vs. Long Handguard

Short handguards are often chosen when minimizing weight is the priority. Long handguards — such as the B-30 and B-30U — offer a longer grip area and more attachment points for accessories, making them the preferred choice when accessory capacity matters more than weight savings.