Rakurs is a very modern non-magnified collimating
'red dot' type sight which uses a German Post reticule
instead of the traditional dot. Similar in design to
the PK-AS with an always-on etched reticule, Rakurs is
different than PK-AS or other dot optics in that it
requires no batteries and is tritium illuminated for
low light shooting. The operator has no on/off type
controls to fiddle with and because of that the optic
is always ready for action day or night. Rakurs comes
in three versions, 1P76 marked military version,
Rakurs-PM picatinny mount and what appears to be the
civilian A-1 version which has a handy adjustable
diopter.
Typical for collimated sights, Rakurs has a very
high optical clarity due to the light gathering design
especially when compared to most dot optics - which of
course are just electronically generated dots inside a
tube. Another nice feature of the post reticule is
that it is large enough to be used in CQB but sharp
enough for more precise aiming at longer ranges or
smaller targets, a feature that most dot type optics
don't enjoy. Rakurs is not caliber specific but it can
easily use the 400m
zero principle or even 300m for
7.62 as well.
Due to the similarities between Rakurs and PK-AS I
find it easiest to compare the two together even
though they are not in the same family in terms of
design. I like to think of Rakurs as the successor to
the PK-AS, sort of a friendlier and easier to use
descendant. Rakurs is easier to zero than PK-AS and
IMO is also probably the toughest of all the
collimator sights I've come across. There are no
special sensors, no special mechanical elevation or
windage designs, no on/off switches or bright light
filters, no batteries and no special procedure to zero
or use in the field. Based on my experience with
Russian optics I feel Rakurs is overall the simplest
and easiest to use, a true point and shoot no fuss
optic that really can be used on any caliber AK
including Saiga shotguns.
Rakurs A-1 with adjustable diopter and 1P76 marked
military Rakurs
Reticule view showing daylight German Post and the lowlight tritium view. The scope body is not as pronounced in real life as it is in the photo, especially with both eyes open.
Rakurs and it's closest 'relative', PK-AS
Here you can see Rakurs is larger and sits higher
but is also centered over the bore. Weight is not
significantly higher than PK-AS being 17.1 ounces vs
PK-AS at 15.8 ounces
1P76 on the S12.
At the time of this posting I have 1500 rounds of
mixed high and low brass along with 3" turkey shot
through the Rakurs over the span of 18 months. There
has been no loss of zero and no mechanical issues.
Rakurs makes a great optic for any AK pattern
rifle. Shown here on the AK103
And on the AKSU
Rakurs sits centerline over the bore and a tad
higher than other optics, and it does block the irons
when mounted. (mainly due to the tritium insert as you
can see)
Rakurs-PM designed for picatinny rails, combined here with Russian Gen2-3 night vision monoculars PN16K and PN21K (photo courtesy OK131583). Shown on the NPZ universal AK/SVD side rail mount.
Rakurs-PM on NPZ universal mount above 1P76 marked Rakurs
On the B33 ZenitCo topcover
PM on the incredibly fun 9x19 Scorpion Evo 3 SBR (with AAC Illusion 9)
AKFiles photo from Bacon and Alcohol Distributor, who is like my brother from another optics mother
Rakurs-PM on the Vepr 12, far right
Rakurs in service Chechnya 2008
Rakurs is now called PO 1x20