Welcome to
RussianOptics.net, a site dedicated to covering
Russian and former Soviet optics for small arms (and
many others).
RussianOptics.net is the result of many years of
collecting 'combloc' optics and evaluating their use
on AK rifles. For me the optic hobby started in 2005
with a PK-AS, a Kobra and an SLR105 in 5.45x39... I've
been intrigued ever since. Each year I've tried to
acquire new optics to train with and see what they
were all about, and eventually I began to review
them on a few popular AK sites. During 2011 some kind
of 'critical mass' with optics was reached and I
decided to put my experiences down on paper so to
speak - and the result is this site.
My primary interest is with modern AK74 and AK100
series optics but we will also cover many of the older
Russian and Soviet designs commonly found in the USA,
as well as an overview of both traditional and modern
mounting solutions. While it will not be possible to
cover every optic ever made or every possible way to
mount them, I will be adding content and information
when possible and I hope this site will continually
evolve for many years to come. I'd like to make this a
valuable reference site and will try to answer some of
the many questions that arise when it comes to AK's
and what kind of optic solutions work for them.
I've also not made an effort to cover every possible
optic...many of the older SVD optics and related night
vision are already well documented on the net, for
example on Dragunov.net.
Content in this area will be mostly picture only
and I encourage you to visit linked sites to get more
detail than I can do here on my site.
I'd to like express special thanks to Tantal of Avtomats In Action, Berg of Dragunov.net, Voron, Miglan-20, LiquidMetal, Forty Creek, AKStuff.com, Eastwave, Bear Optics and Kalinka Optics among others for letting me use pictures and links to their respective sites. The field of Russian optics is much larger than any one person can really tackle and I deeply appreciate the assistance as this site becomes as detailed as it can be.
RussianOptics.net is dedicated to the AK
enthusiast and to anyone who wants to know more about
Russian small arms optics. Thank you for taking the
time to visit, I hope you find the site educational
and informative.
I get asked quite often on what I think the best
optics are for the AK. I hope this helps but remember
it is my preference, not a final head to head
exhaustive analysis. Based on the training classes I
have taken and the trigger time with these optics this
is where I ended up and what I recommend most.
My favorites in order of what I think are the best:
Magnified:
1P78
Kashtan
PO4x17
Browe BTO
or ACOG
TA31GH
PO4x24P2
Collimator:
1P63
Obzor
1P76
Rakurz
Red Dot:
1P87
/ PK120
RS-M ***
Removed as a favorite 2020 ***
Kobra
Side Rail for Western or Combloc Optics:
RS
Regulate
NPZ
and Alpha
Midwest
Industries
I've used a variety of optic combinations over the
years and with the right mount virtually anything is
possible so don't be limited to my list. A big factor
in my choices are ease of use and how difficult they
are to get used to (since a common complaint about
Russian optics is that they are too tall or too offset
compared to Western designs). I'm a fan of magnified
optics and collimators over red dots which is why I
like Obzor and Rakurs so much. Fact is that I don't
care much for red dots if I have a chance to use a
collimator instead.
One nifty exception is the Aimpoint T1 or an
equivalent micro red dot. At 4 ounces the T1 is a
handy little package and one that I like quite a
bit...perfect on the Ultimak
rail or on an AKSU+Stormwerks
combo. I do really like the PK01-VS and PKA Venezuela
but will still choose Obzor over either if possible.
***
Coming Soon (MAR2022):
Optics
testing with passive shooting under NODs
Coming Soon:
ZenitCo
VZOR-1 Red Dot (Has arrived)
Coming Soon:
New
BelOMO optics:
CODM2 (Has arrived)
RS-C
(Has arrived)
RS-H (Not available 5/22)
SCL100-65 (Not available 5/22)
Still Coming Soon (I promise):
NPZ PA1/4 Review (Russian Elcan, 2nd
version)
Also Still Coming Soon:
ZenitCo Perst IR lasers
Coming Soon:
Featured Rifle:
AK105 night fighting rifle
Featured Rifle:
Kalashnikov USA KR-9
Featured Update:
Suppressors
Featured Optic:
1P87 Red Dot
Featured Optic:
NPZ PN22K
Update to Night Vision with NPZ
PN-6K, PN6K-5 and 1PN51
Featured Optic:
NPZ
OVU-1 BoreSighter
Featured Optic:
Featured Optic:
BelOMO
PO 4x17
Review
by Voron
Kashtan Update: New Version 1P78-1P
Featured Optic:
NPZ PSU
1 or 4x (Russian Elcan)
Featured Optic:
Periscope
Red Dots
Featured Optic:
Featured Optic:
"This is an optic that I have been wanting to own for many years but have never seen in the States, as far as I can remember anyway. I've seen a number of interesting photos over the years mostly of it being used by Alpha units and..." read more
Featured Optic:
PK01
Original
Featured Article:
ZenitCo
Tactical Accessory Review
Updated: PT-3 stock
"Truth be told I am not all that into tactical
gear but I think we've all seen pics floating around
of ZenitCo's tactical AK accessories...I've noticed
interest building up on forums over the past year or
so, myself included. I was able to get my hands on a
range of ZenitCo accessories and get some pics.
First impressions are favorable for me... " read
more
Correction to 1P78
Kashtan:
Formerly this was thought to be the RPK74 version
based on information listed on NPZ's own website, but
after discussing the issue with Tantal of Avtomats
In Action it is clear that what we thought was
the RPK version was actually the older, original side
mount.
While otherwise appearing to be identical, the Kashtan
on the right has the older side mount as
shown on NPZ's site above. This was thought to be the
RPK version but is in fact the original mount style
for all Kashtans, not specifically the RPK.
NPZ's website led to the confusion regarding the
supposed RPK version of the Kashtan
New
Optic BelOMO PO4x24P-2 (5.45x39)
"Originally only seen in the US as a prototype Weaver mount optic, there are now AK mount versions arriving. I have to say that PO4x24P has instantly become my favorite BelOMO 5.45 optic. Glass quality is as good as PO 3.5x21P but the unit is much lighter and more..."
Russian
Obzor in Ukrainian Conflict
PK06
Collimator - Kobra Cousin
From Voron of theakforum.net:
"Its been a little while since I came across any new Russian optics that really caught my attention and stood among local competition. Few weeks ago I received a new Belomo optic called "PK-06" for testing and evaluation..."
Featured Review By
Voron
RSRegulate
Modular AK Side Rail
AK74
5.45x39 Quad Stack 50 round magazine
Optic Chart
PK series Red Dot
battery test COMPLETED September 4th 2012
Two optics have reached 3600+ hours, PK-A
Venezuela and PK01-VS,
both BelOMO red dot sights...
1:
Chinese PGO for the RPG rocket launcher
2:
Bulgarian PGO-7
3: NPZ PGO-7
4: PK-23
blinking red dot
5:
PK01-VM
6:
PK01-V
7:
PK01-Vi
8: PK-A
Original
9:
PK-A Venezuela
10:
PK01-VS
11:
1PN58/NSPUM Night Vision
12:
1PN34/NSPU Night Vision
13:
Kobra EKP-8-02 Gen 2
14:
Kobra EKP-1S-03m Gen 1
15:
PK-AS
16: PKS-01
17:
1P76 Rakurs
18:
NIT-A
19:
PK1/1P63 Obzor
20:
PO 3.5x21P2 with NPZ mount
21: PO 3.5x21P
22: PO 3.5x21P Venezuela
23: PO
4x24P
24: PSO-1
from Izhmash
25: PSO-1 from NPZ
26: PSO-1-1 from NPZ
27:
PO 3-9x24
28:
Chinese JJJ PSO type optic for NMD86
29: 1P29
30
1P78 Kashtan
31:
Romanian LPS/TIP2 PSO type optic
32:
POSP 4x24v
33:
POSP 4x24v AA battery model
34: POSP
8x42
35:
Zeiss ZFK 4x25
36:
MP4-20 spotter scope
37: yM8 spotter scope
TX-Zen
