PO 3.5x17P is a modern
optic produced by BelOMO -- Belorusskoe
Optiko-Mechanichesckoye Obyedinenie (Belarus Optical
& Mechanical Enterprise) in Minsk, Belarus. This
is a new optic that has only recently made its way
into the US. At the time of this writing (Jan 2014) I
believe there are only a few prototype/sample units in
the US but there are rumored to be more coming.
First impressions are good and it looks like a well
built optic. Though it is 3.5x and appears to be a
similar size, it is not related to the PU sniper scope
originally made in WW2. The PO3.5 is a one inch tube
compared to the 26.5mm of the PU so mounts will not
fit without shims of some form. Also while looking
similar to the PO4x17, the PO3.5 does not use the body
of the PK01-VS series and has a different finish on
it. Optical quality is good but naturally field of
view is not as dramatic as PO3.5x21P.
As you can see from the pictures
the included mount has a place for laser pointer. I am
not terribly impressed with the factory mount and I
get the impression it's probably intended to be
replaced once received by the end user. I've ordered
Molot low rings to try out on this optic, when
combined with the Alpha rail this should allow the
irons to be used while the optic is mounted. The NPZ
rail is slightly off center to the left and makes
using the irons tricky, but the Alpha is true over the
center and facilitates irons assuming the optic mount
does not block the view (as it does with the factory
PO3.5x17P mount)
On the RPK74M. This is a light and handy optic well
suited for this application.
