While there were some reports that PK01-VS entered serial production and was in service in Libya and then Syria, there are still no accounts of PO 4x17 in service that I know of yet. However, because of the way BelOMO markets optics these would not be in the US right now if a military contract had not been fulfilled somewhere. Normally only a few prototypes float around until a military contract is procured so when you see them for sale in the usual outlets it likely means they are in serial production on a large scale.
This is basically a magnified version of the PK01-VS optic, and PO 4x17 every bit as good as its red dot counterpart. Fit and finish for both is the same as are the windage and elevation controls, battery compartment and variable power illumination. The optic is illuminated (red) with 8 intensity settings and runs on a single AA battery. It appears to be way too bright on setting 1 for NV optics however. The scope I have is calibrated for 5.45x39
PO 4x17 avoids a common complaint of Combloc optics...namely that they are too tall and/or too heavy. With this fantastic little weaver package mounted to a top rail cover you have the ability now to get an optic about as low as practically possible on an AK, and with a good side mount like RS Regulate you will save weight too. By itself PO 4x17 weighs 15 ounces with battery, and on the RS mount weight is 18 ounces. You will be very hard pressed to find a lighter and lower over bore optic. By comparison PK01-VS weighs 14.4 ounces
Hands down this should be a must have for any
AK74 owner who wants an authentic and very functional
magnified optic. In all my years of writing about
combloc optics I have not seen anything with the total
number of advantages of PO 4x17 and it has immediately
jumped into my top 3 list of best magnified optics to
own. When zeroed properly this has the 400m zero built
in and has appropriate BDC for 5.45x39
I have been wanting this optic
to come in forever and am thrilled to see it here at
last.
Update March 2017: Voron
Review - exclusively for RussianOptics.net
Shown here on the RS
Regulate mount with a POSP modified eye piece,
objective sunshade removed and no rubber lens cover.
Height over dust cover to center of ocular is 1.25
inches and combined weight with battery is 18 ounces
On the AK74M with RS Regulate
mount. You can move the PO forward or backward on the
RS mount to adapt to your personal preference
With factory rubber eyepiece, sunshade and rubber
lens cover
Shown here on the ZenitCO
B33 topcover. I do not think there is any
possible way to mount a magnified optic lower than
this combination. My PO will be pulling duty on the
SGL31-94
Height over mount is .75 inches
Shown here with PT-3 ZenitCo
stock
As it comes out of
the scope pouch with sunshade objective extension,
objective cover and modern rubber eye piece.
Personally I do not care for the factory included
eyepiece and so cut down a POSP eyepiece to replace
it, as well as removing the rubber objective lens
cover and sunshade.
On the AK105 with NPZ side rail
Factory photo from BelOMO.
Note the turret cap that does not exist on the
production model
Calibrated for 5.45x39 and includes the standard range finder as well as a width based range finder. The optic is zeroed POA = POI with the boresight cross at 100m, the next line is 200m and the 3rd small line on the boresight cross (just above the main chevron) is 300m. Then you use the large chevron at 400m, the next mark under the chevron is 500m and the next hash is 600m (first hash under the chevron) and then the range marks are listed 7, 8, 9 and 10 for 700-1000m
With this reticule pattern you can accurately aim from 100m to 1000m with a dedicated range line for each 100m
In 2022 AKFiles.net member
Lemonysword acquired a PO 4x17 with 5.56x45
calibration. You can see the reticule pattern is
different than 5.45 but should be effective. I prefer
the chevron and 100m boresight cross but this reticule
will be more in line with what Western optics
typically look like
PK01-VS red dot optics share a
similar body
