Red Dot or Holographic Sight Recommendations for WASR-10?

[SKILCZ]

I need some sort of optic on my WASR-10, and I can't afford much at the moment due to the economy. Eventually, I plan on buying a higher end optic, but for now, I'm looking at the inexpensive but functional category.

Anyone have any suggestions? I've read mixed reviews of BSA red dots. I've seen numerous clones of Eotech holographic sights and Aimpoint red dot sights, but I don't know anyone who has one of the clones and can vouch for it.

Help!

 

[sharkhunter2018]

I can't say much for lower end optics or clones or high ends like Aimpoint or Eotech since I've never dealt with them first hand.

How do you plan on mounting an optic? Side mount? Scout mount?

 

[Bill_Rights]

SKILCZ,

It contains more than you want to know, at this point, but we just went through a major thread on reflex sights, which includes both reflective and holographic types: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=439899&highlight=reflex. The major point was that non-reticle types can give fuzzy aiming dots, which is probably due to some kind of retinal "flare", while reticle types give cleaner looking dots (or triangles or whatever-you-want shape). The last posting has a link to an especially good background article, apparently by Oleg Volk: http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5499179&postcount=52. Based on that, I think all holographic types are, effectively, reticle types. Volk also discusses the tube-type versus the "heads-up" or compact type reflex sights. Which do you prefer?

To your question. There are any number of Chinese-made reflex sights are available new for $40. On the THR Trading Post/Accessories, there are some knock-off Aimpoints for ~ $80. Some good usage reports.

The ~$200 Burris Fastfire compact type is what I have experience with, and I don't like it due to too bright dot and no reticle (fuzziness of dot). Other people love 'em and use them all the time. Maybe I just got a bad one.

My point: If I don't like the full-priced Burris, I am probably not going to like any of its knock-offs. There are lots of different variations and choices. You could get a good knock-off (i.e., does everything just as well as the full-priced original) and still not like it. But if you sort out what you like about the various choices within the full-priced originals, and you get a decent copy, you'll probably be happy. I don't know how to tell you to sort out what you like about the various choices within the full-priced originals. That's the problem.

But you came to the right place. If THR can't do it, can't nobody can.

 

[AK103K]

I've gone through a number of the "cheaper" dot sights (they werent all that cheap either) and finally gave up on them. Bushnell, Tasco, BSA, all failed to hold up to even moderate use. I didnt use the Hako long enough to really find out, as the "heads up" type sight just wasnt working out for me.

I switched to Aimpoint and never looked back. Yes, they are about three times or more (in some cases, much more) the cost, but then again, they continue to work, after a number of years of fairly constant use now. Another big thing with them is the battery life. The shortest lived is over a year of 24/7 on, the longest, around 9 years. I dont even bother to turn them off anymore.

The other piece of gear you want is the Ultimak rail that replaces the upper handguard. Its well made and is the lowest mount your going to find. Using an Aimpoint on a low ring, it will allow you to cowitness your iron sights through the tube of the dot sight. Set up this way, the rifle shoulders and shoots naturally like it does with the iron sights. With the sight up front, its out of the way of handling and your field of view, and also allows for easy cleaning.

You just have to make the decision now whether you spend the money now and get what you need right off, or work your way through the cheap stuff and spend your money on stuff that doesnt perform and hold up, and the extra ammo needed to keep zeroing and rezeroing. If I'd have gone with the Aimpoints right off, I'd have saved enough money to have bought a couple of more of them. Only a rich man can afford cheap stuff.

 

[RP88]

check out C-More for an optic. It has a nice profile and I havent heard anything necessarily bad about it.

Another option would be the Russian tantal/Kobra dot-and-mount - it is the optic that the Russian specforces use, to my knowledge. It can be had with the mount for around 200 bucks total. Nothing like using a Russian optic on a Russian gun. (yea, WASRs are Romanian. You know what I meant.)

 

[Avenger29]

Don't buy a clone. The battery life is horrendous. Save the money you would spend on a clone and put it to a genuine Aimpoint.

If you look around, you can find a used Aimpoint of an older generation for not too much coin. No, it won't be the latest and won't have the battery life of the newest Aimpoints, but it will at least be reliable. Check around your local shops. I picked up an Aimpoint 5000 in good shape for $100.

If you are sticking the optic out on an Ultimak rail over the gas tube, you want an Aimpoint because it handles the heat better than the Eotech. And as previously pointed out, the battery life on Aimpoints is awesome.

Saving for the optics is worth it. Trust me, I'm a po' boy myself, and it is hard, very hard, to resist the temptation to buy a cheap reddot while "saving up for the quality one".

 

[jackdanson]

See if you can get your hands on a russian kobra, they will run you about $200 but they are sturdy, made for the AK, and work quite well.

With a limitless budget I'd recommend an aimpoint/ultimak, but the kobras are nice too.

If you want to pay less than the kobra just wait. You won't be able to find anything worthwhile for cheaper. Even if you got a decent optic for $100 (which is iffy) you wouldn't have a stable way to mount it.

I say Kobra!