Russian scopes?

[DMK]

Are the short 3x Russian scopes that Centerfire is selling any good?

I need a low power, shorty scope and I'm thinking of getting one. I've heard that Russian optics are pretty good and the price isn't to bad.

 

[Steve F]

Not sure of the model you are speaking of,but if it is a Vomz(sp?),I have a 4x that is a fantastic scope,really happy with it

 

[DMK]

Thanks for the comment.

I just found it at www.kalinkaoptics.com. It's apparently a "PO 3.5x17P Moison-Nagant PU-type Rifle Weapon Scope"

 

[Oleg Volk]

Looked at it at a show.

Pluses:
short
clear optics
illuminated reticle

Minuses:
reticle not very prominent for CQB
reticle apparently installed upside-down in the sample I saw

Unknown:
durability
eye relief
method of zeroing: the original PU shifted the reticle so that it would end up grossly off-center in some cases

Does anyone have field experience with those? How much do they cost on-line? Do they come with rings?

 

[fal308]

Oleg
I've checked out pricing on several Russian optics and the best pricing I've found is generally at www.kalinkaoptics.com

 

[DMK]

More Details from Kalinka Optics

Description and technical information:

PO 3.5x17PS w/ Illuminated Reticle Moison-Nagant PU Type Short Tube Automatic Weapon Rifle Scope. The PO 3.5x17P is an ultra compact optical sight designed to engage short to medium range targets with fully automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles. This special 'S' version comes with a built-in illuminated reticle for great shooting even in dusk conditions. It is fully sealed against dust and water, purged with nitrogen and ready for use in the most extreme environmental conditions. This handy scope comes with a duplex reticule and is a standard 1" tube so it will fit regular mounting rings. It is specially designed for automatic weapons and is heartily recommended for the AR-15/M16 (especially on the carry handle), AK-74 rifles, SVD sniper rifles and especially for the SKS as it will sit forward of the shell ejection so you don’t need a deflector. It is very silmiliar in both size and apearance to the old PU type scopes for Moison-Nagant rifles. It is a great scope for all of these rifles. The scope comes with windage and elevation covers, rubber objective caps, a handy sun shade and a sharp camoflauge carrying case.


Magnification 3.5x
Field of view 5o
Input lens diameter 17.5 mm
Exit pupil diameter 5 mm
Eye Relief/Pupil exit distance 51 mm (that's approx. 2")
Click value 1/4 MOA
Illuminated Reticle Built-in
Operating temperature -50 to +50oC
Overall dimensions 140x64x45 mm
Weight .15 kg

Our price: $129.97

There doesn't appear to be any focus adj. on this scope

Looks like a crosshair type reticle, not like the WWII PU:

Windage adj. on top, Elev adj. is on left side.

 

[cratz2]

I own one of their 30mm tube 2-10x52 and have looked through another identical scope as well as a 4x38 with the large objective lens. All three were very clear. A little greener than say Swarovski or Zeiss but very very clear and bright for the price.

My negative comments against it, specifically the 2-10x scopes is the reticle moves slightly when changing powers. That is to say, if the horizontal is perfectly parallel to the ground on one setting, it may not be perfect at another setting, then you can jiggle it back and forth a bit to correct. I usually only use the 6x or 10x setting so it's not a big deal. The problem with that is, the point of impact is going to change slightly. Not good! On a less negative note though I don't like it, it is a magnifying reticle ala Zeiss. Instead of the reticle will full up the lens from about 7-10x but is very small in the middle of the scope at 2x.

And concerning the upside down reticle... both of the variable scopes are designed to have the windage adjustment on the left side of the scope, not the right. Not sure if that would have helped but it threw me off when I went to mount the first one.

Overall, I can recommend the fixed scopes or the variable scopes if you plan on leaving it on one setting. I emailed the importer several times trying to get him to loan me a sample or test unit for evaluation which he declined to do. But he did recommend the 8x56 as one of their very best traditional scopes. Of course, most of their volume is on their 4x24s and 4x48s and POSP scopes.

 

[DMK]

That's good info Cratz2, thanks!

I've always preferred fixed scopes anyway. Less to go wrong.

 

[Oleg Volk]

http://jpfo.org/vomzp8x56.htm their review was quite unfavorable.

I am at a loss as to why any scope would be designed with the reticle light dial on the bottom rather than at the top or on either side....wouldn't that get in the way of the mount?

 

[DMK]

wouldn't that get in the way of the mount?

I was thinking the same thing. However, consider the mount used for attaching it to it's intended rifle: the Mosin-Nagant.

 

[telewinz]

had two russian scopes for a year now, dropped one but I like them both, quality reminds me of my 20 year old Leopold, low price reminds me of the 1950's.