5 Best Scopes for AK-47 in 2021
Photo: outdoorhub.com
The AK-47 or Kalashnikov is one of the most famous guns ever made, and it has been popular for hunting, military and tactical application for more than 50 years now.
But, just like all other guns for hunting and military applications, you need to have the best scope for AK-47 to get the best performance and service from this amazing firearm.
Mounting a good scope on your Kalashnikov greatly improves your aim when shooting from long range and it will also make your rifle easier to handle.
The good news is that there are dozens of scopes that you can mount on an AK-47 and will also provide top notch service. In this piece, we review 5 of these scopes and show you how to choose one.
5 Best Scopes for AK-47 – Review
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1. Bushnell Multi-X Reticle 613947 (Best Overall) |
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2. Simmons Truplex 510513 (Best Budget) |
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3. UTG 3-9x32 (Tough & Feature-Rich) |
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4. Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK762 (Perfect for Hunting & Tactical Uses) |
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5. Nikon Monarch 3 German 4 (Clear & Sharp Sight Picture Guaranteed) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Bushnell Multi-X Reticle 613947 (Best Overall) |
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2. Simmons Truplex 510513 (Best Budget) |
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3. UTG 3-9x32 (Tough & Feature-Rich) |
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4. Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK762 (Perfect for Hunting & Tactical Uses) |
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5. Nikon Monarch 3 German 4 (Clear & Sharp Sight Picture Guaranteed) |
1. Bushnell Multi-X Reticle 613947 – Best Overall AK-47 Scope
Photo: Bushnell
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Diameter: 40mm
- Field of View: 40 to 14 feet at 100 yards
- Weight: 13 ounces
For the AK-47 enthusiasts that will use their rifle for everything including hunting big game, this all-round scope from Bushnell will be a great buy. And it is our best overall scope given the superior heavy-duty build and features, and the fact that it is a top brand product.
The 3-9x scope with an objective diameter of 40mm uses some high-quality optic system that is designed to offer stunning image clarity and with an impressive performance at dusk and dawn.
The scope is also made with a generous eye relief as you can get up to an impressive 6-inch eye relief at some distances to ensure that you can shoot comfortably without worry about shock or recoil.
And it is also a 100% fog and waterproof scope that you can use in almost any environment and with handy and easy to use 1/4 MOA adjustments for windage and elevation.
While the scope does not come with mounts this is still not a big deal because even if it came with them, the chances are that you will still not use them as you need special ones for use on your AK-47.
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2. Simmons Truplex 510513 – Best Budget AK-47 Scope
Photo: Simmons
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Diameter: 40mm
- Field of View: 31.4 to 10.5 feet at 100 yards
- Weight: 10.1 ounces
Despite this Simmons rifle scopes being the cheapest among our review of scopes for AK-47, it is still an amazing product that will make shooting more accurate and fun for you.
The scope makes use of a quick target acquisition eyepiece that is designed to make picking out a target and aiming a breeze. And with the high-quality and fully coated optics, you also get a bright and clear enough sight picture.
1/4 MOA Suregrip with audible clicks adjustment will make it easy to select the windage and elevation setting that you want depending on your shooting situation and scenario.
This highly affordable scope is also made to offer complete water, fog, and recoil proof performance, and you can always be confident of an outstanding precision with this scope mounted on your rifle.
A little blurriness at high magnification is a common issue for most of these scopes, and hence for such an affordable model like this one it should not be a big concern.
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3. UTG 3-9x32 – Tough and Feature-Rich
Photo: UTG
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Diameter: 32mm
- Field of View: 37.7 to 14 feet at 100 yards
- Weight: 13.9 ounces
For such a well-built and feature-rich scope like UTG’s BugBuster, it is hard to get a better deal than what it retails for, and it is hence the best scope for AK-47 for the money on our list.
Some of its most outstanding attributes include the fact that it is built on a true strength platform and is also completely sealed and nitrogen filled to offer complete water, fog, and shockproof performance.
This scope also features dual red/green illumination that makes it even more versatile and with zero lockable and resettable turrets that will make elevation and windage adjustment a breeze.
The range estimating mil-dot is also highly useful and this scope also has an adjustable objective that ensures a parallax-free view from 3 yards to infinity. And it will come with flip-open lens caps to protect the optics and quick detachable rings for mounting.
Some shooters find the eye relief relatively limited when compared to other high-end scopes, but the fact that you get at least 3.2 inches of eye relief means that you can still easily get a relaxed shooting stance.
More Detailed : UTG SCP-M392AOLWQ Review
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4. Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK762 – Perfect for Hunting and Tactical Uses
Photo: Hi-Lux Optics
- Magnification: 1-4x
- Objective Diameter: 24mm
- Field of View: 94.8 to 26.2 feet at 100 yards
- Weight: 16.5 ounces
Whether you use your AK-47 for tactical or hunting applications, this 1-4x magnification model by Hi-Lux Optics will be a good buy. And this is more so for short and medium range as it will deliver a view field of up to 94.8 feet.
The solid one-piece main tube construction also helps to make this one of the best scopes for AK-47 as it makes it rugged and solid enough to withstand the outdoor environment.
With the fully multicoated lenses on this scope, you also get bright and clear images, and its design also includes a fast focus ocular lens with a large diameter.
But, what many shooters will like most is that this is not only an illuminated scope but it also has 11 brightness levels to make it ideal for shooting in various conditions.
Adjustments are also made easy by the zero locking system that locks in the alignments in place for more accurate shooting. Like most other top performing scopes, it also offers an absolute fog, water, and shockproof performance.
Even with its relatively more expensive price tag when compared to other scopes on our list and wanting lens covers, this scope is still worth buying because its optics and overall quality and the fact that it is illuminated make up for the extra cost.
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5. Nikon Monarch 3 German 4 – Clear and Sharp Sight Picture Guaranteed
Photo: Nikon
- Magnification: 1-4x
- Objective Diameter: 20mm
- Field of View: 92.9 to 23.1 feet at 100 yards
- Weight: 12.2 ounces
Nikon’s Monarch 3 is a top rated scope for AK-47 and many other target shooting and hunting rifles that are designed to deliver sharp and clear sight pictures in most light conditions.
This high-quality scope has a quick focus eyepiece that will give shooters a very easy time when shooting as it makes reticle focusing a quick and almost effortless task.
With the Ultra ClearCoat optical system on this rifle scope, you get a light transmission of up to 95% which is what ensures that you always get a clear, bright and sharp sight picture.
Also, this is a rugged scope designed to handle the abuse that comes with the outdoors, and it features a one-piece aircraft grade aluminum alloy construction and with a limited lifetime warranty to give you some assurance that it will last.
Although the 1-4x magnification power might not be very good for long range shooting, most AK-47 applications are for short and medium range and so the magnification should be more than enough.
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How to Buy the Best Scopes for AK-47
To make sure that you choose a good scope for AK-47, you need to consider the following important things when shopping.
1. Magnification
Magnification is how much the sight picture will be zoomed. And like with all other scope types, there are several options to choose from when buying an AK-47 scope.
The further you wish to shoot with your Kalashnikov the more magnification power you will need. And so when it comes to magnification the right scope for you depends on your preferences and shooting need.
If you shoot from long range (650 yards and above), you need a scope with at least 10x magnification while 6-9x will be ideal for medium distances, and a 1-4x scope like Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK762 should be enough for short range shooting.
2. Objective Lens Diameter
Lenses are the most important part of any scope. And of the two lenses on most scopes, the objective lens is the more important ones.
The objective lens is the one at the front of the scope, and it is what will determine the amount of light that gets in and hence the brightness and clarity of the sight picture.
Whether you are looking for the best scope for AK-47 with red dot on top or want something more basic, the diameter of the objective lens matters a lot. A scope with 20 to 40 mm objective lens diameter is the most preferable fro these rifles.
A larger objective lens like the 40 mm Simmons Truplex 510513 is more favorable as it will allow more light in for a clear and vivid sight picture which is even more important if you plan to use your AK-47 in low light conditions.
3. Size and Weight
One of the reasons why AK-47’s come at a relatively smaller price point when compared to other firearms is the fact that they are often made from inexpensive and heavy materials. Hence, the best scope for you is one that will not add a lot of weight to your already heavy gun.
Also, you will in many instances have to carry or hold your scope for extended periods, and so a scope that adds more weight to your gun is the last thing you need. That said, something under 20 ounces is often good enough for most users.
But, it is important to keep in mind the fact that weight and size will factor in other important decisions. For example, larger tube size and objective lens are generally better. What this means is that you need to get the right balance between the weight and size of the tube and lens.
4. Rail and Mount
When the AK-47 was being designed, the use of optics on rifles was not the luxury it is today. The developers probably did not even think it would be realistic to add optics to the gun as it was meant for close and mid-range shooting where the iron sight would be enough.
Because of this, you will need to invest on a good rail system to be able to mount a scope on your Kalashnikov. There are different types of rail systems offered by different manufacturers but the left side mounting rail is the most common and perhaps the best for use on an AK-47.
However, when it comes to choosing rails and mounts for your AK-47, the type and their placement will depend on the particular optics that you wish to mount.
5. Shock Resistance
An AK-47 and the caliber of ammunition that it shoots will have some significant power which makes this a hard hitting rifle.
Most shooters will also send lots of rounds downrange within a relatively short time which means that the rifle generates a lot of shock.
When buying a scope for AK-47, you need to make sure that it is designed to handle the shock that comes with shooting this gun.
If the scope is not shock resistant enough, the inner components can get misaligned over time which causes poor performance. Shock can also impact the accuracy greatly by throwing off the settings.
6. Durability
The ruggedness and durability of the AK-47 make it ideal for almost any scenario. And this is one of the key reasons why many people love it.
When buying a scope for your AK-47, it is important to make sure that it is equally durable and can last almost as long as your gun.
Because the choice of materials is one of the key determinants of a scope’s durability, you should always go for something made with tough materials like aluminum or magnesium.
Also, scopes made with a one-piece main tube construction like Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK762 will feel more solid and are also tougher and more long-lasting.
Conclusion
The best scope for AK-47 for you will mostly depend on your budget and particular needs or how you use your Kalashnikov. But, there is something for everyone on our list.
That said, the heavy-duty Bushnell Multi-X Reticle 613947 is our best overall scope and it will offer high-quality optics, generous 6-inch eye relief and easy adjustments.
However, the more affordable Simmons Truplex 510513 is our pick for the budget shoppers as it still offers high-quality optics and other amazing features like quick target acquisition.