best scope for 7.62x39

[Cory24]

What type of scope do you guys recommend? which variable power?

I would like to stay around $500, but the price is not a huge deal.

I'm strongly considering something from vortex, they seem to have good reviews and their warranty is outstanding.

Thanks in advance!

 

[edojan]

what is the rifle?

 

[grelmar]

Vomz Pilad 1.5-6x

I have one on my SKS/Deer rifle. Russian made, it can take a pounding without concern. I leave it set to 1.5x when I'm out walking so I can make quick snap shots, and at low power it has unbelievably generous eye relief. I can dial it up to 6x for good shot placement if I need to reach out a bit. Given that I consider x39 (and 5.56, for that matter) to be "200 yard" cartridges for all practical purposes (I've gone as far as 400 at the range, but that's range shooting, not practical shooting), 6x is more than enough magnification.

I liked it so much, that I got another one for my AR for 3 gun matches.

I bought a Vortex for one of my hunting rifles. It's not a mistake I'll repeat.

The Vomz glass is clearer, has easier eye relief, works better under a wider variety of light conditions...

Vortex optics are spectacularly over-rated, IMHO.

The Vomz scope costs about $300, last time I bought one. I'm not a fan of their entire line of scopes, but these ones in particular are very well made.

Cheers.

 

[Cory24]

what is the rifle?

sks, I will be using a magwedge kwik rail

 

[Cory24]

Vomz Pilad 1.5-6x

I have one on my SKS/Deer rifle. Russian made, it can take a pounding without concern. I leave it set to 1.5x when I'm out walking so I can make quick snap shots, and at low power it has unbelievably generous eye relief. I can dial it up to 6x for good shot placement if I need to reach out a bit. Given that I consider x39 (and 5.56, for that matter) to be "200 yard" cartridges for all practical purposes (I've gone as far as 400 at the range, but that's range shooting, not practical shooting), 6x is more than enough magnification.

I liked it so much, that I got another one for my AR for 3 gun matches.


I bought a Vortex for one of my hunting rifles. It's not a mistake I'll repeat.

The Vomz glass is clearer, has easier eye relief, works better under a wider variety of light conditions...

Vortex optics are spectacularly over-rated, IMHO.

The Vomz scope costs about $300, last time I bought one. I'm not a fan of their entire line of scopes, but these ones in particular are very well made.

Cheers.

Who sells the Vomz scope? I was also looking at the POSP scopes but then I need to install a side mount..

 

[propliner]

Leupold 2-7x33 is a superb choice.

 

[bp2626]

Since the rifle and calibre are fairly limited distance wise I would recommend something with fixed power. Leupold FX or something Russian. They're less complex scopes and typically more rugged.

 

[grelmar]

Who sells the Vomz scope? I was also looking at the POSP scopes but then I need to install a side mount..

Corwin-Arms sells them. Looks like he's out of stock at the moment (he sells out of them faster than he can bring them in - which says something about their popularity). He does re-stock fairly often. Which is good, because it's rapidly becoming my go-to, do-all, rugged and ready, mid range scope. Which means I'm going to need a couple more of them (at least) over time.

 

[Butcherbill]

Hey grelmar, are you using a detachable mag on your sks or did you make a flush mounting 5rd mag like I've seen people do? I'm about to go the kwik rail & 3.5 fixed power vomz route on one of mine, over the winter I'll do some diy accurizing and see what I can get out of the ole sks.

 

[Zen_Seeker]

I switch to a red dot Millett I had, TRD1x30. Works fine for shooting paper and a 5" plate up to 100m. (Usually 60m with the kids.) It's mounted on a Wartak rail and co-witnesses with sights.

 

[mbogo3]

I have a straight 4x Leupold on my CZ527/7.62x39 carbine...........Will shoot 1/2" groups when I do my part........Harold

 

[EHG]

I like the 1x4 or 2x7 Leupold.

 

[grelmar]

Hey grelmar, are you using a detachable mag on your sks or did you make a flush mounting 5rd mag like I've seen people do? I'm about to go the kwik rail & 3.5 fixed power vomz route on one of mine, over the winter I'll do some diy accurizing and see what I can get out of the ole sks.

I'm using the short detachable mags - remove the mag for that pic. I grabbed 3 of them off HiCal when they were on sale once for 3 for $60...

http://www.hical.ca/promag-sks-7-62x39mm-5-round-magazine-sks-02/

They require a bit of fitting (took a sander to the top of either side of the mage to slim them down a bit so they could slide in without rubbing the stock too much), but otherwise function great - last shot hold open works, etc. I chose to slim the mag rather than widen the magwell and permanently alter the rifle (believe it or not, I can undo all the changes to that rifle and have it back to original in less than an hour - kept the original mag, bayo, rear sight, and receiver cover pin).

 

[warrenlikesboats]

I had a 4-12x40mm Nikon Prostaff on my SKS (WARTAK rail) for the longest while. Great scope, clear glass, bright reticle, had all the zoom you could possibly want, 30 year warranty, and the turrets can be lifted and set back on zero after youve sighted in your scope (which is a very underrated feature). At a cost of only $239 CAD.

But then I discovered that the POSP style scopes were available in Canada. The PO 3-9x24mm that use on my SKS is highly novel, has clear glass, a cool & clear to see rangefinding SVD reticle that can be illuminated at the switch of a button, a comfortable eyepiece that totally eliminates any glare from the sun, can be installed and removed off from the gun in less than 5 seconds, and holds zero. At the much higher cost of $430 CAD shipped. And you have to drill and tap, or weld the side mount plate to you SKS. the whole unit weighs slightly more than a conventional American style scope as well.

 

[Butcherbill]

I'm using the short detachable mags - remove the mag for that pic. I grabbed 3 of them off HiCal when they were on sale once for 3 for $60...

http://www.hical.ca/promag-sks-7-62x39mm-5-round-magazine-sks-02/

They require a bit of fitting (took a sander to the top of either side of the mage to slim them down a bit so they could slide in without rubbing the stock too much), but otherwise function great - last shot hold open works, etc. I chose to slim the mag rather than widen the magwell and permanently alter the rifle (believe it or not, I can undo all the changes to that rifle and have it back to original in less than an hour - kept the original mag, bayo, rear sight, and receiver cover pin).

Cheers, that's what I'm hoping for with mine. I want to be able to put things back to original if I feel like it but have it function normally. Did you bother with the bolt mod for drop free mag changes with a closed bolt?

 

[Cory24]

I had a 4-12x40mm Nikon Prostaff on my SKS (WARTAK rail) for the longest while. Great scope, clear glass, bright reticle, had all the zoom you could possibly want, 30 year warranty, and the turrets can be lifted and set back on zero after youve sighted in your scope (which is a very underrated feature). At a cost of only $239 CAD.

But then I discovered that the POSP style scopes were available in Canada. The PO 3-9x24mm that use on my SKS is highly novel, has clear glass, a cool & clear to see rangefinding SVD reticle that can be illuminated at the switch of a button, a comfortable eyepiece that totally eliminates any glare from the sun, can be installed and removed off from the gun in less than 5 seconds, and holds zero. At the much higher cost of $430 CAD shipped. And you have to drill and tap, or weld the side mount plate to you SKS. the whole unit weighs slightly more than a conventional American style scope as well

Does it come in a 7.62x39 ranging reticle? or only 7.62x54r? Ak mount or svd? Do you have any problems with the ejected brass hitting the scope?

Also what's the deets on that mag release, looks cool.

 

[warrenlikesboats]

You can buy 7.62x39 POSP's.... but the most magnification they offer is 6x, i have a 2.5-5x 7.62x39 reticle POSP for my VZ 58 , all of mine are SVD mounts, the AK mounts are harder to come by and make the scope sit much higher above the bore. Ejected brass hitting the scope doesnt seem to be an issue for the SKS. But just to be extra sure, id dremeled out the ejection window on the reciever which makes the casings fly out very low. The mag release is made by " sevensixtwo systems.ca " .

 

[edojan]

Here is my setup:
Choat folding stock
Dragunov cheek riser
Magwedge rail
leupold VX3 1.5x5x illuminated duplex with 30mm tube
burris low profile rings
Hical adapter for XCR mags






While overall this functions quite well (and I liked it at first) the more I used it the more evident it has become that this scope / rail is an overkill for this gun.


Let me explain:
1. I prefer lighter guns and this set up is still heavy (even though not nearly as heavy as the one with POSP / Archangel stock one ) but still i would like to shave a few ounces off it.
2. Even though I used a pair of the lowest 30 mm rings available the scope still seats too high for comfortable shooting. I was able to find a dragunov cheek riser which made the cheek weld acceptable. Actually it did improve things significantly.
3. Magwedge roll pin tends to come out of the front sight pin hole and since it doesn't create a hermetic seal I am not even sure if loctite would help to fix this.
4. Ocassionally the magwedge rail would not deflect the spent case properly and would cause a stove pipe (doesn't happen too often but it is enough for me to no longer consider this gun to be reliable)

Hence, I am contemplating a russian style side rail (but the newer model - and not the classic POSP oversized heavy clunkers) and use it with a fixed 3x short tactical scope such as Vortex Optics SPR-1303 Spitfire 3x



Here is the rail I have in mind - it is manufactured by the Tula factory and is arguably the lightest and the lowest sitting removable side rail for SKS on the market. (Unfortunately I have not yet found a canadian retailer who carries this model). If anyone knows please sent me a note.

 

[edojan]

Ejected brass hitting the scope doesnt seem to be an issue for the SKS. But just to be extra sure, id dremeled out the ejection window on the reciever which makes the casings fly out very low. .

I am considering modding the ejection window on the receiver - maybe changing the angle would help prevent the stovepipes. can you please post the picture of the angle and describe to what extent this mode has impacted the trajectory of the spent cases?

 

[madashell]

Vomz Pilad 1.5-6x

I have one on my SKS/Deer rifle. Russian made, it can take a pounding without concern. I leave it set to 1.5x when I'm out walking so I can make quick snap shots, and at low power it has unbelievably generous eye relief. I can dial it up to 6x for good shot placement if I need to reach out a bit. Given that I consider x39 (and 5.56, for that matter) to be "200 yard" cartridges for all practical purposes (I've gone as far as 400 at the range, but that's range shooting, not practical shooting), 6x is more than enough magnification.

I liked it so much, that I got another one for my AR for 3 gun matches.

I bought a Vortex for one of my hunting rifles. It's not a mistake I'll repeat.

The Vomz glass is clearer, has easier eye relief, works better under a wider variety of light conditions...

Vortex optics are spectacularly over-rated, IMHO.

The Vomz scope costs about $300, last time I bought one. I'm not a fan of their entire line of scopes, but these ones in particular are very well made.

Cheers.

grelmar , what reticle do you have on your Vomz Pilad 1.5-6x ?

I can't seem to find whether their mildot reticle has mildot turrets .....

Great tip on the scope. Have to check into this one.