Best AK Optics

1. AIMPOINT T2 : Aimpoint T2

AIMPOINT T2

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• Clarity A
• Shootability A-
• Reliability A-
• Features B+

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Aimpoint T2 Review

What can I say about the Aimpoint T2 that hasn’t already been said? If you need a professional-grade optic capable of withstanding the rigors of the world, the T2 is the way to go. Aimpoint created the first modern red dot and has ruled the market ever since. The Aimpoint T2’s popularity has made it the subject of numerous mounting heights, making it easy to find one that fits your needs as an AK owner. 

With AKs, low mounts are the way to go for most optics, and the stock T2 low mounts work well. The Aimpoint T2 is a compact red dot. It is not quite pistol-sized but fairly small and lightweight. At only 3 ounces, it hardly makes a mark. The T2 doesn’t require much rail to grip and is often a perfect choice with a magnifier. Even on an AK, you can fit a T2 and Magnifier but be prepared to raise the optic to match the magnifier. 

The Aimpoint T2 is an absolute bomb-proof optic. It’s the type of optic designed for guys who jump out of planes for a living and swim from ship to shore to conduct a long-range recon. It is submersible, shockproof, and fogproof. It doesn’t tap out or give up unless it takes a round or two. 

The T2 series offers a super crisp 2 MOA dot that provides a precise point of aim. The T2 reticle has a ton of brightness settings with numerous NVG options. Under night vision, the reticle works quite well and looks great. The refresh rate isp perfect and allows for zero streaking when the optic’s moved. The battery lasts 50,000 hours due to Aimpoint’s smart design, and you never have to turn it off. 

What’s the downside? It’s expensive. Red dots have dropped steadily in price over the years, yet the Aimpoint option still tends to be quite expensive compared to alternatives. It’s a pro-grade, duty-ready optic that will fit and function perfectly on an AK, but you pay for that performance. 

Aimpoint T2 Pros and Cons

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2. Primary Arms SLx 1-6X FFP

Primary Arms SLx 1-6X FFP

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• Reliability A+
• Value A+
• Reticle A+
• Ergonomics A-
• Glass A

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A

Reader’s Grade

TBD

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Primary Arms SLx 1-6X FFP Review

The AK series works well with LPVOs as long as you’re realistic with the magnification. I don’t think you need a 1-10X, but a 1-6X is quite nice. Sadly, the market doesn’t agree, and there aren’t a ton of dedicated AK LPVOs. Not a ton, but some, and Primary Arms offers the SLx 1-6X with an ACSS reticle aimed at the 7.62x39mm round. It’s perfect if you want a simple slap-it-on-and-go magnified solution. 

The ACSS reticles are some of my favorites, and the Raptor reticle works perfectly with the AK series of rifles. The reticle features a bullet drop compensator that allows you to reach out to an optimistic 600 yards with 123-grain ammunition. It’s simple and easy to use for shooters who don’t want to spend time learning dope. The Raptor design features a three-quarter circle that’s illuminated and easy to see. 

With the first focal plane design, the ACSS Raptor reticle grows and shrinks with magnification. As the reticle shrinks, it becomes what appears to be a fairly large red dot. When it grows and expands, the ACSS Raptor reticle and its details emerge. This makes it quite useful in a variety of ways. From 10 yards to 300 yards, it dominates. 

Getting up and behind the optic isn’t tough. It has a fairly generous eye box and presents a 4.3 to 4-inch eye relief, depending on the magnification setting. The optic is 10.6 inches long and weighs 17.6 ounces, so it’s fairly standard as far as weight and length go. I use mine on a 7.62x39mm AR design, and it’s always provided a very clear-sight picture that’s bright and capable of showing some fantastic detail. The SLx series is impressive for its budget price point. 

The downsides are few, and it’s largely tied to finding the right height combination of rings or mounts to work well with your AK, it’s a magnified optics issue. The reticle is bright but not eye-catching like a true red dot or a more expensive magnified optic. 

Primary Arms SLx 1-6X FFP Pros and Cons

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Primary Arms SLx 3X Microprism  Review

Let’s stick to Primary Arms for one more entry. The AK’s somewhat limited range makes it well-suited for a fixed power magnified optic. Prism optics often dominate this entry and provide a very tough and easy-to-use optic for the average AK. Prisms were known for being somewhat bulky and somewhat heavy years ago, but Primary Arms has pushed the tech further and created a series of micro prisms that provide you the magnification without the size and weight. 

The Primary Arms SLx 3X Microprism is basically the size of the Aimpoint T2. It’s super small and fits that compact red dot category. It’s an impressive feat. It’s not as light as a red dot, but at 7.95 ounces, it’s not exactly a boat anchor. I’ve been using one for a couple of years now and remain impressed by its size and usefulness. Packing 3X into an optic this small is downright impressive. It puts me close enough to most targets at carbine ranges that I feel confident shooting my shot. (Literally) 

Just like our previously mentioned LPVO, the prism optic uses an ACSS Raptor reticle with a built-in BDC out to 600 yards. It’s got a big three-quarter circle for close-quarter shooting and a chevron in the center for more precise shots. The reticle is almost perfectly daylight-bright. It’s brightish, better than the LPVO, but still not red dot bright. There are NVG settings, too, if that’s for you. The optic has a motion-sensing design, so it will auto-shutoff when left completely still and fire back up when gripped and ripped. 

The eye relief is a little tight at 2.7 inches, but that’s also fairly broad for a prism sight. The microprism also comes with eight different mounting heights out of the box, so it’ll slap onto your AK without issue. I wish they did a GLx with an amped up reticle brightness, but for the money this optic is one of my personal favorites. 

Primary Arms SLx 3X Microprism Pros and Cons

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Gideon Optics Mediator Review

Gideon Optics is a relatively new company in the realm of budget optics. They’ve been making waves by producing great optics at great prices and by being refreshingly honest about what their product is and does. That honesty drew me in, but optics, like the Mediator, kept me there. With the Mediator, we get a red dot that’s roughly pistol-sized but features an enclosed emitter. It works well on long guns, especially if they are designed for close-range, reflexive shooting applications. 

The Mediator uses an ACRO footprint, which makes it easy to find various mounting solutions. This includes a low mount that attaches easily to the AK and provides a decent cheek weld. The Mediator delivers a rugged design that can take drops, falls, and general shock. Optics designed to withstand the Gs of a pistol slide can withstand a good bit of force. The optic is IPX7, so it can be submerged. With that all said, it’s not designed to be a duty optic, and Gideon is clear on that. 

The Mediator comes with a multi-reticle system. A 3 MOA dot provides a clear and consistent dot for longer-range precision shots. The 38 MOA reticle is perfect for eye-grabbing shots at close range. My favorite is the combination of dot and circle, which provides a bit of the best of both worlds. I tend to be a fan of the circle dot reticle of the Mediator tickles my fancy. 

The Mediator features shake-awake-style technology. It shuts off when it fails to detect movement and immediately fires back up when it detects movement. This creates a long battery life, which allows the Mediator to function for 50,000 hours. The total package and low price point make it a great low-profile, lightweight red dot option for your AK platform.

Gideon Optics Mediator Pros and Cons

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Steiner P4Xi 1-4X24 G1 Reticle Review

Finding a capable, professional-grade LPVO for the AK can be tricky. Most models designed for heavy use are designed around the AR platform. However, you are totally out of luck. The Steiner P4Xi presents a professional-grade LPVO that works quite well on the AK platform. The Steiner P4Xi is a 1-4X optic and comes in a few reticle options. For the AK, the best solution is the G1 reticle. 

The G1 reticle is not a BDC reticle and works with any caliber and firearm. At the center of the reticle, we have a huge diamond with a dot in the middle. This big reticle captures your eye and makes it really easy to get those snapshots on targets and to use the optic at close ranges. The diamond is great and somewhat novel, as far as I can tell. Around the diamond are hash marks that allow for both wind and bullet drop calls. 

The optic utilizes a second focal plane design that ensures the diamond remains the same size throughout the magnification range. This optic is designed for use within 400 yards, and that matches well with the SFP and 1-4X design. It’s a realistic option for the AK series of rifles and calibers. 

The P4Xi provides a super bright and clear sight picture with excellent side-to-side clarity. The P4Xi utilizes some bright illumination and it’s a true daylight bright reticle. The reticle is also compatible with night vision optics. Steiner is well known for their clarity and the P4Xi performs to their established standards. 

The Steiner P4Xi is built to be rugged and extremely strong. It’s designed to be tough for professional-grade users. The optic has all the typical proofs, meaning it’s water, shock, and fogproof. It’s made from one piece of aluminum and uses a rugged, sealed design. There are a few things, like low-profile turrets and an uber-smooth magnification ring that shows its a top tier optic and well suited for your AK. 

Steiner P4Xi 1-4X24 G1 Reticle Pros and Cons

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Browe Combat Optic Review

I’m an AK fan, but there isn’t a dedicated AK option with the ACO. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a professional-grade prism optic for the AK series rifles. The Browe Combat Optic takes the ACOG idea and makes it better with drastic improvements to the design. It’s a 4x Prism optic, and the Browe Combat Optic has plenty of options for reticles, including a 7.62x39mm reticle that ties well to the AK rifle. 

The BCO’s reticle does take the gun out to an optimistic 700 meters, which is a bit far for an AK, but it’s likely possible with the right shooter. BCO makes both a traditional crosshair option and the chevron. I prefer the Chevron model. It’s the optic that was equipped for my SIG 556R for years. 

The BCO uses a battery instead of a radioactive material to generate illumination. This creates a daylight-bright reticle that automatically adjusts. Unlike other options, the BCO adjusts to the target’s level of brightness, not the area around you. This is fantastic because if you’re in a dark environment and look out to a bright environment, the reticle isn’t going to work very well. Reverse the positions, and the opposite is also true. As far as I know, this is the only optic that does that. 

Like the ACOG, the BCO is super tough and rugged. It’s durable, well made, and delivers all the proofs we need. It’s a combat optic through and through and would be at home on a duty rifle. The BCO also features excellent clarity that’s crystal clear and a real treat for someone who isn’t used to professional-grade optics. 

The BCO is super easy to use, but isn’t without its faults. The eye relief is a mere 1.5 inches, so it’s tight. It’s also a pricey optic. Admittedly, the price comes from the quality, but man, the tight eye relief isn’t always comfortable. 

Browe Combat Optic Pros and Cons

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