4 Best Scopes for AK 47 Rifle - The Top Reviews and Guide
For better or worse, the AK-47 has become a symbol of American culture. We see it in blockbuster movies, sing about it rap songs and hear endless arguments for and against its use on TV news shows.
It’s easy to forget it’s not an American invention. The AK-47 was introduced by the Soviet army in the 1940s.
Nearly sixty years later and it has become the quintessential assault rifle. It’s what most imagine when they picture a compact semiautomatic weapon capable of selective fire and built for medium-range combat.
The AK-47 is easy to use, offers mods and customization options and packs a mean punch. If you can’t tell, there’s not much I don’t like about it.
Unfortunately, the AK-47 rifle in its fully automatic state is not legal for civilian use in most states. In some areas, the weapon is made available to law enforcement and military personnel.
It’s generally considered too powerful for widespread domestic ownership. The good news is semiautomatic versions can be great fun and relatively cheap to buy. I still recommend trying a semiautomatic if you’re looking for a reliable assault rifle.
Like all rifles, the AK-47’s performance can be enhanced with the addition of a high quality scope. It may seem like a minor accessory, but it’s the difference between being a good shooter and being a terrific one.
For the AK-47, specifically, scopes are important because they enable the rifle to reach its full range potential.
Shooting For Distance: How To Increase Your Range
When fresh out of its box, the AK-47 is capable of maintaining an impressive (and very consistent) four inch drop. Yet, one of its key weaknesses is a decline in accuracy across longer distances.
Over the time of the shot, its bullets stretch out to a nearly six inch spread while at a hundred yards. This can be a problem in tactical scenarios and close quarters battles. So, is there a straightforward way to increase the AK-47’s accuracy?
The AK-47 has a 100 to 800 yard margin for adjustment. Therefore, the best solution is to enlarge any distance between the back of the rifle and its front and central iron sight. This should help tremendously with aiming and make it easier to fire off precise shots.
It’s something that a high performance rifle scope can help with too. Just make sure you consider the right scope for your weapon and how you intend to use it. The AK-47 is an ‘up close and personal’ weapon.
You probably don’t need a glass with heaps of magnification power. One upside of this is you can opt for a lightweight scope and focus on balance, precision and durability.
Understanding Scope Ranges
Long Distance – 630+ yards
If you’re keen to shoot from these long distances, you need a scope with a great deal of magnification power. My recommendation is a scope with at least 10x magnification.
It’s important to note the AK-47 rifle isn’t designed for long range performance. With the right scope, it’s capable of making fairly accurate long range shots but you’re not going to get impeccable results. For that, you need to be closer.
Generally, short burst firing at these long distances should help you get close to the area where you intend to aim and target.
Medium Distance – 380 to 630 yards
With a compatible scope, medium range shooting suits the AK-47 rifle rather well. It’s a comfortable, realistic prospect for most skill levels and requires significantly less combat training than close quarters battles.
At these distances, a shooter can safely take aim and target an enemy without immediately giving up their tactical position.
The best scope for medium range shooting with an AK-47 is between 6x and 9x power.
Close Distance – 380 yards or less
As mentioned, the AK-47 assault rifle is designed for close, personal battles. It already performs impressively from less than 380 yards. Add a rifle scope and you can zero in on targets quickly with no parallax or other limits on your vision.
When choosing a close range scope for the AK-47, opt for a modest magnification power of between A1 to 5x.
Top 4 Scopes for AK-47 Assault Rifle - Quick Guide
Scope Image | Scope | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic | |
 | Bushnell AK91424 AK Optics 1-4x24mm | |
 | UTG 3-9x32 1’’ BugBuster Scope | |
 | Nikon Monarch 3 German Rifle Scope |
This are the
Best 4 Scopes for AK-47 Assault Rifle
1. Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic
The Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic comes with an appealing reputation. It has been employed by military members both here and overseas.
It’s a fantastic weapon to have in combat scenarios because it’s tremendously accurate and comfortable to shoot as well. During tests, I noticed significantly less eye strain when using this scope for short range shooting with the AK-47.
The high performance scope provides opportunities for faster aiming and more efficient shooting overall. Increased speed results in a higher likelihood of hitting a target squarely on the first attempt.
This glass delivers a red-dot aiming area of 2 MOA which is perfect for shooting after dark. The scope’s red dot reticle is powered with a long life battery that promises three years of continuous use.
It equates to around 30,000 hours of low light shooting before you need to make any adjustments or battery swaps. This is handy in a standard hunting situation. In tactical battles, it may mean the difference between life and death.
The Final Verdict
The Aimpoint PRO Patrol Rifle Optic scope is a pricey bit of kit. However, it comes with appealing perks and a number of interesting features. I like knowing a manufacturer has thought carefully about the little details that so often define margins of success and disaster in intense combat conditions.
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2. Bushnell AK91424 AK Optics 1-4x24mm
I couldn’t write about the best scopes for the AK-47 without mentioning one that’s made specifically to fit this rifle. The Bushnell AK91424 AK Optics is calibrated to fit the AK-47 chambered in 7.62x39mm. So, it’s fair to expect great things from this one.
The scope delivers a magnification power of between 1 x and 4x. While it’s not great over longer distances, it’s not really designed to be. Its power lies in a keen focus on up close tactical style targeting. This suits the AK-47 rifle and allows it to perform at its best with impeccably steady aiming, crystal clear images and fast resetting.
The Bushnell AK91424 performs a 500 yard drop point (minimum) with ease. The manufacturer’s unique Advanced Sight system is a big part of this and one of the reasons Bushnell scopes are common in the military. Narrowing in on a target feels smooth, straightforward and satisfying.
It also delivers when it comes to optics. The rifle scope adapts well to rapidly changing conditions and can tolerate a wide variety of environments even when elevations, backdrops and light sources are inconsistent. The objective lens always provides color correct views and is multi-coated to resist glare.
The Final Verdict
If you’re a ‘one scope for one gun’ type of shooter, the Bushnell AK91424 AK Optics is a fantastic option. It doesn’t suit variable use (switching between rifles) quite as effortlessly because it has been purposefully developed for the AK-47 rifle.
To know what this scope is truly capable of, it needs to be paired with its perfect match.
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3. UTG 3-9x32 1’’ BugBuster Scope
BugBuster is less well known as a scope manufacturer than Bushnell but it is very popular with older, veteran hunters. This should tell you something about its quality and level of performance.
The UTG 3-9x32 scope provides fingertip adjustable turrets, an impressively fast return to zero and super smooth, user friendly magnification settings.
The UTG scope’s illuminated reticle is simply designed but highly efficient. It delivers a selection of holdover dots made to be used as a reference point for ‘in field’ adjustments.
These dots are specific to your round or caliber, so not a bullet drop compensator in the traditional fashion. The scope’s reticle is fully illuminated but users can switch the outer sections off and work with a single centre light if preferred.
Multi-coatings on both lenses guarantee sharp, clear views that are impervious to glare and moisture. You’ll notice a subtle green hue over the objective lens.
This doesn’t impact accuracy or clarity (not in any way I could see when testing). It may have been included because green tones are proven to relax the eye.
It’s one of those details that seems minor but has likely been scrutinized and carefully considered by the manufacturer. Any feature that can keep your eye steady while you’re squaring up a shot is worthwhile.
Add to this a surprisingly broad field of view from a short range (100 yards) and limitless parallax corrections and you’ve got a glass that practically takes shots for you.
The Final Verdict
The UTG 3-9x32 1’’ BugBuster Scope is an affordable, reliable rifle scope that focuses on consistency and ease of use.
Shooters and hunters of all stripes could master this rifle accessory very quickly. It’s a great option for those who like to keep things simple and stick with classic features.
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4. Nikon Monarch 3 German Rifle Scope
The Nikon Monarch 3 German Scope appears to be a serious mish-mash of cultures and ideas at first glance. It’s a Japanese scope designed to imitate key features of the original World War II scopes.
Hence, the merging of Japanese and German ideas. While the scope isn’t made specifically to fit the AK-47 (like the Bushnell AK91424) you might believe it if somebody told you so.
The two are a match made in heaven. The Nikon Monarch 3 is well suited to the AK-47 rifle because it employs spot on ballistic matching. Staring squarely down the scope delivers a precise targeting point every single time.
I was extremely pleased with its accuracy during testing and it’s likely due to the scope’s high levels of light transmission (95%). Out of all the AK-47 rifle scopes I tested, I felt this one offered the most ‘battle readiness.’
Whether shooting your way out of heavy fire or staying agile and adaptable in a mid-range tactical battle scenario, this scope is dependable. The fast focus lens means users can transition between different styles of shooting very easily.
The Final Verdict
With a magnification range of 1x to 4x, a super durable construction and very fast turret adjustments and efficient zeroing, there’s a lot to love about the Nikon Monarch 3 German Rifle Scope.
At times, the overall weight and design of the scope felt unconvincing, but I can happily say its performance always impressed.
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Finding The Right Rifle Scope For Your AK-47
The AK-47 is a heavy duty assault rifle. Therefore, the best scope for you will depend on a variety of factors. The first is your personal degree of skill and handling comfort.
Those with limited or no experience of long range targeting may struggle to realize the weapon’s full potential at these distances.
Related to this is the type of conditions you plan to use it in.
For tactical battles, a variable mid-range scope with close range capabilities is probably the best option. The rifle scopes featured on our review all fit the bill.
If you prefer to use heavy cartridges – many hunters use an AK-47 semiautomatic for big game hunting – look for a shock absorbing rifle scope. It should also come with generous amounts of eye relief.
For tactical environments and traditional hunting scenarios, a rugged scope is valuable. When browsing, consider protective features such as O-ring sealed and purged lens because they provide excellent weatherproofing.
It’s worth spending a little more money now for a scope that stands the test of time. This doesn’t mean a high quality glass always has to cost the earth.
However, investing in details such as a strong build design and long battery life will lead to valuable rewards when out hunting and a thunderstorm hits or you encounter an intruder on your property.
The thought I’ll leave you with is this: you’re not the same as any other hunter or tactical shooter. Choosing a rifle scope based on somebody else’s needs is not the best way to achieve your potential.
Before spending money on a scope, take some time to consider your personal shooting preferences and what type of needs they present. Then, pick out an AK-47 scope made for you.
For other rifle and scope types check: