The Kalashnikov AK 47 is the iconic rifle for military use. It was introduced in 1948, and until this day, it is widely used. It is assumed that there are around 100 million AK-47’s produced and used globally! The civilian versions are semi-automatic models that are usable in a variety of scenarios.
There is no other rifle that has been produced and used as much as the AK 47. It’s a rifle that is easy to use, rugged, and simplistic. The unfortunate side-effect is that the AK 47 is not known for great accuracy.
The lack of accuracy makes the AK a close-range weapon of choice. For long-range usage, it’s simply not accurate enough. You won’t have to worry about having to pick the best 1000 yard scope for the AK47 or even the best scope for 500 yards!
However, even for close-range and medium-range applications, a good sight can do wonders to improve your chance for a precise shot. As the AK 47 is a versatile rifle, you have to consider your typical use when you choose the best scope for AK 47‘s.
What are the best AK 47 Red Dots and Scopes?
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the list of the best scopes and red dot sights for your AK 47:
Red Dots for AK 47
- Aimpoint Micro T-2 – Best Overall Red Dot for AK 47
- Trijicon MRO – Best Reflex Sight for AK 47
- Vortex Venom – Best Affordable AK 47 Reflex Sight
- Sig Sauer Romeo5 – Best Affordable AK 47 Red Dot Sight
Rifle Scopes for AK 47
- Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24mm SFP – Best Overall Scope for AK 47
- Trijicon ACOG – Best Tactical Scope for AK-47
- Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout – Best Forward Mounted Scope for
- Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 – Best Hunting Scope for AK 47
- Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK 1-4x24mm – Best Short-Range Scope for AK-47
What Are the Basics of a Scope for an AK 47?
If you mainly use the AK for home defense and close-range shooting, then you are best off using a red dot like the Aimpoint Micro T-2, or, in case you don’t want a more affordable red dot sight, the Sig Sauer Romeo5.
You want to look at scopes with a 6x or even an 8x top-line magnification for medium ranges. The Primary Arms 1-6×24 is both affordable and reliable. It’s the best overall scope you can get for an AK 47.
However, you might prefer to use a scope with long eye relief and mount it as you’d do on a Scout rifle. In that case, you will be best off with the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout.
You might consider a mount with long eye relief on an AK 47, as the rifle has quite a lot of recoil. Your typical 3 or 3.5 inches might not be enough to prevent scope bite!
What Magnification Do You Need for the Typical Use of an AK 47 Rifle Scope?
The AK 47 is a lot of things, but it’s not highly accurate. The typical use is short-range with some medium-range capabilities with an effective range of about 350 yards.
It, therefore, is a great choice to pick a red dot to increase the short-range target acquisition. Combine that with a red dot magnifier, and you have covered close-quarter and ranges out to a couple of hundred yards.
Nonetheless, many shooters consider a scope with lower magnification to be the best pick for an AK 47. Scopes with 1x to 6x or even 2x to 7x scopes are excellent choices for the AK.
You’ll have no problem shooting distances of 200 to 300 yards or even farther with a zoom up to 6x or 7x. [Check out the best scopes for 200 yards!]
As already mentioned, the AK is not highly accurate. However, a skilled shooter with a good scope can squeeze a bit more range out. In that case, you might want to consider a scope somewhere in the 12x range. Be aware, though, that you’re starting to push the limits here.
One other thing to consider with an AK is its weight. If your rifle already weighs quite a bit, you do not want to add a lot of additional weight with a high-powered scope with a large objective lens. If you consider your typical use as short-range and home-defense, then a light red dot or holographic sight should trick.
Best Rifle Scopes for AK 47
Like our best scopes for AR 15 post, we have split up our suggestions into red dots, including holographic sights and traditional magnifying rifle optics.
Best Red Dot Sights for AK 47
First, let’s have a look at the best red dots for AK 47 rifles.
Aimpoint Micro T-2 – Best Overall Red Dot for AK 47
Without a doubt, the Aimpoint Micro T-2 is one of the best red dots for any rifle, including the AK 47. It’s rugged and built with top-quality materials making it a great choice for a rifle with a lot of recoil like the AK 47.
In addition to being shockproof, the sight is also designed to resist a wide range of temperatures. This allows mounting the Aimpoint Micro T-2 on the gas block rail of the AK without a problem.
The Aimpoint red dot is not only rugged but offers excellent optical features. The glass is ultra-clear and comes with various proprietary lens coatings. The combination of high-quality glass and coatings produce a vivid and clear sight image. The objective lens diameter is 18 mm, and you can mount it easily onto the AK 47.
The red dot itself is a 2 MOA dot making it a good option for a rifle like the AK 47. A larger dot works better for a red dot on shotguns, but you want a smaller dot for aiming for precision rifles.
The dot’s intensity is adjustable in 12 different brightness settings where 8 are daylight settings and 4 are night vision compatible settings. The battery life on the T-2 allows for 50,000 hours of constant operation. That’s over five years of battery life.
You can combine the Aimpoint T-2 with Aimpoints 3XMag-1 or 6XMag-1 red dot magnifier. With that combination, you get the rapid target acquisition of a red dot and have optional magnification for medium-range and long-range shots.
Considering an Aimpoint alternative? Check out the best ones you can get!
Trijicon MRO – Best Reflex Sight for AK 47
The Trijicon MRO red dot reflex sight is a standard-sized red dot. It’s built with high-quality materials and easily withstands the recoil of an AK 47 rifle.
It has an objective lens diameter of 25mm, which does make it quite a bit larger in size compared to the Aimpoint T-2. The advantage of the larger objective lens is that you typically get better low-light capabilities. You capture more light through the larger lends, which provides a sharper image when light conditions are less than perfect.
The glass and coatings are excellent and provide a crisp sight image under challenging light conditions. You can get the MRO with no mount, low mount, lower 1/3 Co-Witness Mount, and full Cowitness mount.
The sight comes with a 2 MOA red dot. Other models offer a green dot instead of red if you prefer that. The dot is crisp with clearly defined edges that will not fade out when combining the sight with a red dot magnifier.
The battery life on the MRO with the red dot is similar to the Aimpoint and results in around 5 years of use. The green dot model’s battery life is only 1 year!
The Trijicon MRO features 8 brightness settings. 2 of these settings are for night-vision compatible devices.
How does the Trijicon MRO stack up against the Aimpoint PRO? Find out!
Vortex Venom – Best Affordable AK 47 Reflex Sight
The Vortex Optics Venom red dot is a reflex sight with a small form factor. It fits easily on the AK as your primary sight.
The sight comes in two variants, with either a 3 MOA or a 6 MOA dot. We think you’ll be better off with the 3 MOA dot as it’s better suited for rifles. The 6 MOA dot is a great match for shotguns but might not work so well on an AK 47.
The sight is made out of machines aluminum that provides strength and ruggedness. It can easily withstand the recoil of an AK.
The glass components of the sight are made from top-quality glass with multiple coatings. You’ll get vivid and crips sight images when targeting in nearly any light conditions.
The battery life of the sight is rated between 150 hours on the highest brightness setting to 30,000 hours on the lowest. Realistically, you can expect 15,000 to 20,000 hours based on typical brightness adjustments.
The sight provides 10 different brightness settings. The Vortex Venom does not support using night vision devices (NVD).
Sig Sauer Romeo5 – Best Affordable AK 47 Red Dot Sight
The Sig Sauer Romeo5 is the currently best-selling red dot sight available. It is a great quality sight that is affordable and easy to use.
The Romeo5 is a compact red dot with a 20mm objective lens. It’s slightly larger than the Aimpoint T-2 and smaller than the Trijicon MRO.
The sight is built sturdy and with high-quality components to withstand strong recoil as you have it, for example, with the AK 47. The Sig Romeo5 works extraordinarily well on rifles like the AK or the AR platform.
The Romeo 5 sight comes with a 2 MOA dot. It offers 10 brightness settings with 2 of them being reserved for night-vision compatible devices. It has Sig’s MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination) technology. The sight powers up automatically when it detects motion.
The battery life of the Romeo5 is up to 50,000 hours. This can and will certainly be less if you use the highest brightness setting all the time!
Have a look at our in-depth evaluation of the Sig Romeo 5 RDS.
Final Thoughts on the Best Red Dot for AK 47
Of all the red dot sights for the AK 47, we think that the Sig Sauer Romeo5 is the best compromise between quality and cost. If you have the money to spend and don’t care about the size, go for the Trijicon MRO.
If you consider the build size on top of the already heavy AK, check out the Vortex Viper if you’re looking for an affordable sight. If money is not a consideration, then going for the Aimpoint T-2 is your best bet!
Best Scopes for AK 47
Red dots are a great optical enhancer for the AK, but as you don’t get any magnification (except by adding a red dot magnifier), a variable rifle scope does, in many cases, make more sense to use. The AK 47 is not a highly precise rifle, so you should not have to pick the best scope for 1000 yards to mount.
We reviewed several low-power scopes that are a great match for the AK 47. These include both variable and fixed scopes.
Primary Arms SLx 1-8x24mm SFP – Best Overall Scope for AK 47
The Primary Arms SLX 1-8×24 is, in our opinion, the overall best scope for your AK 47. It’s affordable (not cheap) and made from high-quality materials.
The 1-8x magnification provides a versatile range of applications for the scope/gun combo. You can use it for home defense and close-range engagements as well as medium-range hunting applications.
We could have opted for the 1-6x SLX scope [find the best 1-6x riflescopes]. Adding the additional 2x zoom, in our opinion, adds to the usefulness without increasing the price by that much.
The 24mm objective lens is on the smaller side. The PA SLx 1-8×24 comes with fully multi-coated lenses for optimal light transmission and a crisp scope image.
It’s suitable for usage in regular or bright light. You’ll have a bit of an issue with long ranges in low-light environments. However, you wouldn’t necessarily pick an AK 47 for those conditions.
The reticle is the Primary Arms ACSS reticle that has partial illumination. PA placed it on the second focal plane. There are other models with a first focal plane, but we didn’t think the increased price was worth it.
The PA ACSS reticle provides good guidance to compensate for bullet drop and makes it easy to aim at short to medium-range targets. You can pick from 12 different brightness settings. The battery is inside the knob with which you dial the brightness in. It’s a common CR2032 battery that you can find at every gas station, supermarket, etc.
The scope has a solid field of view at 100 yards between 110 and 14.5 feet. The eye relief is nothing earth-shattering at 3.5 to 3.3 inches.
The Primary Arms SLx 1-8×24 is the overall best choice for the AK47. It’s a solid and rugged scope that you can rely on and use in a variety of scenarios.
Trijicon ACOG – Best Tactical Scope for AK-47
The Trijicon ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight) is a scope that has a reticle that illuminates in low-light situations. It’s a battle-tested rifle scope that is built to last and is easy to use.
It comes with a fixed magnification setting of 4x, and it has a crosshair reticle. The crosshair reticle is designed to aid in target acquisition, allowing you to shoot more accurately. The crosshair reticle also has a bullet drop compensator for long-range accuracy.
This scope is the real deal. It’s so durable it’s literally been dropped from planes. They’re so durable that the US Military has contracted Trijicon to make them for them.
The illuminated reticle doesn’t require batteries. The ACOG is equipped with a reticle that is illuminated using tritium. It will never need batteries. The brightness settings are adjustable in six steps.
The ACOG features a BAC reticle that illuminates so that you can have the best accuracy, thanks to this incredible technology. Plus, it also lets you see your target clearly with both eyes open, making it easier to aim and shoot while keeping an eye out for other things going on around you.
The field of view at 100 yards measures 36.8 ft, giving a wide area to acquire targets even on the move. The 32mm objective lens is multi-coated and optimized to provide optimal light transmission.
This scope is the perfect addition to your AK 47. The only issue we find is that the eye relief is a pretty meager 1.5 inches which can lead to scope bite when using it with an AK47!
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Trijicon ACOG? Check out the best ACOG clones!
Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout – Best Forward Mounted Scope for AK 47
The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout is an excellent riflescope for an AK 47 rifle. The optics are clear, the zoom range is perfect for a target shooting range, and the scope has a great field of view.
The main reason to chose this riflescope for the AK 47 is because of the generous eye relief. The impressively generous 9.45-inch eye relief allows mounting the riflescope forward. Many shooters prefer that forward mount so they get a better sight picture.
The fully multi-coated lenses provide bright, clear viewing and prevent light reflection. The V-Plex MOA reticle is on the second focal plane and makes targeting straightforward and reliable.
The field of view ranges between 18.3 and 5.2 feet @ 100 yards. Elevation and windage allow adjustment by 60 MOA in 1/4 MOA clicks.
It’s ruggedly constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum and comes with its nitrogen-sealed tube and O-ring seals in every one of its moving parts, guaranteeing its reliability even when you least expect it.
We recommend using this scope for AK-47 type rifles where it won’t interfere with disassembly procedures or receiver/stock assembly – the medium power magnification, low profile objective lens, and compact size will be ideal for a forward-mounted scout set-up!
Have a look at our evaluation of the Vortex Crossfire II rifle scopes!
Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 – Best Hunting Scope for AK 47
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 scope is well built, easy to zero, and comes with a lifetime guarantee. It’s extremely useful in low-light situations, and the lenses of the optics are incredibly clear.
The scope comes with a great 3-9x magnification making it an excellent optic for medium-range targeting when used on your AK 47. It’s the typical range you experience for hunting, specifically when you go after deer. The 40mm objective lens comes with fully multi-coated lenses and produces the highest levels of light transmission for a clear and crisp sight image.
Leupold used aircraft-grade aluminum for the scope tube to make the optic rugged and allow it to withstand abuse when you’re in nature or on the range. The Tri-MOA CDS reticle is placed on the second focal plane and provides excellent tracking.
Windage and elevation can be adjusted within 60 MOA each with 1/4 MOA clicks. The VX-Freedom 3-9×40 has a field of view (FOV) ranging from 33.1 to 13.6 feet at 100 yards.
The VX-Freedom line of riflescopes is a perfect option for deer hunting. Developed by leading experts Leupold, these riflescopes offer exceptional light transmission in low light conditions, allowing you to hit your target when other hunters may not. The scope comes with Leupold’s Twilight Light Management system which provides you an extra few minutes during dusk and dawn. That’s especially important when hunting deer and other game.
The Leupold VX-Freedom riflescope for the AK 47 delivers reliable, accurate, and extremely clear performance in a package that outperforms most other scopes. Based on our evaluation, we think that the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9×40 is the best hunting scope for your AK 47.
Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK 1-4x24mm – Best Short-Range Scope for AK-47
The Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK 1-4x24mm is a solidly built optic that matches the AK like a glove. It is calibrated for the ballistic specifications of the Russian 7.62x30mm service cartridge, making it a great choice for the AK.
The Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK scope provides a 1-4x magnification. This is solid for close-range shooting. Even though the manufacturer claims that you can aim out to distances of 1,000 yards, that’s probably to be seen more of a theoretical range. We’d prefer much higher magnification to aim at a target that’s 1,000 yards out.
Based on the popular CMR design, the AK version has a reticle made especially for fast and easy shooting. The center dot is illuminated to provide superior visibility in low light as well as helping to keep the image bright.
The ranging brackets and BDC holdover lines simplify estimating your distance from the target, so you have everything in one place. The reticle features holdover lines for bullet drop compensation up to 900 meters/yards. Eleven brightness settings let you adjust the brightness of the reticle for almost any lighting condition, making it easy to read on sunny or overcast days.
The CMR scope is built around a 30 mm scope tube made out of high-quality aluminum. The objective lens measures 24 mm in diameter.
The eye relief on the Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK is 3.5 inches. The field of view measures between 95 feet and 26 feet at 100 yards.
The Hi-Lux Optics CMR-AK 1-4x24mm is a great match for the AK 47. The reticle is calibrated for the Russian 7.62x30mm service cartridge and matches the AK perfectly. The pricing is good and if you’re looking for a short-range (maybe medium-range) scope for your AK then this is a great choice!
Final Thoughts on the Best AK 47 Rifle Scope
Adding one of the best scopes to your AK 47 rifle will only serve to make your experience better. You will be able to see your target better and more clearly, making your shooting more accurate.
All of the scopes and red dots listed are a great addition to the AK. Which one to pick will depend on your needs and requirements. For home defense, a red dot will be your best pick. The best red dot for AK 47 is the Aimpoint Micro T-2. It’ll give you rapid target acquisition and is built rugged.
For target shooting or hunting, a scope is your better option. In our opinion and based on our evaluations, the Primary Arms is an excellent match for that and your best AK 47 scope.
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