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TX-Zen

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Posts posted by TX-Zen

  9. Mounted PK-01 to Side Rail, Fits Loosely on EAA 2001 Saiga-12

    in Saiga-12

    Posted · Edited by TX-Zen

    Thanks for the compliments beer.gif

     

     

     

    I do have a new favorite, 1P76 Rakurs ... with Obzor close behind. To me Rakurs is everything PK-AS is and more: bright sight picture, easy to acquire chevron and tritium illuminated. Tritium may not be so much fun in 10 years but for now I am really happy with it. Rakurs is simple to zero, sits centerline, is reasonably low and works well on the S12 and the SGL31. It's not quite as alien as Obzor and will be easier to get used to I think.

     

    OTOH I had a chance to do some moving drills at close range with Obzor last weekend and was really impressed with it. I've liked it since I first got one but haven't been able to get a lot of trigger time, but friends have said it's superior to Rakurs. I can't agree yet but I'm starting to see why they think so, it handles well and is extremely easy to pick up the reticule for quick shooting. It's gotten me excited to get out and see what more it can do that's for sure.

     

    Obzor review: http://russianoptics.net/Obzor_VoronReview.html

     

    (btw I'm not THE MAN, I'm just a guy with a lot of optics beer.gif )

     

     

    Z

  10. Mounted PK-01 to Side Rail, Fits Loosely on EAA 2001 Saiga-12

    in Saiga-12

    Posted · Edited by TX-Zen

    Sounds like you need to tighten the clamp, pretty common to do that out of the box. Also keep in mind PK01-V does not have a backstop and will slide off the front of the rail. You need to align the cam in the middle of the mount to the gap in the rail and tighten it based on that position. Also not hard just slightly different than other universal AK mounts.

     

     

    Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWm_QupOauw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

     

    Pictorial: http://www.tantal.ka...adjustments.htm

  11. Russian Optics Red Dot Battery Test

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    PK01-VS and PK-A Venezuela: 21 days / 504 hours

     

     

     

     

    I think PK01-V is too faint to acquire the dot against light backgrounds in full sunlight as of 4/22/12. I'd call it 500 hours under any conditions. The dot is still usable against most contrasting backgrounds but not very light ones.

     

     

    I'll keep the test running to see when the dot fades out.

     

    PK01-VS is super bright and PK-A Venezuela starting to fade against light backgrounds in full sunlight

     

     

     

     

    Z

  13. Russian Optics Red Dot Battery Test

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    Very cool. So maybe the flickering reticle on the 23 is hard on batteries.

     

    Evidently. I'll have to toss in a fresh set of batteries and confirm this for myself. Remember though, that Zen's results are based on constant MAX brightness which is rarely if ever necessary to actually use on the PK-23; in part because of the blinking reticle, which naturally attracts the eye.

     

    All that said, ~80 hrs off a couple small, cheap batteries ain't bad. Also, I use my 23 on a qd mount, (which it came with), so I can't imagine it'd ever be a problem. wink.png

     

    Thank you for the data, Zen.

     

    +1 to this, in practice I think PK23 would work fine at much lower brightness than other dots precisely because of the flickering and that will get you more than 80 hours continuous at max. In actuality the PK23 dimmed noticeably in the first two/three days but the flickering dot is exactly why it was still usable.

     

    Also +1 to the QD, IMO it's a good idea for any optic to be QD in the event of big trouble. This is why I like side rail optics that block the irons because it's a couple seconds tops to remove the optic if it goes tits up.

     

     

     

    And continuing to sound like a broken record, but PK01-V, PK01-VS and PK-A Venezuela still going strong.

     

    18.5 days, 445 hours as of 10pm CST tonight

     

     

     

    Z

  15. Russian Optics Red Dot Battery Test

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted · Edited by TX-Zen

    I started a red dot battery test two weeks ago and have been keeping track of the results on http://russianoptics.net/Battery.html

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The test began Sunday 4/1/2012 at 09:00, this first run is for MAX brightness

     

    Batteries used are Duracell 3v DL 1/3N Lithium Battery Model 10315 (CR357 style), Duracell AAA Model MN24000 and Duracell 1.5v AA Model MN1500 (good old copper tops). The plan was to check the brightness twice a day and record the results.

     

    After the max brightness test is complete I'll try to run it again on about 75% brightness and see where they end up. The optics are being left in the garage and subject to daily temperature changes. While I don't count this as field conditions it's better than sitting in the house under air conditioning all day.

     

     

    Test includes these optics (Kobra had a failure and is not part of the test now)

     

    DL 1/3N models

    PK01-Vi

    PK-AS

    PK23

    PK-A (Original grey model)

     

     

    AA models

    Kobra EKP-1S-03M (Dot and Chevron reticule)

    PK01-VS

    PK01-VM

    PK-A (Venezuelan grey model)

     

    AAA model

    PK01-V

     

    RedDotBatteryTest.JPG

     

    More info on the red dots here

     

     

     

     

    As of 4/15/12 the results are:

     

    PK01-V.......................14 days and still on

    PK01-VS....................14 days and still on

    PK-A Venezuelan.....14 days and still on

     

    PK23...........................80 hours

    PK-A original.............96 hours

    PK01-Vi......................96 hours

    PK01-VM...................120 hours

    PK-AS........................125 hours

    Kobra: Not tested

     

     

    Z

    • Like 1

  16. Kashtan 1P78

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    I don't believe the Obzor can be easily taken off the mount and so far I haven't seen it wash out under any lighting conditions. I think it's possible to have a combination of lighting and background coloration that could possibly wash it out but I think that would be rare indeed.

     

    Thanks for perspective on using the Hensoldt and Swarovski's. I would love to get my hands on some really high end optics but ultimately I am probably always going to be a 'combat shooter' and use optics more aligned for that role. They sound amazing and I'd love to use them in the field to see how well they perform. I'm a big believer in quality and have no doubt they are the cat's meow :beer:

     

     

     

     

     

    Z

  17. Picture Thread!!!

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    J,

     

    No pics of the PK-AS Weaver version, I don't own one unfortunately. I will say that the PK-AS is right at 1.75 inches tall from the base of the elevation screw to the center of the FOV. I'd estimate the Weaver version to have approximately 1 inch extra due to the base, so I'd feel ok saying about 2.75" height above the rail.

     

     

    Z

  19. PK Red dot optics....

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    I haven't seen much functional difference in them really, but you'll find PK01 to be the most modern of them. My favorite is PK-A for various non technical reasons but I feel that PK01-V or PK01-VM are the best of the red dot optics. I completely prefer collimators like PK-AS, Rakurs and Obzor though.

     

    PK23 is neat with the flickering dot but again to me these dots all feel and seem to perform about the same. PK-A is offset to the left somewhat, the rest are centered and you get different heights depending on which model you pick.

     

    I currently have a battery test underway but it's only been 84 hours so too soon to tell how long they're going to last

     

     

    http://russianoptics.net/reddot.html

  20. Kashtan 1P78

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted · Edited by TX-Zen

    Hey TX; I know you're a combloc optic lover and all. I can certainly respect that. I'm an optics geek myself. I haven't played with the range of combloc optics you have (I've enjoyed your info and reviews though! good stuff) but I've taken a few for a spin.

     

    Personally, I wouldn't rate combloc optic clarity as "excellent" - but that is all in what you get used to. But it is certainly good, at any rate.

     

    You're sort of right about the mount/rings issue, but that is only if you go with a picatinny side mount. That is how I got the experience with Russian optics in the past on my AKs.. didn't make much sense to go with anything else, because you couldn't get around the high sight plane. But there are a few options out there now, and more on the horizon, that will mount optics lower.

     

    Do you know off hand if the Obzor has any sort of tint to the glass? This optic sounds interesting to me, and I've been thinking of picking one up to play with.

     

    Obzor is definitely tinted, the purple is to bring contrast to the reticule. I believe it works as designed, I don't seem to lose targets in the background more than other optics and the reticule so far has always been very easy to acquire.

     

    No filter:

    1P63-Reticule-Voron.jpg

     

    With filter:

    PK1-ObzorReticuleFilter01.JPG

     

     

     

     

    I hear your points on combloc quality but that's where I'm on the fence. I'm all for believing that ACOGs have the best glass and really don't see why they wouldn't, but when I compare them side by side to PSO-1, Kashtan and others I don't see a dramatic difference...not even much of a difference at all to be honest. Contrary to popular belief I don't drink Russian optic koolaid...and maybe I'm blind but when I hear people say that optic X is better than Russian optic Y honestly I don't doubt it....I just don't see much of a difference when I compare them to each other. To me ACOGs are better than some combloc optics, some comblocs are better than ACOGs.

     

    Hope that makes sense. I am definitely a fan of combloc optics but believe it or not I try to be as impartial as I can. I'm just not one of those people that believe because it's made in the USA or Russia or anywhere else that it's the best. I want to have some evidence and some basis for comparison. A long time ago everyone said combloc optics sucked so I got a few to see what the hubbub was about.

     

    7 years later I'm still trying to figure out why they suck.

     

     

    You raise excellent points and it's an honest debate which is great (as opposed to the 'buy an Aimpoint' argument which has gotten pretty lame). I'm not sold on either kind of optic overall and I have always appreciate learning as much as I can. beer.gif

     

     

    Z

  21. Kashtan 1P78

    in Saiga / AK Optics & Sights

    Posted

    PO 3.5x21P is calibrated for a number of optics but by far the most common one in the States is 5.45. I've had a 7.62x39 in the past and there are one or two floating around that have a different set of range lines on them but most will be 5.45

     

    It also depends on how you look at the value of the optic. Kashtan is the Russian ACOG and is in service today with various units. It's a high quality optic with excellent glass quality, tritium for low light and an amber lense color to reduce eye strain. Believe it or not but if you take Kashtan to the field under wide lighting conditions that amber coating works extremely well. It also helps contrast as the ambient light goes down. Kashtan has passed some tough field trials, the Russian army doesn't buy junk in my experience.

     

    Kashtan is designed for the AK74 by NPZ. It is the real deal...all that for $500-600 bucks. To me it's hard to beat but I like AK's and I have a lot of experience using them.

     

    If you are just going to the range to plink or have fun then a $200 option might be better, like a POSP 4x24 even though they are not 5.45 calibrated. It doesn't really matter for what most of us do with these optics anyway.

     

    As far as cheekweld or height go, in my experience by the time you add in a suitable mount and rings, many Western scopes will be as higher or higher than dedicated AK optics (in general, I'm sure there exceptions).

     

    Warranty is trickier but since you deal with a distributor first in the states most defects will be discovered when you open the box and you can probably return it to them then and there. I personally have not had an optic break during use over the past 7 years, the few problems I've had have been out of the box.

     

    For me Kashtan is just about the best combloc optic on the market but my criteria might be different than other people.

     

     

    Z

  22. Low Profile Optic Mount

    in Saiga-12

    Posted · Edited by TX-Zen

    I'm looking for a low profile optic mount to use on my S12, I've done some research and believe I have a winner, but I'm not sure it will work with a S12 (http://kalinkaoptics...eaver-rail.html). Has anyone had any experience with those or have a good, low profile, optic mount?

     

    That mount will work with an S12 just fine. Here it is on an SGL31 which uses the same side rail

    AKRail_Molot_SGL31-44.JPG

     

     

     

     

    PK01-V will sit lower than the Molot mount btw

     

    http://kalinkaoptics...tion-v-3-3.html

     

    PK01-V_Mount.JPG

    PK01-V side mount is also superior to the BP02 but it's twice as expensive. The RS Regulate mounts are well made, I have one and like it.

     

     

    Z

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