Preferred optics for the vz.58?

[JDA70]

So...let have a discussion about optics for a vz.58.
Now I know that is an overly simplified question/statement.

What I mean is,  what scopes actually fit the rifle in function.
Can you put a 3x9x40mm scope on an vz.58? Sure but it's going
to get in the way of function and probably feel awkward.

So far I have come up with a few scopes that I think will work on this rifle
and not cost you a small fortune like a Trijicon ACOG for example. I'm trying to
keep this simple and cost effective.

1. Vortex Strikefire II
It's a fixed power 1x red dot with 100 MOA adjustment for around $180.
The dot itself will cover about 4"inch target at 100 yards. Not the best
out there for sure.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-vortex-strikefire-ii-red-dot-4-moa.html


2. Bushnell TRS-25 Trophy Series Red Dot Sight.
Little bit cheaper then the Vortex but still a great optic for around $80 if you
don't want one that is camouflaged. This one has a smaller Dot then the
Vortex Strike Fire. It's 3MOA if I remember correctly
http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-1x25-trophy-series-riflescope-trs-25-red-dot-731303.html

3. Nikon Monarch 3 Riflescope - 1-4x20mm
These types of scopes are going to cost around $280
Now from what I have heard they can take the shock from shooting
a 7.62x39 round and still hold zero. Not a real fancy scope but decent.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/nikon-monarch-3-1-4x20.html

The next one is
4. Leatherwood CMR-AK762.
This is by far the optic I like the most out of all of these.
http://www.opticsplanet.com/leatherwood-hi-lux-1-4x24mm-cmr-ak762-illuminated-tactical-rifle-scope-for-ak-47.html

So what's my the problem here? Both the Monarch and Leatherwood
are 10 + inches long scopes.

Apparently the Leatherwood and Nikon can take a beating and I don't think
spent cartridges hitting the body would matter.
But then again I have never tried one of these scopes on a vz.58.
The main concern is the glass getting hit.
I measured the distance from the ejector to the end of the receiver cover
and it's about 6" inches
What do you guys think? What is your currrent set up?
Have you tried mount a scope like the Nikon Monarch 3?

[Eugene Onegin]

I have a TRS-25 on a CSA LPM-1H and I'm happy with it .

[CitizenPete]

Good questions, I'm gonna follow this post.  I have a Vortex red dot (first version), was considering the second Gen red dot, but not the strike fire model. I also have the tag13g ACOG with the 7.62x39 Bullet drop reticle and which I believe will sit back far enough on the CSA side mount rails (both tall and short - see pics here. http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=63778.msg432362#msg432362)  to avoid getting clobbered by spent casings being ejected.   I was also looking at the hybrid EOTech NV and magnifier which are pretty bleep pricey, but work with NV and allow for CQ and distance.  Kalinka usually has some cheaper options ( )and some casing deflectors I believe.  Finally, I contacted a Bulgarian optics company about their options and await their reply.  I really would love to see what other options peeps are looking at.

[RSR]

For cowitness, Primary Arms Red Dot: https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-s/586.htm

$50 this weekend.  Can't be beat.  Get the MD-06L if you want to be able to screw on a killflash.  Killflash +$20.  It and Bushnell are neck and neck quality and you have to spend at least $350+ to have any sort of measurable performance gains...

Also Primary arms makes an awesome 7.62x39/300BLK scope recticle: http://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-1-6X-Scope-with-ACSS-7-62X39-300AAC-p/pa1-6xakser.htm
(someone discussed previously on the boards)

I think it's overkill considering my use of the weapon as a carbine and am awaiting the 5.56 version for my Galils...

For non-cowitness red dots (e.g., top cover mount) consider the Vortex Sparc with it's 2x direct attach magnifier.

Military Arms Channel Budget Red Dot test:
http://www.thebangswitch.com/budget-red-dot-sight-comparison-part-1/
http://www.thebangswitch.com/budget-red-dot-sight-comparison-part-2/
http://www.thebangswitch.com/budget-red-dot-update/

BTW: AIM Surplus was selling both MD06 red dots for $49.99 w/ free shipping but they sold out as soon as Mr GunsNGear, possibly others, started posting about it.  Some interesting (very positive) feedback on them in his notice post: https://www.facebook.com/Mrgunsngear/posts/576017562511314
*Free shipping code in the thread/comments as well.

[JDA70]

Hey thanks guys.

I didn't know about the MD-06L from Primary Arms.


http://www.tacticalsandwich.com/?p=78

I think we can all safely say a MD-06L is great deal
if you want to run a Red Dot in combat on a vz.58 and
I'd not be surprised if the Bushnell TRS-25 did as well.

There are some other options but I'll get to them later.
I really want to talk about Running a 1x4 power scope on a vz.58 / VZ2008.

[CitizenPete]

Surprised that the Bushnell rated tops, but just because I was unawares of it.  I have a Gen1 Vortex Sparc that usually rides on an SGL21 via a Midwest Industries side mount and it has never failed me.  The gen2 model looks somewhat improved.

The primary Arms red dot for $50 sounds like a no brainier for a good budget red dot. Plus there should not be any mounting or clearance considerations.

I wonder how many of these would survive MACs multiple drop test?

[armoredman]

I use the Bushnell TRS025 and have nothing but good to say about it, great optic.

[RSR]

There are some other options but I'll get to them later.
I really want to talk about Running a 1x4 power scope on a vz.58 / VZ2008.

Options are side rails:

Corwin sells some side rail mounts that have full bottoms that would protect the scope such as this one: http://www.corwin-arms.com/product/vomz-sks-svt-40-vz58-ak-side-mount-iii-weaver-mount

VZ58rifle.com sells this mount that includes a deflector option: http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/montazni-lista-tz-pro-optiky-posp/
http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/usmernovac-nabojnic-blatnik-pro-puskohledy-posp/

And second option is railed, clamp on top cover and then run a rail extension off the front of it with scope rings that sit high enough to allow: http://www.jsesurplus.com/railextensionriser.aspx
Might need to do some fitting and/or material addition for ejection angling/aiming, but it should work fairly well as well so long as scope isn't touching the rail extension.

My thoughts off hand anyways.

Please take a look at the Primary Arms 7.62x39 scope I mentioned.  It's really ideal for this rifle/ammo in my opinion.  Russian ammo is 2 MOA anyways, so it makes sense to have a scope that takes that into account; or at least that's my opinion...

[wanderson7262]

I vote for a red dot for fast target acquisition. I run a Bushnell TRS-25 I got from Amazon for $70 mounted on my upper handguard, very small and crisp dot works well for targeting out to 100 yards. Had it for years on several different rifles and never failed. I've also purchased a few items from Primary Arms and have always been happy, for $50 their micro red dot is probably the best bargain out there. Other than the name I'd bet you couldn't tell the difference between the Bushnell and the Primary micro side by side.

[JDA70]

But what if you want to shoot out 400 meters?

[CitizenPete]

Advance 300! Wahahaaaa or call fido number 9

[son of a gun]

Recently Bushnell's outlet store in Overland Park,KS had a Fathers Day sale. I picked up a  Simmons Pro Hunter Hand gun scope, 2-6 x32 for $27. it's made in Korea too.  It has about 18 " of eye relief so it will work great  for a Scout Scope setup and it allows you to use both eyes. I wanted to go the Scout scope route for my SKS and was considering a Burris or a Leupold Scout scope but decided against either on account of the price.  I have a SKS Scout scope mount and a extra long picitinny rail that goes with it, if any one is interested? I sold my SKS and bought a VZ2008.

[RSR]

If you run the straight stock option an ACOG might be an option as well.  Believe they run around 6 inches in length, but at least part of that would/should hang over your stock...

Though Lucids resemble ACOGs, they're a 1x optic w/ 2x magnifier screw on option. 

The closest and cheapest ACOG alternative that I'm aware of are the Burris 3-5x Prism Optics...  But then Primary Arms has some magnified Red Dots that are similar size but cheaper. 

[Samikoo]

I?ve looked at options for a decent scope for years now, and haven't actually found anything that I could justify spending my money on.

At the moment, Vector 1-6x28 looks like something that might work. Length is only 7.7", and it doesn't look half bad. But it's a Vector... And an expensive Vector too.

The other alternative could be Kalinka Optics PO 3.5x20 . It's short, and should take a beating. But it's only 3.5x, and the reticle is what it is. If you zero for 300m it might be OK. Or use Kentucky Windage.

[CitizenPete]

Regarding REAL battle optics:  (as in "real" expensive)

Now that RMRs suggestion has got me drooling down my rubber bib looking at Aimpoints... ,  I thought I might return the favor to the forum.

If you can afford it, one of the finest 100m-300m-600m range scopes for the fabulous 7.62x39 (M67, M43) round that you should really consider is the Trijicon ACOG TAG33A-13.

My buddy paid about $3000 for his Nightforce sniper scope on his AR-10.  Holy crap! 
At $850-1300 the ACOG only costs a third of the price of a Nightforce.  Only 1/3 the cost!     See what I did there?  Feel free to use that with your wife. Remember just a third of the cost of a Nightforce scope! -- now that's a savings!!!

Anyways,

The TAG33-13a is a fixed 3x30 optic with sweeeet horseshoe reticle and a 7.62x39 bullet drop hold over.  This optic has been exclusively mounted on my Sig556R, but it may get a test ride on a Vzor58 in the future. 

Like typical ACOG designs the TAG33a-13 doesn't need no stink'n badges, er I mean batteries, and the reticle remains nicely lit day or night with daylight fiber or night time tritium.   The scope is rugged as hell: Your wife can probably use a baseball bat to hit the ACOG into your algae infested Koy pond,  then later if you can dredge the pond to retrieve it, the scope will be just fine. All sorts of over-priced QD mounts and risers (often costing more than other scopes, or a divorce lawyers retainer) are available for the ACOG in order to set the height to match up to NV adapters, or co-witness iron sites,  etc.

Adjustments to windage and elevation are precise with 4 clicks per inch at 100 yards. The little removable covers on the knobs are not attached, so it's possibly something small to loose.

The TAG33 scope is available in three different reticle colors -- red, green and amber.  The green horseshoe is simply awesome during a sunny day, and more than bright enough in low light and at night, but  kinda sucks for contrast against any NV adapter which paints the world green.  Green on green - red or amber would be much better with NV.  Not a problem on the vZ58, since there is no place to mount NV adapters directly over the receiver.  http://www.opticsplanet.com/trijicon-acog-3x30-riflescope-w-horseshoe-dot-7-62x39-reticle-ta51-mount-ta33-13.html

And for the price of less than a couple portraits of dead presidents (that would be the Grant identical twins), you can add a ruggedized miniature reflex (RMR) 3.5 MOA sight plus mount to the top of the ACOG for CQ use. https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/support/faq_RMR.php I don't have one of these, but it's far less than 1/3 of the cost of a Nightforce scope, so I'm considering it

My shooting friends and anyone at the range that tries the scope is immediately impressed with the clarity and ease of target acquisition. The light transmission is really just incredible. The initial impression for someone who is unfamiliar with the optic is usually "this is awesome" or "bleep! you can't miss with this" or "this is only the cost of one third of a Nightforce scope?, I gotta tell the wife".

This ACOG is not a budget scope option by most folks measure, but if your recently divorced (or wish to be) and can afford this optic, it is well worth the time to check it out.  I can't recommend this optic enough.


Mortgage vs. Thermal:
...and for real night time fun, without the chance of ever seeing any wife again - except maybe in court, check out the more recent additions that FLIR now offers ...
http://www.sportoptics.com/flir-thermal-rifle-scope-431-0007-04-00.aspx