AK47 is arguably one of the most popular weapons in the world. In fact, a study in 2007 suggested it accounted for over 15% of firearms in the world. These astronomical figures didn’t happen by chance but because of what the Ak47 can and has offered its users. The gun is reliable, effective, and, to top it all, still affordable; this has made it the darling of most shooters looking for semi-automatic rifles. It was first manufactured in 1947, and this is where it got the 47 in the name AK47.
Being the most popular rifle has its perks; you get so many gadget options as manufacturers scramble to make something for you. These perks can quickly turn into a problem when these gadgets become too many. Their sheer numbers make it challenging to make a choice.
The AK47 first started as a military rifle before becoming a mainstay among civilians for home defense and sports shooting. It has, however, grown into a hunting rifle among hunters, with the manufacturers acknowledging this newfound area by making a dedicated round for this purpose. People use the AK47 because of what it brings, and what it brings would be severely limited without a rifle sight that matches.
The quest for a red dot sight that matches the AK47 has led us to do a deep dive into red dot sights for the AK47 and come out with the best of them all. If you’re interested in knowing the best red dot for AK47, you want to stick around as we dissect this topic.
There are different sights/scopes you can use with your AK47, but in this article, we’ll only be focusing on red dot sights. Red dot sights focus more on precision and less on distance, so it’s majorly for people with accuracy in mind and shooting short distances.
Table of Contents
Best Red Dots For AK47
As earlier mentioned, there are so many red dot sights available in the market now that it has become an enormous task for anybody to select the best and most fitting for their situation from among the long list. So here you go with a list of carefully researched red dots that have passed the test as the best red dot sights for AK47.
- Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight 1×25mm -top pick
- Burris FastFire II Reflex Red Dot Sight
- EOTech HWS 512
- Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight – Lightweight option
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bushnell Trophy | • Affordable • Compact • 3 MOA | View Price |
 | Burris FastFire | • Lightweight • Unlimited eye relief • High recoil tolerance | View Price |
 | EOTech HWS 512 | • Lifetime warranty • Rugged design • Auto-shutdown | View Price |
 | Vortex Optics | • Extremely lightweight • Alloy aluminum body • Long-lasting battery | View Price |
#1. Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight 1×25mm
The affordability (less than $80 as at the time of writing) and effectiveness of the Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 red dot has shot it to the top of this list of best red dot sights for AK47. As it is for all red dot sights, this Bushnell sight has no magnification. It has an objective lens diameter of 25mm, which is large enough for light to enter the tube to brighten the image.
The red dot is built like a tank to withstand accidental bumps, hits it may take, or even recoil from the AK47. You’ll be getting a durable sight that you can use for a long time without worrying about changing it after taking a minor hit.
This affordable scope has 11 brightness settings for every light condition you’ll encounter. A CR2032 battery powers this illumination. At an average brightness level, you should get about 1000 hours out of the battery, although Bushnell claims you can get 3000 hours. It seems that will only be possible at lower brightness settings.
The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 is a compact sight weighing only 3.7 ounces and is just 5.5 inches long. To allow you to use the red dot sight with your AK47 in various weather conditions, including in the rain, the manufacturers made it submersion-proof and waterproof by nitrogen-purging the tubes and using O-rings to seal it.
The manufacturers only provided one year warranty with this scope. It is a 3 MOA reticle that many people feel is too big for a rifle. However, it’ll serve you well. There’s also an unlimited eye relief that red dot sights allow you to enjoy.
Pros
- Affordable
- 25mm objective lens diameter
- Compact
- 3 MOA
- Waterproof and submersion-proof
- 11 brightness settings
- It uses the popular CR2032 battery
Cons
- Short warranty period
#2. Burris FastFire II Reflex Red Dot Sight
The Burris brand is a mainstay in this industry, and its red dot sight makes our list of best red dots for AK47s. Its build is impressive with a clean black design. It started as a handgun scope, but as users noticed its extreme tolerance for recoil, it gained prominence among rifles also. It is the multipurpose red dot sight that you can use for handguns alongside your AK47.
This 4 MOA reticle will make aiming a piece of cake for you, and coupled with its unlimited eye relief, you can aim and shoot without injuries to the eye due to recoil.
The Burris fast-fire weighs only 2 ounces making it incredibly lightweight. Its weight does not affect its durability as it is a rugged sight with shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof abilities. It also comes with a Picatinny or Weaver mounting plate to make mounting easier and reduce the money you spend on buying additional materials.
It has an auto-adjustable brightness setting that selects the best setting for the light condition it is experiencing, thereby saving you time and making your experience more enjoyable. It does this auto-adjustment using a target-directed light sensor.
It is parallax-free at up to 50 yards and comes with a Burris forever warranty. There are also elevation and windage adjustment knobs available.
Pros
- Amazing design and build
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof
- Auto-adjustable brightness setting
- Picatinny or Weaver mounting plate attached
- Lightweight
- Unlimited eye relief
- High recoil tolerance
- Burris forever warranty
Cons
- Not specifically built for rifles
#3. EOTech HWS 512
Before we talk about the EOTech
HWS 512 red dot in more detail, let us set this straight; this sight is not night vision compatible. This means you cannot use it at night. If you are doing night shooting, you might want to get the 522 version which is the same red dot sight but night vision compatible. With that out of the way, here’s why this sight made it to the list of best red dots for AK47.
As its looks suggest, this is a rugged sight that will take a lot of hits and recoil pressure without breaking down. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and is submersible in up to 10 feet. It weighs more than the typical red dot sight at 11.5 ounces while only 5.5 inches long. With its auto-shutdown, you can select a shutdown at 4 or 8 hours to maximize battery usage.
The standard military rails will carry the EOTech HWS 512 sight perfectly. It also has a quick-release lever so you can quickly switch between it and another sight. The sight also comes with a lifetime warranty, so you have nothing to worry about if you get a faulty or damaged scope within a short period. EOTech HWS 512 has 20 brightness settings available to you. So you get a seamless experience when using the red dot.
The body of this scope is made with anti-reflective materials, while the inside of the tube is made fogproof for better visibility and to increase its lifetime.
Pros
- Submersible to up to 10 feet
- Durable as it is made from aircraft-grade aluminum
- Lifetime warranty
- 20 brightness settings available
- Rugged design
- Auto-shutdown
- Unlimited eye relief
Cons
- Expensive
- Not night vision compatible
Bonus Read: How to Choose a Rifle Scope?
#4. Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight
Well, well, well, vortex optics had to make a list. Vortex is a popular name in the optics industry and has the venom red dot sight for your AK47 rifle. This is the lightweight champion in this list, weighing just 1.6 ounces which is helped by its alloy aluminum body. This lightweight design does not make it any less durable as it can withstand bumps and falls.
Its multi-coated lenses improve the quality of images you get from the sight while ensuring that dust and scratch do not obstruct vision. The whole body is O-ring sealed, so dirt, moisture, and fog do not find their way inside the sight.
Its size makes it also ideal for handguns as well as rifles. This 6MOA red dot sight is parallax-free and has ten adjustable power settings you can choose from depending on the light condition. The knob for this adjustment is located on the left-hand side, which some people claim can be obstructing.
Its battery is long-lasting, with up to 30,000 hours when using the lowest power settings and 150 hours of usage at the highest levels. Still, on its power settings, it uses a light sensor to work its auto-adjust brightness feature.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Alloy aluminum body
- Durable and O-ring sealed
- Long-lasting battery
- Auto-adjustable brightness setting
- Multi-coated lenses
- 10 power settings available
Cons
- Power adjustments knob to the left can be obstructing
Summary
AK47 is a popular semi-automatic weapon because of its effectiveness, but without a suitable scope, you cannot utilize your rifle to its maximum. Getting a red dot sight that serves AK47 rifles is necessary if you must enjoy the benefits of this weapon. To make things easier, we’ve arranged this least with their features.
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