How Good Are Russian Optics? Ultimate Explanation

Just like Russian military jets, Russian optics too are rugged and can withstand wear and tear more than their counterparts. But what about the quality? Are they comparable to American optics? In this article, we will explain how good are Russian optics and how they fare against others.

Spoiler, they are equally good, if not better than their American or European counterparts.

What Makes Russian Optics Good?

The tremendous military and industry push from the Soviet era is what made Russian optics so good. This push gave birth to LOMO, a Russian optics company that once worked with Zeiss to bring their optics to today’s standard. They have some noteworthy characteristics which others lack.

1. Ruggedness

Russian optics are designed to withstand the most demanding of situations. At the same time, they are able to handle the wear and tear more than any other optics and still continue to perform under heavy loads. In short, they are built last through years of abuse.

2. Versatility

Russian optics range from simple monoculars that are handheld to powerful military-grade binoculars. They are no slouch in military optics either. From head-strap goggles to rifle scopes all the way up to the third generation, they build them all. In fact, the Russian military issues their third-generation Russian scopes to their special forces.

3. Price to Performance Ratio

There’s a reason why countries with limited budgets go with Russian optics. They are cheaper, not only to buy but also to operate as well. Russians consider their military technology as disposables. So, while American-made optics may take regular maintenance to keep performing for years to come, Russian optics are designed to perform as long as possible without requiring any maintenance.

What are Some Good Russian Optics?

It is fairly easy these days to get your hands on Russian-made optics, mass-produced in both Russian and Belarus. Among Russian red dots, these are some of the noteworthy optics.

• The Belarus-made BelOMO PK-A
• BelOMO RK-01V, another made-in-Belarus gem
• The Russian Kalinka made PK-A
• Another Kalinka made PK-01 VM

Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

What is the Russian Standard Issue Optic?

The 1P78 is meant to be the standard optic for the riflemen in the Russian military, which is similar to ACOG made by Trijicon.  It is meant to replace the older PSO-1. The 1P78 is illuminated by tritium and doesn’t require any battery to operate.

What red dot does Russia use?

For red dots, the Russian military uses the NPZ PK-1, which is designed to work both in daylight and at night.

What non-military optics do Russians make?

Russian optics include microscopes, total stations, theodolites, etc. In fact, Russian optics excel at surveying the equipment industry.

Final Thoughts

Adding an optic to your equipment will breathe a whole new life into it. In that case, Russian optics can be a great choice for you. They offer one of the, if not, the best quality for a much cheaper premium than their Western counterparts. They will last you a very long time as well.