hello everybody I'm gonna be getting an AKARS soon and I was wondering if I should get a 1-4 or red dot for maybe 300 yards max so I kinda want it to do a little bit of everything. recommendations would be great with lets say a budget of $200

If you want a cheap, magnified optic, check out the PA 4x ACSS reticle 7.62x39 BDC


Primary Arms


There are a number of good red dots for under/around $200 as well; the Bushnell TRS-25, and the Vortex SPARC are two that come to mind.

I like that and the 1-6 is cool to a little out of budget but doable. I have heard good things about PA

I would recommend the Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR-AK, but it is about double your stated budget; great 1-4x with illuminated reticle and 7.62x39/.300BLK BDC

+1 for PA, their micro-dots are under 100 bucks and are superb.

Don't go cheap on a red dot. You get what you pay for I have learned that. Get an Aimpoint or Trijicon RMR if its going to be your go to rifle. You don't need a cheap optic failing on you in the middle of a shtf situation.

The Burris MTAC is also another excellent option for $400, I own 2 on AR's but I've been debating putting one on the WASR as well. If it has to be under $200 OP, I would say either a Primary Arms red dot or a Vortex Strikefire V. 2. I would say though save a bit extra, once you get to the $400 range, the options greatly multiply tenfold, both red dots and variable magnified optics.

I've heard good things about the Vortex Strikefire line.  They have an added bonus of being 30mm tubes so mounts are easy to find.  I was going to purchase one of these, and then I deployed, so naturally the money burned a hole in my pocket and I ended up going with an Aimpoint Pro.  At $40 over your budget you might have luck searching around the web to find it cheaper than MSRP.   If you choose to, they also sell magnifiers.

I might go this route I don't need an optic right away

I absolutely hated my Vortex Strikefire. It seems like they pay people to say good things about them online or something. My lens was very dark, even in daylight, and the controls just sucked. Half the time I couldn't tell if it was on or just on an NV setting. Buttons are just not the way to go, especially if it is for self defense or hunting, because you don't want to fiddle with it for five minutes just to turn it on. And the stupid buttons were just like glued on to the outside of the scope, not even embedded like Eotech's. The simple knob on an Aimpoint is far superior to any buttons hands down. Plus the Strikefires come with a turd of a mount, so you'll have to spend more for a serious mount. Both Aimpoint and Eotech include an excellent mount.

Saving up for a proper red dot will cost you less in the long run, because your basically throwing the $200 away when you eventually upgrade it. You will upgrade, everyone upgrades.

I like this one.  It has  55,000 hour battery life too and can use the AimPoint T-1 mount.

Micro-Max B-Dot

I found this today.  I don't know how good they are, but look interesting.  The Burris MTAC is also interesting.

CMR series