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Posted: 10/11/2011 2:14:54 PM EDT
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I narrowed down my optics search to 1P78 Kashtan and PO 3.5x21P. I really like both optics but can only purchase one. Here's my thinking at this point:
PO 3.5x21P pros (relative to 1P78) - 3.5 magnification vs. 2.8 - black finish - battery powered vs. tritium (I'd rather change batteries than get stuck with dead tritium) PO 3.5x21P cons (relative to 1P78) - heavier than 1P78 - seems to sit a little bit higher than 1P78 (cheekweld/chinweld concern) - 80 bucks more expensive than 1P78 (I can get 3 additional Bulgarian M-74NC mags for this price) What do you think and which scope would you recommend? |
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1P78 to me is the better optic all things considered, though I have them both and will continue to recommend them both.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/136964_1P78_Kashtan_review_and_other_5_45_specific_optics_comparison.html Z |
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Quoted:
1P78 to me is the better optic all things considered, though I have them both and will continue to recommend them both. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_4_64/136964_1P78_Kashtan_review_and_other_5_45_specific_optics_comparison.html Z Thanks for your comment and linked review. I've read the review several times during my research as I was thinking about the pros and cons of each optic. I am still not clear on why you prefer 1P78. Is it weight? Simplicity of the reticle? Tritium illumination? |
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It's all of that really...but the most significant factor to me is that the 1P78 is lightweight, compact and for me the tritium is also a big plus. It's the most modern of the 5.45 optics (as far as I can tell) and it appears to be in service with the Russian military on some scale at least.
As the years go by I tend to prefer simpler and simpler optics that I would use in a real SHTF situation. I doubt I ever will in reality but for years now my Army experience has been creeping back into my day to day thinking of weapons and I find myself looking generally for the simplest kinds of enhancements for my rifles. I still collect optics for bench shooting and just to have but what I tend to recommend more often these days are what I believe to be simple and effective additions the AK. Given the choice between similar performance at half the weight it's hard for me not to recommend the 1P78 over the PO 3.5 but that's also because I like the tritium and don't consider it a disadvantage. In 10 years I may feel differently but it could also be possible to get the 1P78 relit too, McNee229 from theakforum.net recently did just that with the 1P29 cartridge and that gives me hope that he or someone else down the road might be able to do it for the 1P78 too. In fact I'm thinking of working with him again on the Zeiss ZFK 4x25 also, I'm really impressed with his work. Overall I think the 1P78 is the best of the 5.45 optics but I've used the PO 3.5x21P to hit out to 600m before and there's no question it's a fantastic optic. There's really nothing wrong with it at all to be honest it's just a little heavy. I still think optical clarity is the highest of any PSO type optic I've used also. My main point is only about the weight and even then it's not the end of the world, it's just that all things considered they perform similarly but one is much lighter than the other. Like I said I still recommend them both. Z |
| I agree with TX. I have had both. I only own the 1P78 now if that is any indication. Not that I didn't like the PO, but the Kashtan is an overall better optic...more user friendly, simpler reticle, perfect amount of magnification (3.5 - 4 is overkill given the optic's application), and most importantly size and weight!!! The PO is a pig of an optic. It would best be suited for a squad level weapon like an RPK. It is just too damn big and heavy. |
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