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Posted: 10/7/2004 11:25:11 AM EDT
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www.kalinkaoptics.com/cgi-bin/kowstore.cgi I'm building a pseudo-sniper type rifle out of one of my M48 Mausers. The rifle is quite accurate and deserving of a scope. I want something affordable, tough, and foreign looking. It doesn't have to be an exact authentic replica of a K98 high-turret, because I can't afford that and this is a Yugo mauser anyway, but I also don't want a shiny new Simmons pistol scope on a scout mount either. There is one other requirement-- the scope must have a German post type reticle. Now I know this is the AK forums and this thread has nothing to do with AKs, but the guys over here know best about all things Russian. If I post this in general discussion I'm going to get inundated with "save your money and just buy a $400 Leupold or a Nikon" posts. Save your breath, I gave $100 or so for the rifle and I'm shooting cheapass corrosive surplus ammo through it-- although it shoots good groups for what it is, its not a Remington LTR and a $400 scope won't make it one. I'm thinking of taking it deer hunting but since engagement ranges where I am in Missouri are usually well under 150 yards, honestly iron sights would serve me just as well in terms of practicality. I have another unissued M48 that I'm leaving original if I want to do that. I've decided I'm going to get the mount from Iron Elite. A friend has this unit on one of his Mausers and it is well built, looks funky and foreign, works with the standard M48 bolt, and allows the use of a regular scope instead of a pistol or "scout" eye relief scope. www.iron-elite.com/m48y.html  So, I'm thinking about Kalinka optics. They all run around $100 or so and they otherwise meet all of my above criteria. I think one of the fixed powers would suit my M48 well, but these are the ones I'm thinking of in particular: 2-10 x 52 adjustable www.kalinkaoptics.com/cgi-bin/kowstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=GSPV21052 8 x 52 fixed power with diopter focus www.kalinkaoptics.com/cgi-bin/kowstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=GSPO856 8 x 56 fixed power "Pilade" -- has "angle of sight" and "side angle" adjustment knobs... what does that mean? www.kalinkaoptics.com/cgi-bin/kowstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=GSPO856P 4 x 32 fixed power "Pilade" -- same adjustments as above which I don't understand... www.kalinkaoptics.com/cgi-bin/kowstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=GSPO432P What do you guys think? Anyone own one of these units? What does "Pilade" mean? What does the rumor mill say about these? |
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Ok... dammit. I said I wasn't going to go there, but here we go. So theoretically, say I'm willing to wait until I have some extra cash. I know Leupold makes German reticle scopes and I can probably snag one online for $300-$400. Would the "Loopy" be worth the price of three or four Kalinkas? Is there another alternative in the same price range? |
Tantal may have what you are looking for. I got this from their latest email catalog.
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duke see this link and do it right. www.p-a-distributing.com/index.html |
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Campy, I know I didn't give much for the rifle but I don't know if I want to drill my receiver, dude. Plus I'd have to find and pay for a gunsmith that I could trust to do it RIGHT, which is a whole other problem. The Iron Elite is a solid mount that I can do myself with minimal gunsmithing. The scopes are interesting though, I'm sending them an email asking for prices. |
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PA definitely has the goods for a 48 sniper clone. 8mm durable budget options include weaver base versions of the PSO series at $100-160 (like my 4-8x42) which look not quite right outside but the drag reticle inside is not far from the post. The 4x24 Hendsolt is nice, can use a stanag adaptor from ARMS for the rings, $300 minty from Dan's and sell the claw mount for half that. Kalinka- One of ours was tired of a very long delay, wanted to cancel the order and get on with his life, and was referred to as a heartless asshole redneck moron (forgive me if words are not in the EXACT order) by Kalinka. You can do better... |
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Well, that's the second guy with bad things to say about Kalinka's customer service. Too bad for them I actually care about who I'm sending my money to instead of just basing my decision on product and price. I think the PSO series has pretty decent clarity for the money, and I guess I wouldn't be totally against a Dragunov reticle. Hrmm....where can I get one that takes standard rings instead of the AK side rail? |
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This'll get ya started www.nightvisionweb.com/posp_6x42_wm.htm Found my 4-8x42 at a local show. If you want measurements of the base/feet, let me know. It should fit the Elite you showed, works fine on semis, but will not span a bolt receiver. |
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The scopes are interesting though, I'm sending them an email asking for prices. the zrak optics are not cheap...yet, imo, they are worth every nickel of the asking price. as a bonus, they are correct for your m48(a) and add value to the rifle. any good smith should d &t the receiver for $50-100. again, this actually adds value as you are doing the job correctly. once set up, you have a rifle that would be a duplicate of those used in sarajevo's infamous "sniper alley". |
Whoops, I worded that wrong. I didn't have enough coffee today. I just remembered seeing those in the email when I was hunting for my PSOP. You would have to contact Tantal for more info, although his description makes them sound like decent scopes. The main thing that stuck out in my mind was the German reticle. So to recap: suggestion, not recommendation I hope you find something to fit your needs. |
One of us will hopefully remember to look next weekend at the Berea show, 2nd bldg on the left, where a guy has been trying to sell a ($600?) M48 sniper on his table. I recall the Zrak scope, but not the view thru it... Otherwise give PA a call. |
| Got some emails back on pricing and such. The KRONOS scope from Tantal looks very appealing for the money, its actually less than the Kalinka optics I started this thread with. The 39mm objective doesn't sound especially promising in terms of light transmission, but Tantal doesn't sell garbage. The PA Distributing high-turret mounts cost no more than the Iron Elite mount when rings are included, but I'd have to find a good gunsmith to do the work and that would cost some extra. There's alot to think about here... |
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D-N, This is a 6x optic I purchased from Kalinka (with no problems, just a long wait). I love this thing and so does everyone else who shoots my AR with this setup. It's great for moving targets. It is illuminated, robust in construction, but a little on the heavy side. They now show it with a Drag reticle, but here's the one that I received (as pictured and when I ordered from their website): 
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