10 Best AK-47 Red Dot Sights Compared - WWW.EXOCTACTICAL.COM (2024)

Which AK-47 red dot sights are the best? One might argue that the ideal option is an affordable budget-friendly sight that offers the desired features without overspending.

Today, we’ll be showing you our top 10 red dot sights that work great on the AK-47 platform.

Our Top 10 AK-47 Red Dot Sight Picks

If your primary goal is to quickly and effortlessly acquire targets, today’s article is perfect for you. It will assist you in narrowing down your options in a market inundated with numerous choices.

We rounded up 10 of our most trusted, budget-friendly red dot sights, (6 of which we own and 4 we will eventually pull the trigger on).

Top 6 AK Red Dot Sights (Tested) Under $200

It’s no wonder that people have a strong preference for pairing their cherished AK with a durable and reliable red dot sight.

These lightweight, resilient sights are budget-friendly compared to other scopes. A budget micro red dot or full-size red dot excels in hectic situations and withstands abuse. (*Battery life can vary based on features).

Pro Tip: Low-mount red dot sights without a riser work best on AKs for co-witness capability with a railed gas tube.

We’ve compiled an unordered list of the most reliable AK-47 red dot sights under $200, based on our experiences and input from others.

*Note: If you’re looking for a Holoson, Aimpoint, or Eotech, then this article is most likely not for you!

#1 Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Red Dot Sight

The Sig Romeo line of optics is some of the best value-for-money optics currently available on the market. The Romeo lineup is made by Holosun so you know it has the “right stuff”.

Many, including ourselves, favor their introductory level red dot optics. It is not easy to come across a scope with such abundant features and exceptional performance at this price range.

These sights typically sell under MSRP, depending on the vendor and promotions. For the money, you get a 40k-hr battery life, MOTAC (motion-activated illumination), 2 MOA with 10 intensity settings, and an IPX-7 waterproof rating.

If you buy from a verified Sig vendor like OpticsPlanet, you can be assured you’re getting the real deal.

It’s rugged enough to withstand the recoil of an AK or a shotgun shooting slugs! It also comes with a low mounting option if you want to co-witness with your AK iron sights (using an UltiMAK or similar railed gas tube replacement).

We’ve tested the Romeo5 on multiple carbines, including our AKs, and they worked as intended.

The glass is very clear and the dot is crisp and gets super bright on its highest setting. The “shake awake” features work without fail. For those who want one less thing to think about in a self-defense situation, this feature is a must!

Most turn-style red dots are very stiff to turn on quickly, so keep that in mind when choosing an RDS for home defense purposes. We love the Sig Romeo lineup and so do a lot of people.

#2 Sig Sauer Romeo MSR Red Dot Sight

The Sig Romeo MSR is the lowest tier price-wise on Sig’s Romeo lineup but it punches well above its weight in our opinion.

On sale often, it can be had for as little as $99.99, and for that price, it’s an absolute steal!

It sports an aircraft-grade aluminum housing and a turn-style selector wheel that has 10 brightness settings (two of those settings are for night vision use).

It claims 20k hour battery runtime using a CR1632 button-cell battery that is commonly available (though not as common as the larger CR2032).

Like its bigger brother, the Romeo5, the MSR is IPX-7 rated so it’s waterproof and fog-proof for optimal performance.

It also comes with a higher AR mount that will need to be changed out if you want to co-witness on your AK.

The selector wheel is stiff, typical of turn-style wheels, and not ideal for urgent home defense. However, with its 2.3-year battery life, leave it on setting 5 and be ready to go! We use this RDS on all our rifles, including AKs, and it looks cool on anything.

The solid aluminum construction, small size, and lightweight make it inconspicuous during shooting.

It sports an anti-glare lens coating, a bright dot on the max setting, and impressive clear glass for its price, along with unique see-through lens caps.

#3 Vortex Crossfire II Red Dot Sight

The Vortex Crossfire II is a fantastic budget red dot optic that falls under $200. Vortex is renowned for its high-value optics, both in aesthetics and performance.

Usually priced at $149 and occasionally going on sale, these optics remain excellent for their cost.

Although the Sig Romeo5 offers better value, this optic enjoys high credibility and a devoted fan base.

The 2 MOA dot is quick to acquire targets in CQB (close-quarters battle) and accurate for long-range shots.

We love the simple design and high quality of this red dot, along with its size, weight, and build. It has a remarkable 50k hour runtime, 11 illumination settings (including night-vision options), anti-reflective coating, waterproofing, and unlimited eye relief.

It uses the standard CR2032 battery, which is a big plus. It includes a low and high mount, so no need to buy one separately for your AK. The top turret is also protected, which is another big plus.

#4 Atibal AT-MCRD Pro Red Dot Sight

Coming in at a lightweight 5 oz, this micro red dot sight by an American company, Atibal, is a great optic if you’re on a tight budget.

Retailing for just under $90 on Optics Planet, this red dot is an absolute steal! This optic is built like a tank and the glass is pretty clear too.

It uses 1 readily available AAA battery that gives you up to 1,000 hrs of battery life, which isn’t the best but you can quickly put in a fresh AAA in the field without fuss.

Features: This red dot has a 3 MOA red dot, 11 brightness settings, 1/2 MOA adjustments, unlimited eye relief, parallax-free, nitrogen-filled lens, and is anti-fog and water-resistant.

The company has complete confidence in its products and offers a lifetime warranty that guarantees free repairs or replacements without any hassle or questioning, should anything go wrong.

These sights have undergone rigorous stress testing and can withstand hard use and abuse.

Although we haven’t fully tested them yet, we will soon. And if anything goes wrong, we have a “no bullsh*t” warranty to rely on.

It is also available in a low-mount configuration for AKs. Some may not like the battery tube placement, as it slightly obstructs the view, but we don’t consider it a deal-breaker, especially considering the affordable price.

The zeroing clicks are tactile and the emitter is not protruding much. The bikini lens cover is nice but easy to lose, and we prefer flip covers.

#5 Feyachi V30 2 MOA Red Dot Sight

Priced under $70, the Feyachi V30 is a superbly constructed red dot sight featuring a remarkable set of features. Notably, it incorporates an auto-on “shake awake” functionality, making it highly convenient.

This sight’s design is unique, as it doesn’t copy popular brands like many Chinese-made optics do. Despite not being the ultimate AK red dot sight, it’s surprisingly capable given its affordable price.

Many popular brand-name optics are also made in China but with strict quality controls. Feyachi produces affordable models, but I don’t recommend them for serious use. However, their V30 is a high-end option with great value for the money.

The glass is clear, and the red dot looks crisp in most settings. Zeroing is a breeze with built-in tactile “clicks” and adjustment tools on the turret caps. Overall, we believe this red dot offers great value.

#6 AT3 Tactical RD-50 Red Dot Sight

AT3 Tactical has been making some great budget RDS as of late and the RD-50 is no exception.

This compact reflex optic can be had for under $80 on Amazon and has a low, cross-bolt, mount that is perfectly suited for use on an AK rifle.

Everything about this optic is tight and tactile and should hold up for years of abuse.

Their lifetime warranty shows the confidence they have in their products. If you’re looking for a small footprint that is light in weight but still solidly built, this RDS is a solid choice.

It’s a simple, no-nonsense, optic that lacks any bells and whistles but still has the features that you need the most.

AK Red Dot Sights Under $200: Top 4 Wishlist

Here are the 4 remaining red dot sights under $200 on our list that we still need to try. We plan to acquire some of them due to positive feedback and their great value.

Vortex and Primary Arms are both well-respected optics manufacturers that we would not hesitate to recommend based on user experience and reviews alone.

#7 Vortex Sparc II Red Dot Sight

The Vortex SPARC II red dot sight is a killer-looking and performing red dot optic that is built like a tank and has survived some rather vigorous torture testing by several reviewers over the years.

“Vortex knocked it out of the park with the Sparc II. I purchased this after I read the review from “Recoil Magazine.” They really put this little guy through its paces. The basically beat the hell out of it, and it kept on ticking.”

Dave

Due to its rugged construction, it would make a great optic for an AK and comes with a low mount as well as a high mount- depending on the application.

We’ll try to get our hands on one for further testing but most reviews I’ve seen are extremely happy with this red dot sight.

#8 Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot Sight

The Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 has developed quite a good reputation for being a high-value budget red dot sight that will hold zero and stand up to abuse.

Due to its age, it has steadily dropped as low as $47 on Amazon as the competition keeps releasing new models with more modern features.

“I give this optic 5 stars. First off, the quality is awesome, it looks and feels like it should cost more and there isn’t anything about it that would make you think it is a budget optic. I bought this Bushnell in 2016 for my Zastava M85 223 SBR. I had to tap the receiver to mount it. Took it out and after a dew clicks, a few clicks, and it was dead on. The brightness settings are great for any lighting condition, in full sunlight and with the dial set on 7 the dot was very bright. At 50 yards is good for a 2-inch group. At 100 yards, it could kick around an empty two liter soda bottle at will. After 7 years and a few hundred rounds is still dead on. No regrets and will recommend.“

Honest Review

But, if all you’re looking for is a reliable red dot sight to mount on your AK that won’t break the bank, then the TRS-25 should fit the bill.

*Note: It’s still going for just under $95 on Optics Planet, so try to pick one up on Amazon while supplies last!

#9 Primary Arms SLX Gen 2 MD-25 Red Dot Sight

One of the best features of this Primary Arms red dot sight is its ability to mount to just about any platform with pic-rails and that includes a super low mount for AK rifles.

Seriously, I’ve never seen a red dot come with this many mounting options for under $200 bucks!

“I’m truly impressed by this sight! Crisp glass, rugged, perfect for left handed shooter like myself because the rotary know is on the left side, and very cost effective. Also if you want a great magnifier that doesn’t cost $200 or more then go check out monstrum ghost prism magnifier. It pairs perfectly with this red dot!“

Derka

While researching red dot sights for this article, I overlooked the incredible options offered by Primary Arms, or else I would have picked up one of them!

We most likely will be picking up several Primary Arms optics including their prism scopes that were designed to work especially well on AKs.

#10 Primary Arms SLX MD-20 Gen II Red Dot Sight

The Primary Arms SLX MD-20 is a great red dot sight that is a direct competitor with the Vortex Crossfire II which is comparable in many ways and is also on our list.

I was torn between this Primary Arms red dot sight and the Vortex Crossfire but went with the Crossfire because it was on sale at the time.

“I have alot of red dots, but ever since I got my first primary arms MD25 it’s been my hands down favorite due to its quality, reliability, and price. You can’t touch it for under $400 so I bought a few more of them. then I got this advance micro red dot and I am wishing it was out when I bought my MD25’s because I would have chose the advance micro instead.“

Tracy

You never really know when the price on a red dot will go up or down but even at the standard going rate, I feel like they are well worth the money.

I love the form factor and features of both of these red dot sights, as well as their aesthetic appeal, and don’t think you can go wrong with either of them!

Final Thoughts

No matter which AK red dot sight you choose, you cannot make a wrong decision from the options provided in our list.

However, it is important to understand your preferences before making a purchase, as each optic may possess or lack certain features that are of utmost importance to you.

Style, reliability, features, battery life, auto on/off, ease-of-use, buttons, dials, clarity, cost… these are just some of the things to consider before making your final decision.

Make sure to watch out for sales as some of our top selections are often discounted, guaranteeing you a fantastic deal!

We sincerely hope that our recommendations have assisted you in narrowing down your choices for your next AK red dot sight, and we wish you many years of satisfaction with your purchase.