Hell, don't sweat it and keep up the good work on the ranges, man! I enjoyed both reading and commenting on your posts, so please never refrain from giving us your honest perspective and experiences. Some guys just like to press the 'All Russian equipment is junk" button and that rubs some of us the wrong way.Aries14482 said:Holy shit guys, no need to attack me for giving my experience on the matter. I've been here a while and try to post only when I think I have something relevant to offer. Geez, I'm one of you guys. I'm the guy at the local 3-gun that kicks everybody's AR-shooting ass with my SLR-106. I'm not someone else's "second account" as Voron seems to think.
Well heck, should I address you as Jay or The Katar, hehe? So you are the one with the dual accounts? How do you change your user name and keep your post count? And why would you even want to? Well anyway, I saw that video before but I was unaware they ever actually said they "liked" them, hehe? But seriously, they probably do, though, they tend to like anything they are provided with. And I've been told that Eotech sights have been acquired and are being evaluated by certain specialized units within Russia, but then again others are actually being issued with new 1P63's, 1P76's, and 1P78's. The Eotech would certainly be a great choice, especially with a low-profile integral low-boy purpose-built AK siderail mount. Or maybe that Izhmash-designed hinged top cover rail will be adopted for general issue on the standard AK-74M one of these days? But anyway, the Eotech is a dang nice combat proven sight, and getting better all the time. Sadly, the mil-spec versions are too rich for my fixed income retired ass blood, though.Jay Cunningham said:
I fully agree, good post, man, thanks.TX-Zen said:Aimpoints are fine optics, I've always been very impressed with them. I don't doubt their quality one bit. But to say that nothing else can ever possibly be better is really just a closed mind talking without thinking.
Yep, that's a hot button, alright, hehe. Aries14482, voron is a great guy and would help you with anything you needed with honestly and respect. Voron, thanks for the great posts and for sharing your experiences and knowledge on these subjects with us.voron said:I am sorry if it came off that way, it was not meant as you think.
the reason i posted that was simply because this comes up over and over, where guys would want to read reviews of Russian junk, and after a long discussion someone would come in and just say.."just buy western optic, and dont waste your time with Russian stuff"
No problem!JoeMomma said:Doug, if you get a chance, could you post one or two pics of the Kobra being used being used by Russians? I'd love to have a few for my pic collection.
Okay, here's two I was able to locate on my computer tonight, circa 1996. Some others I won't bother to post, because even though they were also taken of Russian troops in a war zone, 75% of the images you run across are posed in soem way. These are both checkpoint photos, same location but different guys in different uniforms with different rifles. I'd say judging by the fancy threads and new gear, these guys are MVD which generally was better financed and got the good stuff way before the army did, especially back then. Plus, I never saw any regular army personnel with any AK-mounted daylight optics of any kind, until the Georgian Conflict. It simply did not exist.donkismash said:
JoeMomma said:Great pics, thanks for sharing those! In the second pic, what is that muzzle device? It looks like a special suppressor to me, but I would think something like that would be larger.
Very early model, EKP-1S-02, and early 03, the Gen 1 Kobras that used the early lithium 3v AA batteries and had a flat sided bracket on them. Not Gen 2's (EKP-8) and not Gen 1+ that had a finned side bracket. Those earlier units often developed a stress crack on the riser bracket after a few years, it would start at the thinnest strip of metal on the bracket, under the mounting screws where it mates to the body of the sight near the micro-switch location. Eventually it would flex and the micro-switch would let off of the switch knob cam that activates it, then the sight would start to go off as you fired the rifle.veprk said:One question, what side mount are you referring to with the cracks.Ive got two gen 2's coin versions.
Also, I read some where, years ago that the kobra won the Russian Military best invention award. Can you confirm or deny?
Thanks,
Vepr
The Comp C3 can be had for $360, and a BP-02 mount for $50.Tantal said:Then you need to add a mount, $500 or more when you get done. A Kobra is half that much, comes with an integral mount made just for an AK, and weighs less than a Comp C3 with a mount.jimdigriz said:For $400, an Aimpoint Comp C3 would be a better value than a Kobra. (Unless you are determined to have the admittedly cool Kobra look).
Good post - especially agree with the part in bold.Redmanfms said:I had two, still have one. I had issues with brightness adjustment on one sight and ended up simply dumping it. I only paid $130 or $140 for it at the time so it wasn't a big deal. I bought both 10-ish years ago.
I would generally say that the Kobra compares favorably to the EOTech in everything but battery life, though the EOTech's battery life is only marginally better.
Even older Aimpoints blow the Kobra away. About the only advantage the Kobra has on the Aimpoint optics is ability to select reticles, which doesn't confer much to me personally.
They're ok, but Russian QC is spotty and since I didn't buy from Tantal, I got zero customer support on the lemon. Even the one the one that is still going strong doesn't strike me as terribly durable, especially when compared to Aimpoint optics. It's seen "hard use" on a rifle range (as I suspect optics in most anecdotes of "hard use" have seen) and stood up. I would buy another though for a plinking/range gun PDQ if the price was what it was 10 years ago. At this point the price just isn't competitive with used Comp M2's.
Part of the problem in discussions about these optics is that one side tends to get emotionally invested and the other makes comparisons to more modern Western designs which have benefited from 20+ years of product improvement. Sure the Kobra has seen some comparatively slight changes, but it's basically comparable to red dots from 1990. When compared against that generation, it's performance is at least equivalent, if not superior.
It is definitely the best of the Russian red dots.
Especially since he disregarded the second part, right after what he bolded... you know, the part that applies to him?Tantal said:I tried to explain my point of view in clear and logical order, and as completely as I could. Whether you agreed or disagreed, at least show me some mutual respect. It's kind of arrogant to brush my point of view off as being "emotional", rather than giving me credit for any knowledge base of any kind.
AK > longbow -- DiscussPart of the problem in discussions about these optics is that one side tends to get emotionally invested and the other makes comparisons to more modern Western designs which have benefited from 20+ years of product improvement.
Hater.campperrykid said:Here's my opinion:
There are 4 Aimpoints and one Kobra at my house .
I would be very happy to sell the Kobra.
$300 , in the box , with tool and manual .
Then you too can come to appreciate that , compared to an Aimpoint Micro on an Ultimak , the Kobra just plain sucks.