The 7.62x39mm round aka the 7.62 Soviet is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate cartridge with Soviet origin. The cartridge was first used in 1944 and it has been in action ever since. Used by a lot of militaries and civilians over the years.
Around the 90’s the cartridge boomed in hunting and sports uses. With hunting up to whitetail deer on the menu, the 7.62x39mm slowly went back to the top again. Nowadays a lot of AR-15s also support this caliber. If you are a fan or loyal user of the caliber, you know how fun this is to use.
Enough about the cartridge. I’m sure you know all of the information I mentioned above already. You are here to find the best scope for 7.62×39, and I’m here to deliver. Let’s find it out.
How To Choose The Best Optics For 7.62×39?
Now that you are aware of both ends of the spectrum, how do you find the middle ground?
Well, that’s simple. You will need to decide first whether you want to buy a riflescope or a sight. If you are looking for a sight, then there is nothing better than choosing a red dot optic. But if you want a bit of magnification and are serious about 7.62×39 hunting, then you should grab a riflescope.
Make sure to grab the scope that magnifies to the range you want to shoot at. As the 7.62x39mm is quite powerful and can fire at a long range, you will need to find a scope that can cope with that much speed and range.
Last but not least the budget. If you read the entire thing and saw their price tags, you know all of them don’t feature the same price tag. Depending on the amount of money you are okay with spending, your decision will also vary.
1. Primary Arms SLX 1-6×24 SFP Rifle Scope
Primary Arms scopes are usually used mostly by newbie hunters. They are quite good for the money and they don’t cost an arm and a leg to buy. The SLX is a mid-range shooter that you definitely can bring to whitetail hunting.
The scope is made out of durable aluminum. The aluminum is lightweight and sturdy. The housing of the scope is purged internally to make it immune to moisture as well. It also made the scope fogproof at the same time.
The exterior is coated and is resistant to scratches and drops.
The lenses are fully multi-coated. The multi-coating makes the glass anti-reflective, bright and shows you great contrasty pictures. The clarity of the optic is excellent and it’s a great hunter.
Does this scope come with mounting rings?
No, it doesn’t. You will need to buy a pair of rings on your own. Choose one from your preferred brand and grab the 30mm variant.
Is this scope good for big game hunting?
No, it’s not. It’s not meant to be used with long-range weapons to begin with. The effective range of this scope is not suited for big-game.
Where is this scope made?
Nightforce scopes are made in the USA. This one is also a made in USA product.
2. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 1-6x24mm SFP Riflescope
The Strike Eagle is one of the best scopes Vortex ever made. The price to performance ratio of this scope is insanely good. And you can choose from different magnifications and reticles.
For a 7.62x39mm scope, I will recommend sticking with the lowest magnification 1-6×24 model. This variant of the scope is perfect for a bit of hunting and tactical shooting if you need to do that as well. The tube of the scope is purged with nitrogen. Thus making it immune to internal fogging.
The lenses on the optics are O-ring sealed and they are fully multi-coated. They are some of the best lenses for the money.
The clarity and contrast of the scope is insanely good. Strike Eagle is a versatile scope made for hunting and tactical shooting. This scope does both of them with absolute brilliance.
What’s the tiny lever on the scope?
The tiny lever is called a throw lever. The throw lever is used for increasing or decreasing the magnification of the scope. It makes it easy and quicker as well.
Is the reticle illuminated?
Yes, it is. You can adjust the illumination of the reticle from 0 to all the way up to 11.
3. Leupold VX-3HD 4.5-14x50mm riflescope
VX-3HD is not a budget scope. It’s considered as a mid-tier scope. If you want to upgrade your aim game with the 7.62x39mm and want to shoot longer-range and participate in games, then the VX-3HD is a great start.
Without spending a crazy amount of money, the VX-3HD offers a great experience. The housing of the scope is made out of extremely durable aluminum. Inside of the tube is purged with nitrogen to make it immune to all sorts of internal fogging.
The exterior is sealed properly and the lenses don’t leak any water either.
They are fully multi-coated. Extremely bright and vibrant. There are no color issues present on the optic or fisheye distortion either. The optic is brilliant in hunting and long-range plinking. Whitetail hunting will be easy and fun with the combination of this scope and the 7.62 cartridge.
Is the reticle illuminated?
That depends on which variant you choose. The cheaper one comes with a Duplex CDS ZL reticle with no illumination. The slightly more expensive one comes with Firedot Twilight Hunter CDS-ZL illuminated.
Where is this scope?
From design to assembly, all of that is done in the USA.
Does it have a throw lever?
It does. The throw lever is quite robust and bulky. You can grab it while wearing gloves as well. The magnification change is smooth and blur-free.
4. Hi-Lux Optics CMR Series 1-4x24mm Tactical Riflescope
The CMR from Hi-Lux Optics is a tactical shooting riflescope with a green illuminated reticle. The reticle is a special edition one. At least that’s what Hi-Lux calls it. The 1x magnification on this optic is true and has no distortion at all.
The scope also features zero locking turret systems.
The body of the scope is made out of aluminum and it’s nitrogen purged as well. The purging makes the scope fogproof. As the scope is sealed properly, it’s also waterproof as well.
The lenses are coated and they are anti-reflective. The reticle on this optic is specifically tuned for AK rifles using 7.62 cartridges. This makes it the perfect choice for a 7.62 user who is getting into hunting but not willing to spend a lot of money.
Does this scope come with any mounting accessories?
No, it doesn’t. You will need to buy your own mounting accessories. The tube of the scope is 30mm.
Does Hi-Lux offer any warranty?
They do. They offer a five years warranty to the original owner from the purchase date.
Will the reticle appear if I don’t put in any battery?
Yes, it will. The reticle is etched on the glass. If you don’t use any batteries with the optic, it will appear black.
5. Bushnell AR Optics 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope
I’m sure you have seen this coming. The AR optics from Bushnell is a great value for the money. As you know already, Bushnell makes great budget scopes for hunting. The AR optics’ main purpose is not hunting.
However, it can do a little bit of hunting and tactical shooting.
If you are serious about enjoying plinking with the 7.62x39mm cartridge and not willing to spend a little more on other scopes I mentioned, then this is the best option for you. The scope chassis is durable. It’s water, fog, and shockproof. The lenses are also coated with multiple layers of chemicals.
Making them anti-reflecting and generating a ton of light to prepare great visuals and high-contrast images. Depending on the variant you go for, you will find an illuminated glass etched reticle or a non-illuminated one.
What’s that lever-like thing on the scope?
That’s a throw lever. The throw lever is used for magnification. You can use the lever if you are wearing gloves and can’t get a grip on the magnification ring.
Should I go for an illuminated or non-illuminated reticle?
If I were you, I would always opt for the illuminated reticle. The illumination comes in clutch in bright and low-light scenarios. A win-win situation.
What range is this scope good for?
The effective range of this scope is around 600 yards.
As you know already, the main purpose of the 7.62×39 is not only hunting. It can be good for plinking, range shooting, and CQB. But for CQB, you would always want to go with something like a red dot or a holographic sight.
1. Aimpoint Micro T-2 Red Dot reflex sight
Aimpoint red dots are easy to recommend. They are priced quite appropriately and they offer great versatility. They can be used in CQB and you also can use them for target practicing.
The optic is made out of durable aluminum and it’s lightweight. The red dot size on this optic is 2 MOA. It also has fast and accurate target acquisition. The reticle is illuminated.
You can adjust the illumination from 12 available brightness settings. The battery life of this optic is incredible.
What kind of battery does this optic use?
The Aimpoint Micro T-2 uses a CR2032 battery. With that battery, you can use the optic for around 50k hours.
Why does it say it’s a hunting optic?
Well, it’s a sport optic that happens to be able to do hunting as well. If you are feeling like doing close-range hunting, you definitely can. Break a leg.
2. Primary Arms SLX 3x32mm Gen III Prism Scope
You might know the SLX in scope form factor. After all, the SLX is a great budget scope for hunting. The SLX Gen III prism scope is slightly different. This variant is made for tactical shooting.
Notice how people use magnifiers with a reflex sight? Primary Arms just combined the two. It’s a 3x fixed magnification tactical scope.
The optic is capable of being used with any weapon you might have. But the reticle here is tuned for the 7.62×39 and many other calibers. The reticle is also fully illuminated.
Besides being an easy to mount optic, it also features a mounting rail on top of the optic where you can add in a micro red dot sight if you want to.
What’s the effective range of this optic?
The effective range of this optic is around 225 yards with subsonic and 600 yards with the 7.62x39mm.
Where is this made?
This optic is made in a factory of Aimpoint in the USA.
3. Aimpoint Pro Red Dot Reflex Sight
It’s not my fault that Aimpoint makes so many good optics to choose from. The Pro Red dot sight is made for all sorts of rifles. Whether it’s an automatic or burst fire rifle, you can use the Pro Red with your weapon.
The optic is made out of aluminum and it’s purged internally with nitrogen to make it immune to moisture buildup. Moisture can lead to fogging.
This sight is fog proof, waterproof, and shockproof. You can use the optic in any weather condition that you want to. The 2 MOA reticle is also illuminated. With a single DL1/3N battery, you can expect around 30k hours of battery life.
Does Aimpoint include lens covers with this?
Yes, Aimpoint does. If you don’t like the lens covers, you can remove them. Or you can install them in a way where they flip downwards and not upwards.
Where is this optic made?
While Aimpoint has factories in the USA as well, this one however is made in Sweden and then imported in the USA.
4. HOLOSUN – HS510C Reflex Red Dot Sight
Holosun red dots are the peak example of price-to-performance. Their optics are quite good and they don’t cost that much money either. The HS510C has a twin called HE510C-GR. The GR stands for green.
This one, however, has nothing to do with green. The 2 MOA red dot and the 65 MOA open ring reticle are both illuminated in red. And you can adjust the illumination of the optic as well. You will find a total of 12 brightness settings. Two of them for the night and 10 of them for the day.
Does this come with a mounting system?
Yes, it does. It comes with a quick detach weaver rail mounting system.
Where is this made?
It’s made in China. But it’s not one of those knock off optics from an unnamed Chinese manufacturer that will break within a day. This one is here to stay and serve you for years to come.
Conclusion
And that’s about it folks. I wanted to provide you with some of the best scopes for 7.62×39, I went a bit overboard and threw in some sights as well. Don’t worry my CQB brothers in arms, I got your back.
Don’t be afraid of going with the one that clicks with you the most. Just because one option is slightly better objectively, it doesn’t mean that’s the right option for you. So, choose the one that fits your budget and fill in the blanks.
With that said, I have to end it here. I hope you had fun reading it and found something useful. I will be back with more guides like this soon. Till then, take care and have fun.
