Rifle scope doesn't improve the weapon characteristics but allows the shooter to aim more accurately. The scope must be chosen taking into account the performance characteristics of your rifle and the intended tasks.

If you plan to hunt with smooth-bore rifles at short ranges, it will be sufficient to use a red dot sight in most cases.

Shooting with a rifle at small targets, including also long-range targets, requires the use of a scope with big magnification.

It will be more convenient to use a drive hunting type scope in the 1-8x25 format or a red dot sight on a battue for rifled weapons. The potential of an air or small-bore rifle can be revealed using an optical scope with a magnification of at least 4x.

Hunting at dusk requires a high aperture optics. This is provided by a large-diameter lens, high-quality enlightenment and a large exit pupil.

For conversion weapons for intermediate and pistol cartridges, VOMZ produces prismatic scopes with low magnification.

While choosing a scope, pay attention to the upper threshold of its resistance to the recoil impulse, this indicator is spelled out in the operating manual of the scope or on the VOMZ website.

The type of the reticle is one of the most important parameters of an optical scope. The simpler the reticle and the larger its elements, the easier it is to "catch" the target at a short range. This allows to make a faster shot.

Simple classic type of the reticle is sufficient for hunting at close and medium distances.

Accurate long-range shots require a thin ballistic reticule that allows you to shoot and make adjustments for the wind.

In our catalog you can find all VOMZ reticle.

P - (Pilad) scope with constant magnification
PV - (Pilad variable) scope with variable magnification
M - modernized, increased strength and hermetically sealed (the design has a cast body)
L – reticle illumination
F - lens over focusing system for parallax correction
GG - gas-filled with increased shock resistance.

The VOMZ catalog contains optical scopes with and without illumination. The presence of the reticle illumination module expands your possibilities. But this makes the device more complicated and more expensive.

We take into account the wishes of our hunters and shooters. Therefore, almost all models of VOMZ optical sights of the 2nd and 3rd generations are equipped with illumination of the reticle.

If you plan to hunt in low visibility conditions, you need a scope with reticle illumination.
The illumination of the reticle can be useful also during the day. For example a drive hunting type scope with a bright aiming mark can be used as a red dot sight. It is also useful when shooting at a low-contrast target.

In rifle scopes the reticle is located behind the objective or in front of the eyepiece, that is in the first or second focal plane.

In scopes with variable magnification it is easy to determine the location of the reticle: if the size of the reticle changes while changing magnification it means that it is the first focal plane. If the reticle size remains unchanged this is the second focal plane.

The reticle in the first focal plane is considered to be more suitable for snipers. Its constant angular dimensions (regardless of the multiplicity) are well suited for measuring distance and fast adjustment. In this case, we are talking about the use of a ballistic reticle, this is a general trend.

But such reticle also has a disadvantage. At low magnification it may be poorly visible against a colorful background or at dusk and at maximum magnification the reticle lines may seem too thick.

The reticle in the second focal plane doesn't have any disadvantages unlike the reticle in the first focal plane but correct angular measurements in this case can be done only at a certain magnification usually at the maximum. This is not always convenient and all measurements at intermediate magnification values require more complex calculations.
In practice, the choice of the reticle is dependent on the shooter's personal experience and habit. Many expert shooters use scopes with the reticle in the second focal plane. The statistics of optics sales also confirm the popularity of scopes with reticle in the second focal plane.

If you are engaged in high precision firing, you need a large-magnification optical sight with a target focusing mechanism.

This mechanism is needed for parallax correction - the alignment of the reticle image plane and the target. If this is not done, the smallest shooter's eye shifting from the sight optical axis will lead to a miss.

In VOMZ sights of large and medium magnification two variants of focusing mechanisms are used: a ring on the lens or a knob on the left central part of the sight body.

All prismatic and lens VOMZ sights allow individual adjustment of the device to the shooter's vision.

For this purpose, the sight has the eyepiece (diopter) ring. By rotating this ring, the shooter achieves the clearest image of the reticle. It is better to do this against the background of the sky or a light wall. This adjustment allows shooting with glasses.

All types of optical sights have adjustment mechanisms. They serve for the initial zeroing of the sight and making ballistic and wind corrections when shooting at medium and long distances.

For most hunting tasks such as shooting from a rifle at 100-200 meters, it is enough just to "zero" the sight.
When you use high-precision weapons and shoot at distances over 200 meters, you cannot do without making ballistic corrections in the vertical and the horizon. This can be done using a special reticle or scope drums.


The precise "mechanics" of the sight is the most important parameter when we are talking about sniper shooting spot. All VOMZ lens sights of the 2nd and 3rd generations have precise mechanisms for making corrections using deflection knob ("drums"). They provide minimal click bias and high return rates.


The value of "click" of adjustment mechanisms depends on the design of the sight and its purpose. Usually it is 10 mm at a distance of 100 meters, but there are other options. For example, for collimator and prismatic sights, an acceptable value of "click" can be 2 cm at a 100 m distance.


VOMZ collimator and prismatic sights do not have adjustment deflection knob. In this case, after zeroing ballistic compensation is performed by offset or along the reticle.

If the sight body moves during zeroing , this is a design with external alignments. If all the "mechanics" are inside the body of the device, then it is a sight with internal alignments. The second variant is usually more preferable in terms of reliability and serviceability but may be some exceptions.

Internal adjustment mechanism is usually described as a mechanism for which you need a screwdriver. The examples of this type of adjustment mechanism are Brevis 2.5x24 and 4x30 LFO prismatic sights, as well as all VOMZ collimators. Sights with the traditional handwheels are called external adjustment devices.

Of course there is no necessity to understand this issue thoroughly. But we think it will be good for you to be aware of the correct terminology.

The short answer – no. The accuracy of the scope mechanics does not depend on the volume and clarity of the handwheel click of the correction mechanisms. The level of audibility of the "click" and its tactile sensation with the fingers depends on the construction of the "ratchet".

An audible and well-perceptible click when rotating the scope's "drums" is important for "sports-tactical" sights, which can also be used for mountain hunting.

For conventional hunting scopes, in which the adjustment handwheels are used primarily for zeroing the click volume level is of no importance. Nevertheless, all VOMZ scopes of the 2nd and 3rd generations have clear and rather sonorous "clicks".

When the optical sight has a large eye relief (from 80 mm), the rubber buffer on the diopter ring is not needed. Even with the wrong insert the risk of an injury is practically excluded.

All models of VOMZ lens sights of the 2nd and 3rd generations have an exit pupil extension within 85-95 mm. This meets international standards and allows you to safely use our optics on any hunting and sporting weapon.

Prism sights which have an exit pupil extension of 55-70 mm, are designed to be mounted on weapons for intermediate and pistol rounds. In this case, the recoil impulse is small so there is no necessity in long eye relief.

An example: in the basic models of the American prismatic sight Acog, the eye relief is 38 mm, and in the "prismatic" VOMZ this parameter is equal to 55-70 mm.

What is the exit pupil and its removal?

The exit pupil is the image taken by the instrument through its optics. An approximate calculation of the exit pupil diameter can be done by dividing the light diameter of the objective by the magnification of the sight. Scientifically speaking, you need to divide the diameter of the aperture diaphragm by the magnification. In most cases the aperture is the same as the input diameter of the lens.


For example, you have an OREST 8x50 scope. An exit pupil size of this device is 6.25 mm (50: 8 = 6.25). The minimum exit pupil size for comfortable shooting in the dusk is 5-6 mm. This means that it will be effective for shooting both during the day and in the dusk.



In sights with variable magnification the exit pupil size is determined by the upper and lower magnification values. For example, you have a P2-14x42L scope. At the position of minimum magnification this scope has a huge exit pupil - 21 mm (42: 2 = 21), which is quickly and easily caught by the eye even when shooting offhand. This is appreciated in drive hunting.


But at the maximum magnification, the size of the exit pupil of the same scope will be 3 mm (42: 14 = 3). This value allows you to effectively shoot from the stop and in daylight. But shooting from unstable positions in the dusk will be difficult. That is why high magnification scopes almost always have a lens of at least 50 mm. This is also useful for the aperture of the scope.



Removal of the exit pupil is one of the most important parameter. The standard parameter is 80-90 mm. If the scope is mounted on a rifle chambered for a powerful cartridge, too little eye relief can cause injury to the eye and bones of the facial skull. All modern VOMZ optical sights have an exit pupil extension of at least 80 mm, some models - 100 mm.



Prismatic sights which are usually used on weapons for relatively weak intermediate cartridges (.223 Rem, 7.62x39, 5.45x39 mm, etc.), allow the use of a shorter eye relief - from 55 to 70 mm.

The rifle scope optics consists of several lenses (prisms) and lens gluing together. The light quantity that enters through the objective and passes through all its optical elements will be less at the output than the initial quantity. This is called loss of light.

A partial solution to this problem is carried out by special anti-reflective lens coating. It can be of different colors - from red-yellow to blue-green. Thanks to this coating the lenses transmit more light. This value reaches 90% in VOMZ scopes which is a world-class indicator. It should be considered that the light transmission values of scopes produced by Russian and foreign companies of the same level may differ. This is a consequence of different methods of light transmission measuring.

Any scope that contains optics is called an optical scope. For convenience we divide VOMZ optical scopes into several types: classic optical scopes, prismatic scopes and red dot sights.

In prismatic scopes there are also lenses in the optical scheme (in the eyepiece and in the objective). But in its inversion optical scheme there are prisms, hence the name – prismatic scopes.

Prismatic scopes are more complicated and more expensive to manufacture. But they have important operational advantages: small size, lighter weight and often larger field of view. The advantage in weight and size parameters is approximately 1.5 times.

Therefore, prismatic scopes are popular among the military men and sportsmen. Recently, these devices have found recognition among hunters too.

VOMZ became the first Russian enterprise which produced several models of modern prismatic scopes at once. We plan to expand the line of prismatic scopes, which will be provided with a large selection of reticle - from hunting to tactical.

Red dot sights can be of two types: open and closed. A closed-type red dot sight is not necessarily closed in a "tube". If the diode beam passes inside the scope body this is a closed-type red dot sight.

If you can somehow block the beam from reaching the lens you have an open type red dot sight.

The division of such sights into red dot and holographic is not entirely correct. All these scopes are essentially red dot sights, they differ only in the way the aiming mark is displayed. In the case of so-called holographic sight this is done by a hologram.

Yes. The larger the lens of the red dot sight, the larger its field of view. Р1х42 and TargetRing models of open type red dot sights produced by VOMZ have the largest lens. This gives a shooter an advantage in the speed of finding and hitting a target.

But in the line of VOMZ red dot sights there are models with a smaller lens size - Р1х30 and Р1х20М. Their field of view is smaller, but at the same time their weight and size parameters are also smaller. The lower the scope, the closer to the bore its red dot aiming mark.

Compact red dot sights also clings less to clothing and equipment. But a larger red dot sight will be more convenient if the shooter uses bulky equipment (load bearing equipment, unloading vest) and personal protection equipment (body armor, helmet, respirator).

While choosing a red dot sight you must first determine the goals and objectives of your device using.

The aiming mark can be distorted when water and snow are at the inner part of the lens. Snow and other debris may not let the light-emitting diode ray to get to the lens. For hunting in extreme conditions it's better to use the red dot sight of closed type – P1x20 Avis.

If you are planning to shoot in the indoor rifle range or when training or hunting and it is possible to keep the scope clean, draw your attention to the scopes of open type.

If the scope is non-watertight, there will be condensation on the optic parts with the rapid change of temperature. In some cases shooting will be impossible.

When sealing, we fill our scopes with high purity argon with positive pressure.

VOMZ scopes of the 2nd and 3rd generation are protected from any climatic effects and can be used in all conditions.

This moment is extremely important. You just need to choose an optical sight, appropriate size and height of the rings, and mount them on your rifle.

The problem is simplified by having "Dovetail" or "Picatinny" slat on the upper receiver assembly.

Prismatic and red dot sights equipped with "Picatinny" mount are featured in our catalogue. In this case you don't need specific mounts. It is not necessary to adjust the reticle to horizontal and vertical plane.

When choosing the mounting, pay attention to the objective and eyepiece size of your scope.

The scope should not touch weapon parts during the installation on the mount. Having "Picatinny" mount, it is possible to mount rings (monoblock) with previously removed upper half rings. The distance between the rings and their position on "Picatinny" mount is defined by practical consideration. The scope should be placed on the lower half rings so that the clamps are not placed close to the central thickness of the body and cones of the objective and eyepiece.

Eye relief dimensions, other technical specifications and ergonomic indexes need to be considered. When the scope is set, the aiming should be comfortable in any position. It is generally thought that the scope should be displaced forward so that the eyepiece is above the rifle body shank. Before tightening the screws, set the zero plane (with the help of liquid-vial indicator or electronic level gage), reticle inclination aligns to the plumbline or the

corner at the far side of the building. The screws of the half rings should be tightened one-by-one, in crisscross manner without excessive stress. Make sure that the distance between half rings is the same on both sides. Cover the surface of the rings with alcoholic resin in order to prevent axial displacement of the scope placed in the rings.

If your rifle has only side slat (rifles "Tigr", "Vepr", "Saiga", etc.), we recommend you to buy an appropriate mount for side fixing.

One of the rules is to choose the rifle scope and then the mount.

For example, you have bought РV2-14х42L. Body diameter is 30 mm, outside diameter is 47 mm. If you rifle has standard "Picatinny" slat and there are no open sights, you can choose the lowest rings. But the outside diameter of the ocular unit should be considered: operating handle of hand-loaded rifle can touch the eyepiece.

When mounting the scope on the bolt action rifle with iron sights it's necessary to have higher rings.

Modern sporting-tactical rifles almost always ship with the rifle scopes of high ratio which mount on monoblock. They can have different height. Many today monoblock models have inclination from 20 to 40 MOA, that is necessary for maximum range shooting.

Mounts for optical sights can be made of different kinds of metals - light metal alloys (aluminium), steel, titanium.

High quality aluminium mounts are as resistant as steel ones but they are lighter and cheaper. In certain circumstances steel mount is preferable (modernized Kochetov mount for Mosin rifle 1891/30 yrs).

To care for optics, you need a set of special tools. They are produced for both optical sights and photo technique. In the absence of special means, you can use
cotton pads and alcohol. The lens cleaning method is the following: blow off the dust and debris from the surface of the lens, moisten the cotton pad with alcohol and begin to wipe the lens in a circular motion from the center to the periphery. Next, the surface of the lens should be wiped dry in the same way. This will save your optics from streaks. Do not make any effort, make the movements carefully and gently.
Do not use solvents to clean the optics, as this may damage the anti-reflective coating. Before wiping the lenses, be sure to remove the dust, otherwise you will scratch the coating or glass.
Clean the sight body with a damp cloth. To prevent damage to the sight, it is advisable to use a neoprene cover.

Please, take the time and opportunity to read the operation manual. This will allow you to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings when installing the sight on the weapon and its further operation.

If you have any questions about the quality of products or a manufacturing defect was found, please contact the Foreign Affairs Department by e-mail export @ vomz.ru / export_vomz @ mail.ru or by tel. (8172) 571730/571771