Editing AK-74 (section)

===Sights===
====Iron sights====
The AK-74 uses an adjustable notched rear tangent [[iron sight]] calibrated in {{convert|100|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} increments from {{convert|100|to|1000|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation in the field. Horizontal adjustment requires a special drift tool and is done by the armoury before issue or if the need arises by an armourer after issue. The sight line elements are approximately {{convert|48.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on|lk=on}} over the bore axis. The "[[point-blank range]]" battle zero setting "''П''" standing for ''постоянная'' (constant/consistent/permanent) the 5.45×39mm AK-74 rear tangent sight element corresponds to a {{convert|400|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} zero, compared with the {{convert|300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} zero for 7.62×39mm AKs.<ref name="Rottman">{{cite book |first=Gordon |last=Rottman |title=The AK-47: Kalashnikov-series Assault Rifles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qK9Nn-2xocUC&pg=PA42 |access-date=24 December 2011 |date=24 May 2011 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84908-835-0 |page=42– |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103131237/http://books.google.com/books?id=qK9Nn-2xocUC&pg=PA42 |archive-date=3 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/400mzero.html |title=Using a 400 meter zero with 5.45x39 |date=2010 |website=RussianOptics.net |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074754/http://russianoptics.net/400mzero.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> For the AK-74 combined with the 7N6 or 7N10 service cartridges the 400 m battle zero setting point-blank range limits the [[External ballistics#Bullet drop|apparent "bullet rise"]] within approximately {{convert|-5|to|+38|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} under the line of sight. At the corresponding {{convert|440|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} maximum point-blank range the bullet will have dropped to approximately {{convert|-21|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} relative to the line of sight. Soldiers are instructed to fire at any target within this range by simply placing the sights on the center of mass (the belt buckle, according to Russian and former Soviet doctrine) of the enemy target. Any errors in range estimation are tactically irrelevant, as a well-aimed shot will hit the torso of the enemy soldier.<ref name="Rottman" />

====Optical sights====
[[File:51AirborneRegiment50.jpg|left|thumb|USP-1 (1P29) Universal sight for the AK-74 and other small arms]]
While most Russian and [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] armed forces use the AK-74 in its basic configuration with iron sights, many magnified and non-magnified optical sights are available for designated marksmen and other special purpose troops in their respective militaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/545.html |title=5.45x39 Optics |website=RussianOptics.net |access-date=27 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403072755/http://russianoptics.net/545.html |archive-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/reddot.html |title=Red Dot and Collimator Optics |website=RussianOptics.net |access-date=27 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325081740/http://russianoptics.net/reddot.html |archive-date=25 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

For the 5.45×39mm AK-74, the East German '''Zeiss ZFK 4×25''', '''[[USP-1|USP-1 (1P29)]]''', Belorussian [[BELOMO|BelOMO]] '''PO 3.5×21P''', '''PO 4×24P''' and the [[1P78 Kashtan]] dedicated side rail mounted optical sights were developed. These optical sights are primarily designed for rapid target acquisition and first round hits out to 400 m, but by various means these optical sights also offer [[bullet drop compensation]] (BDC) (sometimes referred to as [[elevation (ballistics)|ballistic elevation]]) for aiming at more distant targets. The BDC feature compensates for the effect of [[gravity]] on the [[bullet]] at given distances (referred to as "[[bullet drop]]") in flat fire scenarios. The feature must be tuned for the particular ballistic trajectory of a particular combination of gun and [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] at a predefined [[muzzle velocity]] and [[air density]]. Since the usage of standardized ammunition is an important prerequisite to match the BDC feature to the [[external ballistics|external ballistic]] behaviour of the employed projectiles, these military optical sights are intended to assist with field shooting at varying medium to longer ranges rather than precise long range shots.

The standard Russian side rail mounted optical sight was the 4×26 '''1P29''' Universal sight for small arms. It was copied from and hence similar to the British [[SUIT (sight)|SUIT]] (Sight Unit Infantry, Trilux). When mounted the 1P29 sight is positioned centered above the receiver at a height that allows the use of the iron sights. It weighs 0.8&nbsp;kg, offers 4× magnification with a field of view of 8° and 35&nbsp;mm eye relief. The 1P29 is issued with a canvas pouch, a lens cleaning cloth, combination tool, two rubber eyecups, two eyecup clamps and three different bullet drop compensation (BDC) cams for the AK-74/[[AN-94]], [[RPK-74]] and [[PK machine gun]]. The 1P29 is intended for quickly engaging point and area targets at various ranges and is zeroed for both windage and elevation at {{convert|400|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. On the right side of the field of view a [[stadiametric rangefinder]] is incorporated that can be used to determine the distance from a {{convert|1.5|m|ftin|1|sp=us}} tall object from {{convert|400|to|1200|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. The [[reticle]] is an inverted aiming post in the top half of the field of view and is [[tritium]]-illuminated for low-light condition aiming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/1p29.html |title=1P29 4.0x Magnification |website=RussianOptics.net |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204093402/http://russianoptics.net/1p29.html |archive-date=2013-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npzoptics.com/catalog/sights_for_small_arms/1p29/ |title=1P29 Universal sight for small arms |website=NPZ Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206131752/http://www.npzoptics.com/catalog/sights_for_small_arms/1p29/ |archive-date=2013-12-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ra.spetsnaz.su/wiki/1P29 |title=1P29 |website=ra.spetsnaz.su |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032437/http://ra.spetsnaz.su/wiki/1P29 |archive-date=2014-11-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The current Russian standard side rail mounted optical sight for the AK-74M is the 2.8×17 '''1P78 Kashtan''', an aiming optic similar to the American [[Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight|ACOG]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/545.html |title=Dedicated 5.45x39 Optics |website=RussianOptics.net |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129074515/http://russianoptics.net/545.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> When mounted the 1P78 sight is positioned centered above the receiver. It weighs 0.5&nbsp;kg, offers 2.8× magnification with a field of view of 13° and 32&nbsp;mm eye relief. The 1P78 comes in several versions for the AK-74 (1P78-1), [[RPK-74]] (1P78-2), [[AKM]] (1P78) and [[RPK]] (1P78-3). The 1P78 is intended for quickly engaging point and area targets at various ranges and is zeroed for both windage and elevation at {{convert|400|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. A [[stadiametric rangefinder]] is incorporated that can be used to determine the distance for a soldier sized target from {{convert|400|to|700|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. The [[reticle]] consist of a main 400 m "chevron" (^), a {{convert|500|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} holdover dot and smaller additional holdover chevrons for {{convert|600|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|700|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} and is [[tritium]]-illuminated for low-light condition aiming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://russianoptics.net/1P78Kashtan.html |title=1P78 Kashtan 2.8× Magnification |website=RussianOptics.net |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207062335/http://russianoptics.net/1P78Kashtan.html |archive-date=2013-12-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npzoptics.com/catalog/sights_for_small_arms/1p78/ |title=1P78 rifle sight |website=NPZ Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210142739/http://www.npzoptics.com/catalog/sights_for_small_arms/1p78/ |archive-date=2013-12-10 |url-status=dead}}</ref>