1P29 Scope Review: Soviet USP-1 "Tulip" 4× Optical Sight for AK Rifles – History and Analysis
Updated: Jan 29
Soviet Army is known for a number of common and popular optical devices, such as B7 binoculars, PSO-1 scopes, NSPU and BN night vision devices. But one particular scope is usually overlooked, mostly due to low production numbers.
Roots and history of 1P29
The scope was adapted by the Soviet Army in the late 1980s. Despite common myth, it was not developed based on the Afghan War experience. Instead, it was the result of a long lasting program of enhancing performance of small infantry units. This program started in the 1970s and was designed to improve capabilities of Soviet infantry sections in peer-to-peer combat with the potential enemy.
Despite not being the best candidate, USP-1 managed to come out victorious from the scope competition. More on that competition will be presented in our upcoming book on Soviet Scopes:
Was USP-1 a copy of British SUIT?
Let's look closer at the reticle of British SUIT scope, designed for L1 rifles:
It suspiciously reminds of the 1P29 reticle, which also consists of the upside-down partially transparent obelisk, although of a slightly different design:
The similarities aren't random - SUIT sight was indeed used in the process of USP-1 design. In retrospect it seems like a very unmotivated decision, given that SUIT was a moraly outdated concept. Apart from that, there were better options , yet, Soviets decided to proceed with 1P29.
The description of the 1P29 scope
This 1P29 scope was designed to be installed on most weapons of the section and platoon sized units. While it can, in theory, be used for all three main Soviet calibers, it is only adjusted for AK-74N, RPK-74N and PKMN (as well as their folding variants, of course).
The standard-issue AK and RPK do not offer optimal ergonomics when used with this optical sight. The 1P29 is mounted relatively high, forcing the shooter to extend the neck, which limits cheek support. This leads to less comfortable and stable shooting position, resulting in poor accuracy. The only positive side is the ability to use iron sights which is a debatable advantage, given that 1P29 can be quickly removed from the rifle if it is damaged or no longer needed.
This scope also has a small and rather uncomfortable range finder on the center right of the reticle. It is marked up to 1200m distance, although range identification at such distance is virtually impossible. It is also designed for 1.5m tall targets, instead of usual 1.7m, as it is presented in PSO series of scopes.
Practical use of the 1P29 USP-1 scope
Since 1P29 was designed and adopted at the very last years of the existance of the Soviet Union, it was never mass produced. So, in every post-Soviet conflict which involved RusFed Armed Forces, it only had limited appearance, now rarely seen on photographs. Here we present you with a small collection of 1P29 caught on cameras.
Interesting review with useful historical context and details about the optical sight. I enjoy reading articles that explain the background of specialized equipment, much like exploring character-inspired styles such as a coraline dad costume for a creative costume idea.
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