Prior to World War II, construction of an optical-mechanical factory in Yoshkar-Ola, Factory #297, was started. At the beginning of the War, the State Optical Institute (GOI) from Leningrad was evacuated to this factory and in late 1942 production of PU sniper scopes was started to replace the lost production volumes from the Kharkov Number 266 Factory which had transitioned to production for the aviation industry. The factory produced scopes for the Mosin Nagant 91/30 sniper rifle, producing both PU SVT and PU 91/30 models. During 1943-1944, approximately 91,000 PU sniper scopes were released, most of which were damaged or destroyed during the War.
Prior to World War II, construction of an optical-mechanical factory in Yoshkar-Ola, Factory #297, was started. At the beginning of the War, the State Optical Institute (GOI) from Leningrad was evacuated to this factory and in late 1942 production of PU sniper scopes was started to replace the lost production volumes from the Kharkov Number 266 Factory which had transitioned to production for the aviation industry. The factory produced scopes for the Mosin Nagant 91/30 sniper rifle, producing both PU SVT and PU 91/30 models. During 1943-1944, approximately 91,000 PU sniper scopes were released, most of which were damaged or destroyed during the War.
