Tuukka Posted May 2, 2013 Share Posted May 2, 2013 I saw the Kahles K16i 1-6x24 scope for the first time at the GPEC law enforcement expo in Leipzig last fall.Handled it again at the SHOT Show and talked to the Kahles staff.Through co-operation with the Finnish importer, I now have one in my hands. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Kahles_K16i.jpg To give you a little bit of background where my comments are coming from, I have been on the Finnish Open class national Practical rifle team since 2009, alternate member for this season.Have used various other small power variable scopes in my work also, as we manufacture sound suppressors I shoot quite few thousand rounds in testing every year.This first range trip was just zeroing and just feeling out the scope on the range for the first time. Shooting drills and speed more oriented to my practise regimen will follow later this week.This particular scope has the G4B reticle, which in my opinion is the best of the available options for Practical / 3-gun shooting http://images1.opticsplanet.com/365-240-ffffff/opplanet-kahles-g4b-reticle-general-usage.jpg The reticle and the dot are in the second focal plane. The dot size is very small ( 2cm at 100 meters / 6x zoom )Therefore the dot does not cover for example a 20 cm / 8 inch plate at 300 meters.The optical quality, clarity and brightness are excellent, however I am no optician The extension lever on the magnification is ok, but I might modify it to be longer.The adjustments are 1/2 MOA at 100 meters and are under caps. http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Kahles_K16i_s_d_t.jpg As mentioned, I did not really focus on shooting speed this time, but this was produced at 100 meters ( prone / bipod ) by pulling the trigger as soon as the dot settled in from recoil: http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Kahles_K16i_nopeaa_ammuntaa_100m.jpg At 300 meters I was checking the dope as I had not shot this particular load at that distance, but this is what the first 5 shot group looked like: http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Kahles_K16i_eka_300_m_kasa.jpg Overall the scope left me with a really good first impression, the only thing I can quickly think is that I would like to see a locking BDC turret.As I have been competing with a S&B Short Dot LE for the past few seasons, really easy to adjust the turret and to check the zero with one glance.However this is a very small gripe for me. I believe this scope will give the Z6i 1-6x a run for its money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoker Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Yep I will have two in to test next week I have a K312II on my 308 and have owned several other Kahles optics over the years. Glass that rivals anything out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rboyes Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) I have a Kahles K16i as well. I went with the SM1 reticle since I felt it would be faster up close. So far I've used it in two matches, and its been awesome. It replaced a USO 1-4 w/ Lund reticle which I loved but the Kahles beats it in every way. The reticle brightness and glass quality are definitely Swaro level, and its listed as having a touch more FOV, particularly on 1x. I haven't had a chance to shoot past 200 yards with it yet, and have used it in 2 matches so far. I'm very happy with it. Here's a picture that Sport Optics took for me when I was choosing which reticle I wanted (note- illumination not at highest setting): Edited May 4, 2013 by rboyes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper_999 Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) Me too! except, that I've chosen the SI-1 reticle! I've put some impressions of the K16i to my blog at http://saschaback.de/blog/?p=454〈=en and http://saschaback.de/blog/?p=546〈=en Edited May 4, 2013 by cooper_999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoker Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 The Sm1 in mil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rboyes Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 The Sm1 in mil? Yes, the SM1 is a mil based reticle in half mil increments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeD Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Thanks for sharing your comments. Posts like this make it easier for guys like me to make decisions. I also handled the Kahles at SHOT this year, it looked great and I wish I could order one right now. Unfortunately my wallet will not permit right now, maybe by fall. George Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShooterSteve Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Thanks for the report Tuukka. It is great to see people take a few minutes and post things that they try out. I really like my LaRue mounts, but that is one solid looking mount that you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gose Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Thanks for the report Tuukka. It is great to see people take a few minutes and post things that they try out. I really like my LaRue mounts, but that is one solid looking mount that you have. Slightly off topic, but you can find more about the mount here: http://www.spuhr.com/ISMS.html Its really an awesome mount. I have one on my .308 AR and one waiting for my new Open .223 upper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 That reticle looks almost as good as the Swarovski Z6i's BRT reticle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuukka Posted June 20, 2013 Author Share Posted June 20, 2013 Just shot the Danish Open rifle match in Copenhagen, made a couple of mistakes and that cost me the medal this time and dropped to 5th.The match overall had 13 stages from 5 meters out to 300 meters, with the 300 m stage having targets between those distances.I did utilize the T1 on certain stages and shooting positions where the scope had to be on higher magnification to immediately engage further targets.I am very confident in this scope overall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuukka Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 More experiences with the scope. Was leading the Nordic Rifle Match last summer, up til the second to last staqe, where I unfortunately had a DQ. The scope proved to be excellent overall in use over there again. This season we have had two national level rifle matches here in Finland. Placed 3rd in both matches. In the previous match had a bad malfunction on a long stage, costing serious points + a couple of own brain farts. So cost me the fight for 1st/2nd place. On this Sunday in Helsinki, I shot a clean match with no penalties and the match had pretty much all the current top Finnish rifle shooters, apart from Raine. Stages were primarly off hand to 20-50 meters and 150-300 meter stages, not that much up close and fast, as it was in the previous match. Very tight match with the top 3 being with 8 match points / 1,5% Still, no complaints about the scope, technical or otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headworked Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Tuukka, This post was very influential when I was choosing a new scope last fall... I have also been enjoying the quality of this great optic, but not finishing quite as good as you have...I have the SM2 reticle, and have shot it out to 475 yds with excellent results thus far. Thanks for the update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigkyle72 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 That reticle looks almost as good as the Swarovski Z6i's BRT reticle. for that price it better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Tischauser Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 What throw lever are u using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuukka Posted June 11, 2014 Author Share Posted June 11, 2014 What throw lever are u using? For the magnification? None at the moment, have not really felt a need for one as I have the T1 there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akkid17 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Aren't kahles and swarovski owned by the same company? So these would essentially be the chevy and gmc equivalent of scopes in their lines right? One is just more expensive with a slightly different trim package or in this case reticle choice. I don't really see much else that separates them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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