Rifle Scopes Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

jbell

Gunny Sergeant
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Minuteman
  • Jan 16, 2010
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    Jasper Arkansas
    I just receved my Kahles K 6-24X56 the other day and have ordered a set of American Precision Arms rings to mount it in. I chose the APA rings because I know Jered does not settle for less than perfection & this shows when talking to him and in the work he and his shop puts out. So when I heard he was designing and building his own rings I had to start learning about them. I watched the video posted here on them several times and it became immediately apparent that he did not just stick with the mold that had been set so many years ago for "tactical/precision/hard use" rings. He did in fact reinvent the wheel, as he did with his latch/release system on his RTG and (IMO after using it) improved on every other system out there.After talking to Jered at length about the rings I beleve he has done exactly that, improved on every aspect other ring design out there but as in the RTG not only in fuction but also in form. They both are a very clean design with seamless transitions from one surface to an other. There are no unchamfered or sharp edged to catch or snag. I as many out there have had the oppertunity to try about every other major manfacturers ring and have found things that I have not liked about most all of them, but from my research Jered has identified and corrected all of my complaints with others rings. As of today I have not receved the rings but expect to in the next few days and will report back with my personal thoughts as to if the rings are what I think they are...more to come.

    On to the scope its a Kahles K 6-24X56 with the MIL4 reticle in the FFP & the MIL CCW turrets. I will be comparing it to my S&B PMII 5-25X56 with the P4F & same turrets. It is roughly the same size and weight as the PMII (I will post pics of both in a few days). The adjustments on both scopes feel about the same: about the same resistance, detents feel the same, spacing for detents on turrets and mag ring travel. The only real difference in terms of feel is the light detents at each yard marker on the parallax adjustment on the Kahles. Personally I dont see the need for it as the marked distance means nothing to me b/c as the atmosphere changes so will the parallax correction. The other major obvious difference in this scope is the parallax knob placement (under the elevation turret). For me its no "game changer" but it is a very comfortable and intuitive location. I think the best thing about its location is that it allows room for the illumination dial to be moved off the main tube and on to the erector housing. This gives more room to mount the rear ring and a bubble level if so desired, and IMO makes for a cleaner looking scope. The color of the scope is almost a plum color kinda reminds me of the old Leuoplds but in a matte finish. So IMO the fit and finish is spot on for a scope in this price range, a job well done.

    Unfortunately I am not able to comment on the reliability of this scope as I have not mounted it yet. But I have spent the last few days with it sitting next to my PMII.*All my comparison so far has been at short range 150yds & less in my back yard, but will be taking it to 1k and beyond soon and will report back* I am happy to report that the optics is so close to my Bender that I cant tell a difference. The image color & resolution are both spot on. I did an extensive side by side in low light to dark on 2 different nights and cant tell the 2 scopes apart. Both seem to be equal on all power ranges in low light in their ability to gather light and allow you to not only see an object but make out details. I would start at a low power and dial up until the immage would deteriorate and both scopes would be on the same magnification. I was able to use the Benders reticle with out illumination longer in the fading light but thats what the illumination is for. I found the Kahles illumination was bright enough to be seen well in the day light, but had plenty of adjustment to make it perfect under all lighting conditions. It illuminates the whold reticle with the center being brighter as opposed to the Bender that just lights the center. I did find the illumination on the Kahles would wash out the immage in low light if set too bright and the Bender would not, but thats why its adjustable. I also found the Kahles had no tunneling like the Bender (which IMO is pretty bad) The Kahles does fish bowl or curve the immage just alittle on the lowest magnification settings as do a lot of other scopes in this mag range. The Kahles does have a noticeably larger eye box than the Bender so your eye position is not as critical. It reminds me more of a Hensoldt/Zeiss in that reguard. Both scopes went unuseable in the same ammount of light.

    So as of now I have to say the new Kahles K 6-24X56 is holding its own very well with the slightly higher priced PMII (which BTW is what I consider to be the benchmark for all other scopes). More to come including pics...

    See this thread for the APA ring review:
    http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3465839&#Post3465839
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    Thanks for review, interested in your findings once fielded!

    Agree jered's rings really are awesome-dabbled with a set in his shop. Lock up incredibly well. Great concept. Can't wait to really try them myself!
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    Thanks all. I hope to get some pics up later today. My reason for posting this is because I have been lucky enough to be able to try and compare about every other scope out there to the PMII. The Bender has come to spoil me with its optics. I am a huge Nightforce fan and am proud to own one but I would just rather be looking through the Bender when the air gets bad, same goes for US Optics, Zeiss/Hensoldt, Razor HD. I consider these to be top of the heep in the scope world. The only other scopes I have not had a chance to do a side by side with is the latest genersation IOR and the new Steiner scope. I am not tring to say that the Bender and this Kahles is the end all, by no means are they. I am just tring to say for me the Bender is my choice and that this new Kahles is very close to it, as is the Hensoldts. More to come...
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    <span style="color: #CC0000">Not sure why but the Kahles looks longer than the Bender in these pics but it much closer in size. This PMII is 16.3" and the Kahles is 15.9". </span>
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    006-2.jpg
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/21

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jbell</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The Kahles does have a noticeably larger eye box than the Bender so your eye position is not as critical. It reminds me more of a Hensoldt/Zeiss in that reguard.</div></div>

    He did address the eyebox.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/21

    bward, the eye box is noticeably larger in the Kahles than the S&B. I have checked it several times at all magnification and it is bigger, much like the Zeiss/Henslodt. I do wish I had a Hensoldt right now to do an actual side by side but I have had enough time behind the Hensoldts and Diavari to get a pretty good ideal how it stacks up. I cant wait to get the rings in not only to check out Jered's hard work but to get the Kahles mounted for the real test.

    If anyone has any other specific questions for me about this scop I would be more than happy to check it out.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/21

    Great pictures comparing the two. Having the illumination located up with the turrets really opens up space on the tube for mounting.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    "Not sure why but the Kahles looks longer than the Bender in these pics but it much closer in size. This PMII is 16.3" and the Kahles is 15.9"."

    Perspective maybe? Put the S&B in front and see how they look.

    OFG
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    I sold the scope... It is very nice but after I took it to the range (before I got the rings in to mount it) I had it on sand bags and was compairing it to my Bender. It was even with the Bender in all aspects except one, I was able to make out the finest details a little better with the Bender. If it was not for this I may have sold my Bender to get an other one because the eye box is nicer on the Kahles and all else was equal. But I am such a finicky little girl about optical quality my OCD would not allow it. This is not a bash on the Kahles its more a hang up on my part. I have sold many very nice scopes because of this, damn Schmidt & Bender! I intended this to be a more indepth review with several test to include tracking but Im not going to spend 3K on something that I know Im not going to be happy with. Sorry for the let down. If you are thinking about one of these scope they are very nice so go for it as only you can decide what works for you.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    Steve its the same size as the Bender. Look at the boards on my deck and you will see they get smaller as you go away from the camera. I dont know why, I just suck at taking pictures.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review

    I never got a chance to use it but I liked the mil4 much better than the mil6. It just seemed more useable and less cluttered. I know the H style ret. are great for holds but for me and my shooting I just dont need them and would rather have open field of view to sopt impacts. I also would much rather have a interceting cross hair than a open center or a open center and a dot. But that is just me.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kahles USA</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hello Flying bullseye,

    If you would like some through the scope shots let me know, I'd be happy to snap some shots for you. I have a Mil6 and Mil4 available for photos.

    Regards,
    Ken </div></div>
    Can you just post those shots here? I'm itching for a new scope, and right now Kahles looks hard to beat for the money!!
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I can never get good through the scope pictures.

    Frank, next online training video idea, how to take sexy scope pics. </div></div>

    Me too, I tried to do it for this thread but they come out looking like I am on CRACK! I would be intrested in a "how to" thread as well.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

    Alright,

    Here are a few shots through the Mil6. Photos came out so so:
    Shots are taken at 10 yards:

    24x
    357f52u.jpg


    12X

    534q4i.jpg



    6x
    2z87nnp.jpg


    Yea like I said lol, they did not come out great but, if you would like some additional shots etc, please let me know.


    Regards,
    Ken
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

    Does anyone know if a K624x56 fits in a Sphur mount...and is useable? Concerned since the parallax knob is pretty large. Pics would be great if you've done it.
     
    Re: Kahles K 6-24X56 and APA rings review updated 7/26

    it is very clear at this point...I need a third job! I really like both of those reticles. I am curious as to how I would like the parallax under the elevation? Seems like a great idea.