Kahles k1050 review

[Rancher Mike]

One reviewer mentioned the kahles k1050 had a very tight eye box, how does the sight box compare to the night force competition scope? Has anyone had a chance to compare? Thanks mike

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Shot first match with one yesterday. Also shot a comp with other gun.
I did not notice any difference.

 

[Rancher Mike]

Thanks Jim

 

[Ledd Slinger]

My K1050 eyebox is fine. No issues. Great resolution and eye relief. Glass isn't as bright as NightForce, but still very nice resolution at max power.

Key thing is the K1050 is pure perfection mechanically. Maintaining perfect zero POA shot after shot keeps groups small.

 

[kneedtospeed]

I use both, and totally agree w Ledd.
The comp is slightly brighter (not much), but for me, the 1050 Really Shines when the conditions deteriorate. I am able to hold higher magnification, and focus better on the target and mirage, later in the match, than with my Comps. The eye box is not an issue at all, they are identical.
My honest evaluation in competitions, from 100 to 1000, in various conditions.

 

[CaptainMal]

I liken their optics to the Nightforce BR or March with a more-forgiving eye box than March. Actually, most all good scopes have a more-forgiving eye box than March.

To me the best I have seen and own is the optical quality (brightness and resolution) of the Nightforce Competition. The rub has been mechanical reliability. If you send one to Nightforce for a fix their "no-fix" fix seems to work and it comes back pretty solid.

You can buy two Golden Eagles for the price of the Kahles and get about the same optical quality. Decent mechanical reliability also. Just saying. You want the best - Valdada Terminator 40MM.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I will also add that the K1050 cuts through mirage very well. I've been comparing it to some of my other high magnification scopes and the Kahles maintains an edge on resolution when viewing objects at 2000 yards. Extremely wide field of view on the K1050 as well. Makes target acquisition on high mag levels very easy.

Again, there's nothing wrong with the optics, but there is better glass out there in my opinion. The Kahles reminds me of Zeiss glass. Kind of has that very faint blue tint to it that hinders it's ability to give the viewer true color rendition. Kind of like everything is slightly "dim". Just does not have the ultra bright image found in other high end optics that makes you go, "WOW!"
But despite that, it maintains very sharp resolution edge to edge at all power levels and is pleasing to the eye.

 

[johara1]

When you mention eye box and being critical that is the end of it for me. If it is as bad as a 2013 NF. comp you are dead in the water if you shoot free recoil. I never saw anything easier to shoot than the NF NSX 12-42 x 56. and it was the only one I ever saw bullet holes with at a 1000.... jim

 

[Rancher Mike]

I agree with Jim on the night force 12-42x56 but side focus would be nice shooting prone.

 

[kneedtospeed]

Mike,
1050 Parallax adj is on Top.

 

[johara1]

Any of you that said the eye box is fine and not critical, shoot free recoil?..... jim

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Any of you that said the eye box is fine and not critical, shoot free recoil?..... jim

Don't really know of any shooting practice that isn't free recoil... 90% of the shooting I do is from a bipod. If a person's head is moving around bad enough to make the Kahles eyebox seem fussy while shooting, they may want to reevaluate their shooting form.

 

[coford]

I have two K1050's and the eyebox is better than my NF Competitions but not quite as forgiving as my NF Benchrests. The more I shoot the Kahles scopes the better I like them. It took me a little while to fine tune them both to fit my eyes but I really like the 20 moa per revolution on the turrents and I like the parallax adjustment on top. I don't know why but the glass seems to be better in mirage than any scope I've used. YMMV.

 

[johara1]

Free recoil is the only thing touching the gun is the rest and your trigger finger.No bipod no shoulder, some eye boxes go black withe the slightest movement. a 2013 NF. comp. was one of the worst and the NXS is one of the best..... jim

 

[LHSmith]

Free recoil is the only thing touching the gun is the rest and your trigger finger.No bipod no shoulder, some eye boxes go black withe the slightest movement. a 2013 NF. comp. was one of the worst and the NXS is one of the best..... jim

Exactly what I am trying to figure out- how one shoots free recoil with a bipod? At least with accuracy better than broadside of a barn.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I misunderstood. I thought by free recoil he meant nothing holding the rifle in place like a lead sled or something of that nature.

I do shoot some of my lighter recoiling rifles free recoil on my competition rest and rear bag, but I have not shot them with the K1050.

With magnum rifles on a bipod, I am lightly pressing into the butt with my shoulder and just barely brushing the comb with my cheek then touching the trigger off withoout wrapping my thumb around the wrist of the stock. Rifle recoils a hell of a lot more than my 6mm's on a competition rest.

On the competition rest with smaller caliber rifles from a bench, my head always stays in the same spot. Simply bump the rifle back to zero battery on the rest to reacquire same POA on target. Shooting doesn't get much easier than that. Personally, I find it much easier to maintain a good sight picture from a benchrest setup.