is there much performance difference between a Kahles K1050 and March 10-60-52??

[loud_noise]

I’m about to spend money to replace a venerable and much loved NF NXS 8-32-56, will likely be a scope to last a while because of changing circumstances.

I’m looking very seriously at either a March 10-60-52 or a Kahles K1050. I have already looked at the K1050 and it appears to be amazing. Very impressive in every way. The March’s I have had limited exposure to and don’t know heaps about but the are a little bit cheaper. My understanding is that they are still practically at the top of their game.

Would sincerely appreciate any experience that could be offered in how they stack up against against each other.

Thanks in advance

 

[69mach]

I don't have a March 10-60, but I have had 2 March 40-60 highmasters and still have one. I also have one khales k1050. Personally after alot of use, I'm partial to the khales. I like the moak reticle and I've become fond of the khales turrets. They are very audible and when you zero the turrets it also sets the zero stop, although the zero stop actually stops 3/8 of a minute below the turret zero, which is no issue to me. The march turrets are nice as well and they have a notch for every 1/8 moa line on the turret. I have also become fond of the elevation turret detent that rises in stages as the turret is rotated a full revolution. You would be hard pressed to get lost in doping the khales. I also like the khales magnification adjustment over the march. I do still like the side focus of the march over the khales focus that is just below the elevation turret. The khales focus is still nice though, and more or less ambidextrous to boot. I like the detents that the khales focus has built in every 50 yards or so. I don't think the 50 vs 60 magnification makes any difference to me as here in Kansas the mirage gets bad fast enough in the day i use both scopes around 40 power. I think khales only has a 10 year warranty if I remember right, I don't think the march is any better. That might be a reason to look at the nightforce competition. As far as the glass clarity goes, I can't really tell any difference but I still have pretty decent eyes. My older shooting buddy thinks the march high master has a little better glass but I'm not convinced. The March is a great scope but the khales just feels like it's built like a tank. Also, khales is well know for rock solid mechanics. Not that the march isnt, but I think the khales would still track after using it as a club where as the march I'm not sure. If your only going to buy one more scope id buy the khales, but thats just my personal preference and the march will do you right too. One thing I hate about each scope is the lenses covers, the khales has cheap bikini type covers and I was never fond of the leather caps the march has. The threaded aluminum lenses covers that my nightforce competition and benchrest scopes have are the best. For what they cost khales and March both need to update there lenses covers. Attached is a pic of the khales where you can see the focus wheel that is under the elevation turret. If you have any particular questions pm me and i will try to answer them.

 

[loud_noise]

Thank a bunch! I see what you mean about the Kahles having potentially more resilience and ‘toughness’. It’s construction struck me as exceptional.

Based on observations the March may have it slightly better in terms of sheer clarity. I’m not surprised, but having looked through the a K1050 already it would have to be exceptional. Like your self I have very good eye sight so that isn’t a massive game changer for me.

So there is clearly an evolution over similar March scopes with the Kahles and the features offered that make the Kahles different and but endearing.

Okay thanks for your advice, appreciate the appraisal.

 

[1shot]

I own 2 of the NF scopes you mentioned as well as the March. I was at an out of state match a couple months ago and was fortunate enough to have a couple of shooters let me compare the Kahles and the Vortex GE side by side with my NF. The Kahles reticle was far to fine for my liking, but that's a personal preference. I thought it was a little brighter than the NF, but it should be with a bigger main tube. As far as clarity on target, my eyes couldn't tell the difference. I wish I would have had my March with me, but I'm sure it would be better than the Kahles and the Vortex GE. Ultimately, I was fortunate to score a BNIB 12-42 NF NXS and couldn't be happier.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

 

[loud_noise]

Thanks for the input everyone I went with the Kahles in the end. Looking forward to sighting it in this Friday.

 

[wedgy]

March has 35% off as they are closing Shiraz' store;
http://marchoptics.com/second-focal-plane

 

[Stepsjframe]

Kahles are great optics I'm sure you will love it if you get it.

 

[loud_noise]

That Kahles is stunning! 1050K is a beautiful optic.

Well it’s sighted for 100M and shooting the 175gn SMKs pretty well (shot off a bench which probably my least preferred shooting form) wind was quite heavy as well.

Pictured are the groups at 100M, like I said, a little more work and better group test conditions are needed

 

[pat fulghum]

There is a difference in the March glass between the high master and regular...a big difference in my eyes.

I do own a k1050 and a “few” March HM, and a NF COMP.

All my march HM and NF Scopes have been scope checked with k1050 as the control scope on a 284.

for me, I like the mechanics of the kahles, but the glass of the march HM and NF comp.

 

[Hermantk]

I own 2 of the NF scopes you mentioned as well as the March. I was at an out of state match a couple months ago and was fortunate enough to have a couple of shooters let me compare the Kahles and the Vortex GE side by side with my NF. The Kahles reticle was far to fine for my liking, but that's a personal preference. I thought it was a little brighter than the NF, but it should be with a bigger main tube. As far as clarity on target, my eyes couldn't tell the difference. I wish I would have had my March with me, but I'm sure it would be better than the Kahles and the Vortex GE. Ultimately, I was fortunate to score a BNIB 12-42 NF NXS and couldn't be happier.
I hope this helps,

Lloyd

FWIW...the line thickness on the Kahles scope is adjustable, from very very fine to massive.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I guess I missed this thread when it went by the first time.

The reply from 69Mach is a good example of why comparing scopes is so complex and subjective.

He compared a March High Master 40-60X52 EP Zoom to a Kahles K1050, which is a 10-50X56 optics. So right off the bat, we have two very different scopes being compared to one another. The March is a very specialized scope with a fixed 40X power and a 52mm objective. The Kahles is a variable scope with a base power of 10X and a zoom ration of 5X. Its objective lens is 56mm; bigger than the one in the March.

Provided that he compared the two scopes at 40X, I am surprised that he could not tell the difference between the two and even more so that his older buddy thinks the March has better glass, even with a smaller objective. This speaks volumes about the capability of the High Master Super-ED lens.

The March in question has an eyepiece zoom. What this means is that instead of having a 5X, 6X, 8X or 10X zoom in the erector, in front of the second focal plane, this March has a 1.5X zoom in the eyepiece itself, after the second focal plane. This arrangement makes the scope immune to zero shift when zooming in and out. I have not detected it in my March-X, but I have seen it in my Nightforce NXS; a one inch straight up shift at 50 yards going from 12X to 42X. Surprised the snot out of me.

So for pure, sheer, ultra precision and a total guarantee of no zero shift when zooming, the eyepiece zoom is the ticket; but the downside is that the eye relief will change with the zooming; at 60X, it will stick out further than at 40X.

Of course, the zooming control will be located differently on this March compared to a regular variable scope.

If someone wanted to compare the Kahles K1050 to a March, the proper scope would be a March-X 5-50X56 or the newer March-HM 10-60X56. At this point, we would have the same diameter objective and would only worry about using it at the same magnification.

Talking about the Kahles being built like a tank, the two Marches I mentioned have a 34mm tube compared to the 30mm on the Kahles. The wall of the Marches is 4mm thick, compared to the 2mm of the Kahles. The March scopes with 56mm objectives all have 34mm tubes and they are SOLID.

There is nothing wrong with the Kahles; it's an excellent scope, but let's always make sure we compare properly.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

FWIW...the line thickness on the Kahles scope is adjustable, from very very fine to massive.

Really? I have looked at the specs of the K1050 and simply cannot find that feature being discussed or highlighted. Since reticles are usually etched in glass these days, I can't help but wonder how the second focal plane K1050 can adjust the line thickness of its reticle.

 

[DT]

Also, the 40-60x52 IS a variable.

 

[Jeff A]

FWIW...the line thickness on the Kahles scope is adjustable, from very very fine to massive.

Please "School" me on this feature. Are you sure that you aren't thinking of a different Kahles model?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Also, the 40-60x52 IS a variable.

Not in the common sense. I'm guessing you did read my post completely.

Also, March lists that very scope under Fixed Power Scopes:
https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d48f52/

 

[DT]

Not in the common sense. I'm guessing you did read my post completely.

Also, March lists that very scope under Fixed Power Scopes:
https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d48f52/

You are referencing a straight 48x. Do your proper research.
http://www.marchoptics.com/products...enchrest-Scope-Turret-Caps-CH-Reticle/MAR1083

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

You are referencing a straight 48x. Do your proper research.
http://www.marchoptics.com/products...enchrest-Scope-Turret-Caps-CH-Reticle/MAR1083

On the left-hand side of the page, scroll down a little bit to click on the D60EV52.
https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d60ev52/

You can see they are both listed in the Fixed Power Scopes page.

I'll forgo the proper admonition about reading completely.

 

[DT]

On the left-hand side of the page, scroll down a little bit to click on the D60EV52.
https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d60ev52/

You can see they are both listed in the Fixed Power Scopes page.

I'll forgo the proper admonition about reading completely.

Look at the specs for d60ev52

• Magnification: 40x-60x---that means it is a variable. It has a zoom eyepiece. March has offered fixed power scopes of 40x, 48x and 50x. With 42 years experience as a copy editor I think my reading comprehension is sufficient. It's good you're forgoing the improper admonition.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Look at the specs for d60ev52

• Magnification: 40x-60x---that means it is a variable. It has a zoom eyepiece. March has offered fixed power scopes of 40x, 48x and 50x. With 42 years experience as a copy editor I think my reading comprehension is sufficient. It's good you're forgoing the improper admonition.

Sigh. I guess you know more than March, which lists it as a fixed power scope.

 

[Hermantk]

Please "School" me on this feature. Are you sure that you aren't thinking of a different Kahles model?

Hi. On the K1050MOAK, the rim of the eyepiece is rubber (so that when you get dinged by it, it hurts a little less). That ring turns. Turning the ring will change the thickness of the reticle lines. Great scope. And extraordinary service from Evan at Swarovski who distribute it in North America.