Kahles 1050 moak questions

[Cochran]

Anybody have a pic through the scope of a moak reticle on a target ? I think it might be the way to go for my WSM but not sure about the crosshairs not going all the way to the center.

In searching the forum I noticed that quite a few Kahles 1050s have been for sale in the last year or so. Curious if anyone sold one because they were unhappy with it would mind letting me know what the problem was or why they didn't like it. I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

Thanks

 

[rsbhunter]

Tag

 

[Dave Way]

I have several and love them. No tracking issues. I love the glass, others don’t. I did a side by side comparison with March 48X High Masters at 1K and the Kahles was better. Others say the glass is not as clear but I guess everyone’s eyes are different. I don’t have a 1K photo on a target but I will attach a photo of the dot on a steel plate at Deep Creek range in MT. The camera was hand held so it is not nearly as clear as the in person view. I believe the plates are 6”.

Dave.

 

[One Eye Pete]

I have two Kahles 1050s, two Sightron SVSSEDs, a Nightforce Competition and a Vortex Golden Eagle. The Kahles has the best vertical turret adjustment and good parallax adjustment The tracking is excellent. The nightforce is the brightest but the Khales has better color rendition. The Sightron is also very good but is much heavier. The golden eagle is OK but not quite as good as the others. I really like the MOAK reticle. My eyesight isn't what it used to be and the reticles on the nightforce and the golden eagle are very fine and in some light conditions hard to see on the black center of an F-Class target. The MOAK reticle is slightly heavier and easier on my eyes. It has a nice center dot and decent size hash marks that make it easy to "bracket" the "big black center" when conditions are poor.
These are just my perceptions and everyone's eyes are different. The Kahles is a really good scope with no noticeable weak points with the possible exception of the high price.
If I was going to buy another long range scope I would try a Trijicon Tenmile 5-50.
I have looked through them but never used one in competition. It appears to be a great scope but like the Sightron SV it is heavy.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

You asked, so here it goes...

I currently have 4x NF Comps, but have owned Vortex Golden Eagles, Sightrons, and a Kahles K1050. All are mounted on F-Class rifles. I've used (but haven't owned) Marches in the past too.

I had been using all of the above mentioned scopes prior to buying the Kahles, so I had a pretty good frame of reference at the time of comparison.

The Kahles is probably top notch in terms of construction; I haven't heard anyone complaining about POI shifts etc. The turrets are probably the best offered in F-Class, and the reticle was quite good. The scope is also very light, so it's a good option if you're trying to make weight.

The big downside of the Kahles is glass IMO. To my eyes it's nowhere near what a ~$2600-$3000 optic should be. When I looked through mine, it appeared to be in the Vortex Golden Eagle, Sightron S3 territory; probably slightly below if I'm honest.

I spent several hours behind mine, trying to get the image to look somewhat acceptable. I had a really hard time reconciling the image I was seeing with the reports I'd read online about how this scope was so great etc.

I made it through 2-3 load dev sessions and about 1.5 relays of an F-Class match before trading mine while in the middle of a string (literally). Glass clarity isn't everything in F-Class, but to my eyes the glass was so poor it detracted from the shooting experience, and I didn't feel like I would be as competitive with the scope.

If I were you, I'd look through one before you purchase. If the lenses/coatings agree with your eyes, then you'll probably love it. If they don't...you'll probably put it up for sale on the classifieds.

I run NF comps today because they check all the boxes for me. Super clear, outstanding reticle (FCR-1), make weight etc. but I'm always left with questions about POI consistency in the back of my mind.

If Kahles would come out with an ED glass version, I'd give one another shot. If it even got within the ball-park of an NF comp or March HM in terms of glass quality, I'd probably swap all my scopes over to them.

Would probably do the same if Vortex came out with higher-end GE.

I wish the F-Class/BR games had even a fraction of the R&D money put into it that PRS does. It would be really cool to see a ZCO or TT type company introduce an F-Class scope.

 

[Cochran]

Thanks guys. I’m sure the Kahles is fantastic at holding poi but just can’t get past the reticle. I’ll try to look through one at a match.

I shot a string a year or so ago with a NF Comp. The crosshairs were thinner than I like but the hash marks help. The clarity was outstanding. I’m concerned about the NF holding poi on a wsm but if the Kahles has quite a bit less resolution, I’ll have to go with the NF.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Thanks guys. I’m sure the Kahles is fantastic at holding poi but just can’t get past the reticle. I’ll try to look through one at a match.

I shot a string a year or so ago with a NF Comp. The crosshairs were thinner than I like but the hash marks help. The clarity was outstanding. I’m concerned about the NF holding poi on a wsm but if the Kahles has quite a bit less resolution, I’ll have to go with the NF.

I'm not saying NF Comp is the answer; it's just what I've settled on. I don't really see a scope out there that doesn't come with some compromises, and clearly others in the thread love their K1050s.

If you can afford it weight/balance wise, I think the Ten-Mile and SVSSEDs are worth a look too.

 

[Sandstorm]

Really like my SVSSED...I have tried many and my eyes seem to like the Sightron glass and coatings.
I even like the older 10-50 Sightron with the slightly less clear non ED glass...still good
and on my Mid range Gun.

 

[One Eye Pete]

Don't sell the Kahles glass short. It's pretty good. And the reticle is also good not too thin so as to make it hard to see.
What it comes down to is everyone's eyes are different. Talk is cheap the only way to really evaluate a scope is to look through it at a range. Go to as many local matches as you can and when you see a shooter with a scope you think you like ask to take a look through it. Most shooters are more than willing to help.
I traded a Nightforce Competition with the FCR-1 reticle for the Kahles with the MOAK because the Nightforce recticle simply didn't work for my poor old eyes.
The Nightforce is still a great scope. The only other thing I consider when buying a scope is factory service. When it comes to service it's hard to beat Sightro.

 

[Cochran]

Currently my F-class scopes 2 NF BR's and 2 NSX's and an SIII. It wasn't until I used a borrowed NF Comp that I realized what I'd been missing. I've got some matches coming up so I should be able to see what a Kahles looks like.

I did have a GE for a little while but never used it. The reticle was way too fine and it looked dark at high magnification

 

[JoeZA]

Owned March, NF, Sightron. Just use Kahles now. Kahles: Glass is average. Field of view average. Great reticle. Superb tracking. Mirage visibility good.
In F class we’re shooting at a black and white target and I’m not doing bird watching with the scope so “superior” glass on March and NF is meaningless when compared to all the tracking issues I had with those brands.

Best tracking / consistent POI is on a Kahles and Sightron.

 

[Om606]

Old I know , but I sold a kahles because of the glass also. For the money it should be better .

 

[Cochran]

Since I started the thread I still haven’t looked through a Kahles but I did buy a NF Comp. It was a good deal on a very clean scope, thanks JWB

Haven’t mounted it yet but playing with it, the clarity is excellent.