Khales 525i FOV question

[Marc B]

Hi all,

Over the past couple of months I've been piecing together my new long range target rifle and i'm at the point now where i'm looking seriously at what optic to put on it. I've read dozens and dozens of posts, reviews and watched countless videos. I have narrowed it down to 3 models.

NF ATACR 5-25 x 56 F1
Khales 525i F1
S&B PMII 5-25 x 56 F1

As i'm not schooled in either MOA or Mil, and don't have to re learn anything, I think for my purposes i'm going to go with mils.

I've read much about glass and have come to the conclusion that although some of the above optics are said to have better "quality" glass than some of the others in the list, the quality of all three optics glass is outstanding, so i'm really not too concerned with that.

All three are feature rich and seem to be great all around quality scopes. Some are said to have better fit and finish than others, durability etc. etc. I know that if I end up with any of the above optics that i'm getting a great quality piece that i'll surely love.

That said, I wanted to ask this forum if the reports that I've read about the Khales 525i FOV being down graded due to the more compact length is something that is accurate, and although (if accurate) the FOV being not as good as the others in the list, does it become problematic in the field during actual use? What I mean by that, is at the end of the day does it really matter? With situations like this I often think of Formula 1 racing where the difference between 1st place and 3rd place is so minimal (like a 10th of a second or less) that in the whole scheme of things it really doesn't matter.

I do like that Khales broke away from tradition without fear (I’m assuming) of loosing market share and went with a left or right windage option. To me it makes far more sense to be able to change and actually “see” your windage settings without even having to remove your cheek from the stock, your hand from the trigger and pretty much your eye from the optic.

If anyone has any other items they'd like to share regarding the above optics and why one would be a definite winner or loser over another i'd love to hear about it.

Thanks in advance

 

[tom]

I've owned all 3, but only still own the kahles. My other similar scope is kahles older 6-24 model. The 5-25 kahles is the best glass on a rifle scope I've ever seen, the 6-24 is good enough to aim with lol. I will see if I can pick up on what you're asking about this weekend when I take it out. I've been tuning on my 871 yard target, and will attempt to see if I can get you a real life F.O.V. number. Not knowing what it was specified, I can tell you I didn't ever feel it wasn't large enough.

Tom

 

[Marc B]

I will see if I can pick up on what you're asking about this weekend when I take it out. I've been tuning on my 871 yard target, and will attempt to see if I can get you a real life F.O.V. number. Not knowing what it was specified, I can tell you I didn't ever feel it wasn't large enough.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I certainly do look forward to hearing about your findings.

The Khales website says that the K525i has a FOV of........FT/100 Yds 21.7 - 4.4

 

[Hohn]

The thing to remember about FOV is that it’s proportional to magnification. All else being equal, a 6x scope will have half the FOV of a 3x. So if you want to compare scopes of different magnification, divide FOV by magnification to normalize.

It’s possible a premium optic like a Kahles can can you more magnification for a FOV or vice versa to where you can have both more magnification and more FOV at some settings.

 

[anwahs]

If field of view is a concern, you may want to read the following thread from the 2020 SHOT show:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/shot-show-2020.3997160/

 

[nmjwolf]

I know its not on your list but the Zero Compromise 5-27 is worth a very serious look...

 

[Marc B]

It’s possible a premium optic like a Kahles can can you more magnification for a FOV or vice versa to where you can have both more magnification and more FOV at some settings.

Hohn can you elaborate on what you saying here? I’m not sure that I understand what you mean.

 

[Marc B]

If field of view is a concern, you may want to read the following thread from the 2020 SHOT show:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/shot-show-2020.3997160/

Thanks anwahs. Looks impressive and a huge magnification range, but the price tag is way out of my range. I can pick up the K525i up here in Canada for about $2600 USD. Dropping another 2K on top of that $2600 is way out of my budget. Thanks for the info.

 

[Marc B]

I know its not on your list but the Zero Compromise 5-27 is worth a very serious look...

Thanks ill take a look at it.

 

[Marc B]

Ok. So the more I look at different brands, the more videos and reviews I watch, articles and threads I read, the more undecided I become. Not to mention that everyone has their own opinion and the advice is mostly all over the map.

Where I was hoping that the more knowledge I had would make my decision easier, it in fact seems to be doing the opposite.

I think (hope) that at this top tier level of optics there isn’t a “bad” choice, but more of one where it’s the different features that separate them and make one more relevant to the individual person than another.

If this is the case (and I think/hope it might be), and knowing that all of these mentioned optics are incredibly well built and true performers, then just understanding the different features on each optic and determining what is going to work best for me feature wise is what I will focus on.

I think this has been more difficult than choosing which house to buy

 

[Hohn]

Hohn can you elaborate on what you saying here? I’m not sure that I understand what you mean.

I mean it’s possible for a premium scope at 12x to have better FOV than a cheap scope at 10x, for example. You’d expect 20% more magnification to have 20% less FOV, but better design can overcome that.

Obviously you won’t see a 15x optic with more FOV than a 6x, but if magnification is close sometimes the FOV advantage persists despite more magnification.

 

[Marc B]

Thanks Hohn.
I see what you’re saying and I hope that’s the case with the K525i as I’m leaning that way right at the moment.

 

[golong]

You are not going to go wrong with any of the scopes you listed. Decide which reticles and dials you like better and go for it.

 

[tom]

@Marc B

52 3/8" at 25x is what I'm able to read at 100 yards for you.

Tom

 

[Marc B]

@Marc B

52 3/8" at 25x is what I'm able to read at 100 yards for you.

Tom

Thanks Tom.

that’s bang on in line with the spec sheet data for the optic. That’s good to know. Now I can assume that everything else on that spec sheet is an honest account.

 

[Marc B]

Here’s what I found.

NF ATACR 5-25
5x @ 100 yds FOV is 18.7 feet
25x @ 100 yds FOV is 4.9 feet


S&B PM2 5-25
5x @ 100 yds FOV is 15.7 feet
25x @ 100 yds FOV is 4.4 feet


Tangent Theta
25x @ 100 yds FOV is 4.7 feet


Khales K525i 5-25
5x @ 100 yds FOV is 21.7 feet
25x @ 100 yds FOV is 4.4 feet

So the Khales is basically the same as all the rest. Biggest diff would be with the NF at 25x which is 6 inches FOV at 25x at 100yds. But the Khales has better FOV at 5x by exactly 3 feet.
And when you’re basically zoomed right in at such a close target, 6” makes no difference as your basically staring at the centre of the target way up close.

 

[Marc B]

I decided on the Khales K525i. Order has been placed. Thanks for any of your shared input.

 

[golong]

I decided on the Khales K525i. Order has been placed. Thanks for any of your shared input.

I have the K525i, MSR2, left hand windage. Picked it up late last year. The more I use it, the harder it is to get behind my other scopes.

Enjoy!

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

All three are excellent scopes and companies. Reticle choice for a speedy fallow up shot is HUGE for me and this is where the mil scopes shine bc of the reticles available IMO. Once you are familiar with the H59 and Tremor you can use the tools in the reticle to help you. MOA as of now doesn't have the selection like mil scopes do. I like to buy a product that IF I need them to work or look at it someday that it doesn't have to leave the country and/or it is easy to contact CS. IMO, this is why Vortex has such a good name with most people-not so much me but other people.
I would be surprised if the SB and Khales didn't have someone in the states to work on them.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND (for what it's worth) to start with Mils if you don't know either one or have a preference. Any system based off 10s IMO opinion is faster and easier. I always go through both holds in my head. 1 mil is 3.43 MOA so I always do the math so I am not completely lost if someone hands me a rifle with a scope and tells me to get to work or I use another rifle hunting, etc...
JMO

 

[Marc B]

All three are excellent scopes and companies. Reticle choice for a speedy fallow up shot is HUGE for me and this is where the mil scopes shine bc of the reticles available IMO. Once you are familiar with the H59 and Tremor you can use the tools in the reticle to help you. MOA as of now doesn't have the selection like mil scopes do. I like to buy a product that IF I need them to work or look at it someday that it doesn't have to leave the country and/or it is easy to contact CS. IMO, this is why Vortex has such a good name with most people-not so much me but other people.
I would be surprised if the SB and Khales didn't have someone in the states to work on them.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND (for what it's worth) to start with Mils if you don't know either one or have a preference. Any system based off 10s IMO opinion is faster and easier. I always go through both holds in my head. 1 mil is 3.43 MOA so I always do the math so I am not completely lost if someone hands me a rifle with a scope and tells me to get to work or I use another rifle hunting, etc...
JMO

Thanks for that info. The reticle I wanted (SKMR3) was only available in Mil so that’s what I’m going with. The warranty is not as long as the Vortex, but from what I’ve read and have been told, it’s very unlikely that I’ll need it as far as manufacturing is concerned as they’re made extremely well and to exacting standards. If I damage it then I guess that’s another thing.