Steiner vs Kahles

Rifle scopes, iron sights and optics. Spotting scopes and target acquisition devices.

Steiner vs Kahles

Post by Biscuits » 03 Feb 2022, 10:31 am

Need a new rifle, so need a new scope. I know when you spend this much cash, you won't go wrong but does anyone have experience with a Steiner M5xi (this is the M military series, not the T series which had a lot of faults apparently) and a Kahles K525i? They are both 5-25x56 with 34mm tubes. The Kahles is a little lighter and a little shorter. The Steiner looks like you could beat someone over the head with it.
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Re: Steiner vs Kahles

Post by deye243 » 03 Feb 2022, 7:01 pm

If they were the only choices for me Kahles a friend has one I have used it a bit and fantastic glass but would you believe it's a left-handed model so it's a bit of getting used to as the windage is on the opposite side.

The Steiner I have had nothing to do with don't know anybody with one and I know a lot of people with high end scopes so for me little-known brand like that I would steer well clear of it that's not the say that you should it is just the way I look at things .

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Re: Steiner vs Kahles

Post by GQshayne » 03 Feb 2022, 7:16 pm

I would be looking at how they compare - being ,lighter is an advantage. I would expect at the high end of prices both should have excellent glass.

Kahles has such along standing reputation it would be hard to go past.
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Re: Steiner vs Kahles

Post by markg » 05 Feb 2022, 8:51 pm

Swarovski manages Kahles. Some Swaro optics now have the Kahles name. Cannot go wrong there one would think.
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Re: Steiner vs Kahles

Post by Biscuits » 06 Feb 2022, 8:58 am

Got the Khales. Haven't looked through it that much yet, but it looks like a good, sharp reticle and good glass. The build quality is excellent.

I'm told that Swarovski (the parent/sister company of Kahles) does not make first focal plane scopes with a miliradian reticle, because of their military application. If you look at the Swarovski catalogue, their scopes are either second focal plane, or if FFP only have a BDC reticle. The FFP miliradian reticles, like the one I just got, are all Kahles.

Steiner are quite well known in Europe and the US, maybe more for binoculars until recently.

I swung towards the Khales over the Steiner as it had an extra 3 or 4 miliradian of elevation range (this will go on a 1200-2000 metre rifle) and the parallax goes shorter. Not that I really need short parallax for targets 2km away, but it's always nice to have ;)
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