Rifle Scopes New for 2025, the Kahles K540i

[Onebadstang16]

Reputation for standing up for friends when someone’s a dick to them for no reason and calling out claims which simply aren’t true? Yeah no thanks. The haters can hate and I ain’t afraid to stand up for shit. The 540i doesn’t have a tight eye box at all and will knows for dam sure what he’s talking about. Not to mention yeah I’ve shot all those scopes too. So whatever. You don’t like my delivery? That’s fine. Let’s chat and I’ll try to do better in the future. But none of that makes me wrong and if I am ever for whatever reason I’ll admit it and try to learn.

BJ that’s just it dude your opinion is yours, others can have their opinions too! None of that changes that they don’t always align man. Your reputation proceeds you for past things but honestly I’ll be the first to say I think the chads a very nice system I personally like it. In fact I own a several TMB and have talked to you several times and we actually got on just fine. The internet often delivers differently than folks intend and snipers hide might be the worst of that occurance.

Regardless enjoy what you like and shoot what you want I passed feedback from shooters my opinion here is obviously bias which is why I didn’t bother to offer my opinion.

 

[carbonbased]

I did, and it was included in the box. A nice touch I must say. I used it in a couple matches during the summer time when mirage was really bad. Over 100 degrees ambient temp. It worked okay and the light reduction wasn’t enough to be noticeable but it didn’t make a huge DOF difference either.

Did the disk help mirage at all? Not sure it that’s it’s main reason of being or (vs. DOF increase).

 

[Onebadstang16]

Hey I thought I was the only Chief on here... - Richard

Man you can actually make that joke…. At least you don’t have cancer!

 

[Covertnoob5]

Bud if you think I personally care what your opinion is your mistaken, the fact is other shooters DO think differently from you and they HAVE made the comments as such.

Bud, I definitely don’t care what you think about my opinion LOL you aren’t that important. You started the shill job and I replied to another poster trying to shine some light on their question about why you were going so hard for March. You addressed me first, otherwise I wouldn’t have even responded to you and let you keep digging the hole even deeper.

 

[Covertnoob5]

Did the disk help mirage at all? Not sure it that’s it’s main reason of being or (vs. DOF increase).

Not much no, but mirage is a good place to test DOF. Not the derail this KHALES thread, but the Tangent for example is very very good at DOF and a good example of that is being able to see mirage in layers almost. Like you can see the mirage closer than the target if that makes sense. Scopes can’t cut thru mirage that doesn’t exist even tho people say that a lot. What good scopes do is place the mirage and target in an almost 3D image so it isn’t flat like say on a vortex razor 2.
All that to say that’s why I decided to run the disk on the march during heavy mirage, I wanted to see what it looked like and how it would treat mirage etc. I shot some stages with it on and some without. Under the time constraints of a PRS stage, you don’t notice the change a ton. Zeroing at 100 you can if you’re paying attention.

 

[db2000]

I fricking hate Swaro/Kahles as a company due to their lawfare, but, uh, man, @Onebadstang16 you're not doing yourself (or March) any favors here.

@X-ring mentions the 540’s eyebox at about 5:30 here. At 40x he calls it “super super forgiving.”


Ray is a good shooter.

And yes, he doesn’t appear to have a March vid on his site. And no, I’m not making any claims one scope is better than another…heck I want March to be better.

No dog in this fight. I’ve never looked through either scope.

But I am a potential customer.

For those who have peered through both scopes, perhaps a calm description of each scope’s eyebox would be helpful?

Wow! Gave it 2 “Supers”!!!
Stang must really be a shilltard.

 

[carbonbased]

I’ve spent considerable time behind all of the scopes and I’ve compared all of them quite heavily in fact it’s part of my role to know the market.

So, if so were you, I’d limit both the theory end of things and competitor bashing and just simply describe, in detail, your experiences at different magnifications between the two scopes.

By way of example, @koshkin has done consulting work for March (as you know) but he is quite careful to appear impartial and not afraid to point out strengths and weaknesses of scopes, regardless of his relationship with the manufacturer.

 

[Onebadstang16]

Not much no, but mirage is a good place to test DOF. Not the derail this KHALES thread, but the Tangent for example is very very good at DOF and a good example of that is being able to see mirage in layers almost. Like you can see the mirage closer than the target if that makes sense. Scopes can’t cut thru mirage that doesn’t exist even tho people say that a lot. What good scopes do is place the mirage and target in an almost 3D image so it isn’t flat like say on a vortex razor 2.
All that to say that’s why I decided to run the disk on the march during heavy mirage, I wanted to see what it looked like and how it would treat mirage etc. I shot some stages with it on and some without. Under the time constraints of a PRS stage, you don’t notice the change a ton. Zeroing at 100 you can if you’re paying attention.

Very good explanation, Theta does well also because of the ratio they have in lens with the length of the optic as well as coatings. Will is correct mirage doesn’t just appear based on the name on the side of the scope it’s how the scope handles it and allows the shooter to use it that is what people really see when they say “cutting through mirage”. A prime example is when you look through Swaro Binos and can see layers of the mirage as focus to the target location.

It’s also a misinformation when folks say the mirage is worse when you magnify into a target. The optic didn’t get worse as you changed the magnification of the sight picture but your perception of the target picture surely did. The dancing edge of that target is still doing the same thing you just can see it more. Higher mag ranges in fclass for example the mirage looks rough but the ability to accurately see the edges of rings is still easier.

 

[Onebadstang16]

So, if so were you, I’d limit both the theory end of things and competitor bashing and just simply describe, in detail, your experiences at different magnifications between the two scopes.

By way of example, @koshkin has done consulting work for March (as you know) but he is quite careful to appear impartial and not afraid to point out strengths and weaknesses of scopes, regardless of his relationship with the manufacturer.

Bud I do not post my opinions here because my opinion is in fact bias by the very nature of my affiliation and being the creator of the reticle and the person behind virtually all the design decision changes for the prs edition March outside of the optical formula. My opinion will literally create the exact issue proclaimed here as I’m badmouthing other optics which is EXACTLY why I stated from the very start that these were opinions of other shooters.

I’m not sure what your referring too with theory here but the optics design and ocular statements aren’t theory it actually how the exit pupil and angles in the ocular system work. It’s not theory that more ocular angle increases FOV but translates to shallower and smaller eyebox. March and Kahles for that matter both know this and it’s why design decisions were done how they were. I’ve had the ability to discuss these items with actual optical engineers while being a part of the March effort. I didn’t just send an email and get a sponsorship for a scope… a bit more to this effort than that.

I too am very careful to give merit and credit where it is due and again I’ll say it again. Every scope has pros and cons! Every scope we compare here is the very top 2% of optics regardless of what names on the side of them and they all have nuances.

 

[carbonbased]

I’m not sure what your referring too with theory here but the optics design and ocular statements aren’t theory it actually how the exit pupil and angles in the ocular system work.

I believe you may be thinking I mean hypothesis when I say theory.

For example, describing Darwin’s ideas as Darwin's theory of evolution is not reducing his work as guesses. Actual rigorous scientific theories have weight.

For example, this quote is taken from this page:

"Some scientific explanations are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them. The explanation becomes a scientific theory. In everyday language a theory means a hunch or speculation. Not so in science.“​

​

Since we’re on a public and casual forum, it is understandable why you’d think I mean a hunch when I say “theory,” but know that I’m not poo-poo’ing optical theories.

You like cars, right? My point being that when talking about which car goes faster around a track, to prove your point one doesn’t whip out a treatise on suspension dynamics (theories), tire pressures and friction coefficients etc etc.

You drive the two cars, show the times, and talk about how the vehicles reacted on the course.

 

[stanley_white]

To be a brand ambassador or sell the scopes from my scope company, White’s Imaginary Scopes LLC, you have to take the MMPI and MCMI.

-Stan

 

[rydah]

BJ that’s just it dude your opinion is yours, others can have their opinions too! None of that changes that they don’t always align man. Your reputation proceeds you for past things but honestly I’ll be the first to say I think the chads a very nice system I personally like it. In fact I own a several TMB and have talked to you several times and we actually got on just fine. The internet often delivers differently than folks intend and snipers hide might be the worst of that occurance.

Regardless enjoy what you like and shoot what you want I passed feedback from shooters my opinion here is obviously bias which is why I didn’t bother to offer my opinion.

Me being fucked over by other companies because they’re bigger and more powerful than me (and people’s opaque opinions on the subject, that have no experience in the matter) has nothing to do with the fact the K540i does not have a tight eye box, nor does the new march have a better image than a tangent or a zco. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot going for it though, like the new turret and a solid image and reticle. But PRS pros and popular industry folks opinions are what they are because they benefit from having them and hold little to no weight by those that are able to see the situation for what it is. So trying to use them like they hold some kind of weight is dumb.
They lie to benefit the people that give them money or free stuff or clout. Ignorant and gullible people believe them and they get rewarded with validation. It’s a big circle jerk and sorry but clearly people in this thread aren’t falling for it and aren’t accepting putting the kahles down to elevate the march.

I agree with you and get what you’re saying about opinions. The internet sucks, the PRS community sucks, Snipershide sucks, people get way too heated over minor things instead of discussing things politely and respectfully because they feel like they’re being attacked so they attack back and just in general people have a giant accountability problem now a days etc. As a whole we (the PRS community) all really suck at that and need to do better. Not one or some but all.
But some things can be measured and opinion doesn’t mean anything if something is measurable.
The K540i’s eye box is measurable and it’s not tight at all. That’s simply not true and I don’t care who claims it is or what their opinion is. They are simply wrong or lying in order to push an agenda because it is measurable and we know the truth. Same way your friend Shayne lies and claims the botnia has less blast than the chad but better performance. Which is physically impossible and not true, especially given its design. But what would I know since I only design brakes for a living and he is simply a marketing tool that profits from botnia selling more brakes.

Sorry for attacking you but you attacked my friend first and I defend my friends because I’m not Switzerland and/or afraid to stick my neck out for and defend people that deserve it.

 

[Onebadstang16]

Me being fucked over by other companies because they’re bigger and more powerful than me (and people’s opaque opinions on the subject, that have no experience in the matter) has nothing to do with the fact the K540i does not have a tight eye box, nor does the new march have a better image than a tangent or a zco. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot going for it though, like the new turret and a solid image and reticle. But PRS pros and popular industry folks opinions are what they are because they benefit from having them and hold little to no weight by those that are able to see the situation for what it is. So trying to use them like they hold some kind of weight is dumb.
They lie to benefit the people that give them money or free stuff or clout. Ignorant and gullible people believe them and they get rewarded with validation. It’s a big circle jerk and sorry but clearly people in this thread aren’t falling for it and aren’t accepting putting the kahles down to elevate the march.

I agree with you and get what you’re saying about opinions. The internet sucks, the PRS community sucks, Snipershide sucks, people get way too heated over minor things instead of discussing things politely and respectfully because they feel like they’re being attacked so they attack back and just in general people have a giant accountability problem now a days etc. As a whole we (the PRS community) all really suck at that and need to do better. Not one or some but all.
But some things can be measured and opinion doesn’t mean anything if something is measurable.
The K540i’s eye box is measurable and it’s not tight at all. That’s simply not true and I don’t care who claims it is or what their opinion is. They are simply wrong or lying in order to push an agenda because it is measurable and we know the truth. Same way your friend Shayne lies and claims the botnia has less blast than the chad but better performance. Which is physically impossible and not true, especially given its design. But what would I know since I only design brakes for a living and he is simply a marketing tool that profits from botnia selling more brakes.

Sorry for attacking you but you attacked my friend first and I defend my friends because I’m not Switzerland and/or afraid to stick my neck out for and defend people that deserve it.

My comment back to will wasn’t an attack, at least it wasn’t intended for come off that way. I honestly try to be very level headed in comments and discussions so that’s a shame I came off that way for all involved that wasn’t the intent.

As for being letter than theta or zco I’ll agree to disagree I think it’s very very good glass and to be commented along side any of them speaks volumes.

 

[rydah]

My comment back to will wasn’t an attack, at least it wasn’t intended for come off that way. I honestly try to be very level headed in comments and discussions so that’s a shame I came off that way for all involved that wasn’t the intent.

As for being letter than theta or zco I’ll agree to disagree I think it’s very very good glass and to be commented along side any of them speaks volumes.

It’s all good let’s learn from it and move on and agree to disagree. I’ll delete my post.

 

[GeoDude]

is this an arken thread?

 

[Onebadstang16]

is this an arken thread?

 

[GeoDude]

Exact meme used when arken shill was called out. lol

 

[db2000]

Exact meme used when arken shill was called out. lol

That is exactly what this was reminding me of. Then the DNT is as good as alpha glass bozo.

 

[YotaEer]

Kahles 540i has a better eyebox than ZCO or March.

I’d say better everything than the March, but that’s personal opinion.

ZCO beats the Kahles in pure IQ, but I prefer the “total package” of the Kahles. YMMV

 

[Night Vision Viking]

For what it's worth. I've never seen the March scope, and the last one I used (years ago) had the worst eyebox ever, but like I said it's not relevant in this case.

I did a review before, as one of the first to use the Kahles 840, unfortunately in December when the weather here in the Nordic was horrible, so you can see the rain/snow in some of the images.

Quote:

"However, in terms of Field Of View, I measured the following (larger is better):

ZCO840i - 4.8 MIL

S&B5-45 - 5.0 MIL (at around 40x)

K540i DLR - 6.4 MIL

The conclusion is that the Kahles has 33% more FOV than the ZCO at 40x magnification, which is quite a huge difference. I would certainly allow Kahles to call that a “Game Changer”, and perhaps they were only very humble when they compared it to their own K525i in the marketing material. "

Furthermore, a line about the eyebox:

"Kahles describes the eye box as exceptionally comfortable even at 40x, and while it is good I can’t say it was any better than the others. I would need more time behind the gun to change my verdict, as I didn’t do any competitions with it."

In fact, I was surprised how well the Schmidt & Bender 5-45x did in comparison in this "competition". I had expected it to be underwhelming against Kahles' and ZCO's latest models, but it certainly put up a fight.

I did have the 840 out recently, on a very clear and sunny day, and while the K328i was magnificent, the K840i wasn't at all as impressive.

Here's what my friend concluded:

"The Kahles 540 gave me a “flat” image. I didn’t get a sense of depth from the image. I found myself constantly fine-tuning the parallax. The edge-to-edge clarity didn’t compare to the 328. I’m not an expert, and this is just a sample of one, but the 540 was my least favorite of all the scopes."

To our surprise, the S&B 6-36x turned out to be the favorite, and the K328i did great too, but with "only" x28 as maximum it might not fit what people here are looking for in terms of magnification? I'm not a big fan of Kahles' parallax adjustment either, but that's a learning thing I suppose.


Source: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/tfb-review-kahles-k540i-riflescope-the-40x-game-changer-44818072

and

New Kahles K328i

I'm guessing there's really no way to mount the 3-28 to a split rail action? I have it on a terminus apollo lite with a split rail. Using ARC rings right now but also worked with area 419 rings

www.snipershide.com