Curious if anyone has compared these scopes side by side. I can get them for essentially the same price. I prefer the mechanics and reticle a bit more on the kahles but more concerned about glass. Has anyone had them side by side in glass?
Rifle Scopes Kahles 525 vs Schmidt 5-25 DT
- Thread starter generalzip
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S&B is a fine optic, so is the 525i. Glass quality is practically nearly identical. The S&B might have a very tiny edge in resolution but not enough to be obvious.
If I were you I would go with the one that you feel has the best reticle to suit your needs. You simply have to be in sync with your reticle choice or it will be in the PX section here in 6 months time! S&B has a good range of reticle selections, although I do have a fancy for the SKMR3.
Both have been around the block and either one of them is going to be a superb option.
If I were you I would go with the one that you feel has the best reticle to suit your needs. You simply have to be in sync with your reticle choice or it will be in the PX section here in 6 months time! S&B has a good range of reticle selections, although I do have a fancy for the SKMR3.
Both have been around the block and either one of them is going to be a superb option.
I own a couple Schmidt’s and had a 624 kahles and hated the eye relief and CA. I checked out the 525 at shot and the eye relief is much better. Actually usable as a prs scope. However I’m not sure how well they addressed CA. Also curious if resolution has gotten any better or not from the 624
The Schmidt does resolve better. But if using for matches, you won’t be looking for holes on paper.
I’d go with reticle you like best.
I’d go with reticle you like best.
For me it certainly wasn’t. The eye relief on it was a full .5-1” shorter than any other high quality optic I’ve used. I’d made it near impossible to free recoil on higher mag with your shoulder off the chassis. This is with the shortest length of pull, scope all the way back in the ring. And all the way to the read of the scope base.
So, what "higher Mag" are you using when you are having issues? What caliber and weight of rifle?
Only asking because I have zero issue in matches.. but I don't hang my shoulder off the rifle on high magnification.... We'll don't often shoot past 12-15 and I do every thing I can to be as square as the match director lets me... I might have very little shooter in the gun on some wonky stuff, but don't do the no shoulder thing.. so maybe I just don't get it.
With that the S&B 5-25 seems as other have said to resolve a bit better at 25x ; but I'll take the control package and the reticle of the Kahles over the S&B with zero regrets.
Great parallax forgiveness. I often have mine set around ~600 yards and have shot targets at multiple different distances per stage without changing parallax (~400 to ~1000 yards).
+1 Again, zero issues and even slammed up against a vertical section of a barricade, and you want to clean it up it is always accessible. Super neat.
I had two K624i’s for about a year. Used em in pretty much every condition imaginable - rain, snow, extreme heat, hunting, work stuff, competition and other shit. Both scopes were 100% reliable and as others have mentioned, had what I would consider near perfect reticles. I sold both recently to fund a new S&B PMII and a Vortex 6-24 AMG for a light hunting rifle.
What I personally didn’t like about the scope - couldn’t stand the parallax being located under the elevation knob. I get why they relocated it there but it wasn’t convenient in my opinion. The light gathering ability and CA were also not the best on my two scopes. I can deal with a little CA in a scope but when I can get a S&B for a similar price with better glass and little to no CA, I’ll take it. For me a reticle is something you learn to use. Some are better than others depending on what you look for or need the scope for, but if your training with your gear, you can learn to use most of the modern reticles out there with efficiency. I would never choose a scope based solely on the reticle choice, but that’s me. Everything is taken into consideration and the only way to know for sure is get some time behind the scopes your looking for and see what makes you feel good.
In the end, those are both very nice optics and the choice will come down to your eyes, your purpose and your preference. Best of luck and nice choices in glass!
What I personally didn’t like about the scope - couldn’t stand the parallax being located under the elevation knob. I get why they relocated it there but it wasn’t convenient in my opinion. The light gathering ability and CA were also not the best on my two scopes. I can deal with a little CA in a scope but when I can get a S&B for a similar price with better glass and little to no CA, I’ll take it. For me a reticle is something you learn to use. Some are better than others depending on what you look for or need the scope for, but if your training with your gear, you can learn to use most of the modern reticles out there with efficiency. I would never choose a scope based solely on the reticle choice, but that’s me. Everything is taken into consideration and the only way to know for sure is get some time behind the scopes your looking for and see what makes you feel good.
In the end, those are both very nice optics and the choice will come down to your eyes, your purpose and your preference. Best of luck and nice choices in glass!
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The S&B glass and coatings is excellent and probably a bit better than the NF, but the ATACR glass is excellent as well and the human eye has difficult telling the difference when the glass gets to this high of quality. The ATACR does not suffer from the tunnelling issue that the S&B has. They are both excellent and it may come down to which design and features you like best
Optical quality is broadly comparable between the two. From the few samples I have seen, in terms of image quality, the S&B 5-25x56 has an edge above 18x or so, while Kahles is a bit better to my eye below 10x. Between 10x and 18x, you will have a hard time seeing advantage with one vs the other.
In other words, pick based on the features: reticle, paralalx, turrets, etc.
ILya
In other words, pick based on the features: reticle, paralalx, turrets, etc.
ILya
Does anyone have a comparison of the eyebox between the Kahles 525 and the Schmidt? or any other high end scopes for that matter?
Also how does the CA compare between the scopes? My 624 was awful with CA. I'm hoping the 525 is much much better.
Also how does the CA compare between the scopes? My 624 was awful with CA. I'm hoping the 525 is much much better.
I have to mirror what some of the others have said in that at this level, you need to evaluate your specific needs and the features/reticles offered by the different manufacturers. I am partial to the S&B and have been very satisfied with the LRR-Mil reticle.
