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Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L

Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L

I have to admit to having little time for low powered variables a few years ago, as I have always considered a spec of around X1 – 4 with a reasonably small objective (normally 24mm) to be good for close/fast work, but lacking in magnification for longer shots and also light gathering ability in dawn and dusk situations. So making a purchase of this nature highly dedicated; certainly if you don’t do a lot of this sort of work.

However, in recent years I have been considering equipment that could fulfil the low power role yet offer some sort of middle ground as a general use hunting optic too. In that time I have used a number of ‘fixed-6’ scopes like Schmidt & Bender's excellent 6x24 with a 30mm body tube and found that spec to be most useful for deer out to 300 yards, which in most cases in the UK might be considered a long shot.

Mid-Compact

Something that caught my eye last year was the Kahles 1.5-6 x 42 CSX L with its automaticlight facility, which I supposed could be described as a mid-compact. I own and use their scopes and have no problems with their build quality and ability, so the spec of this model seemed to fit the bill nicely.

The build goes for a 30mm, one-piece body tube at a reasonably compact 12” long and weighing 18 ¾ oz. Typically there’s a fast-focus eyepiece and the magnification ring shows a rubber gripping band and raised lug for ease of operation. Turrets are the capped (hunter-style) with their raised central bar for dialling. Click values are 1cm (10mm) at 100 meters, which in imperial is .393”, so precise enough!

With 60-clicks per turn and four full rotations in both windage and elevation gives a generous 94.48” of correction in both planes at 100 meters. Optical quality from a top European make such as Kahles is very good, which is down to their AMV-Coatings (Achromatic Multi Coatings) which are optimized for maximum light transmission.

I See The Light

Different and for that matter most useful and practical is the automaticlight illuminated reticule function. Located on the left of the saddle the rheostat drum pulls out to turn on and shows + & - arrows that increase/decrease brightness. Add to this built in switches that automatically turn the light off when the rifle is held at extremely high and low angles and also laid on its side. When pointed normally the light comes back on by itself – hence the name! A useful touch and one we are seeing more these days from the Europeans is the inclusion of a spare battery in an extended turret cap. Being a great believer in the ‘belt n braces’ theory of shooting, it’s a feature I really like. The system is also smart in that it remembers the last setting and reverts back to it when the power is switched on again.

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With the CSX L range you get a choice of four models – 1.1-4x24, 1.5-6x42, 2.5-10x50 and 3-12x56. Also four reticule options – C-Dot (tight #4 with illuminated central circle/cross), P-Dot (German post-like with central dot and fine 3 – 9 o’clock horizontal stadia), D-Dot (fine cross with dot) and 4-Dot (open #4-type with dot). This last is the one I chose, as I found the pattern is good for general shooting needs with the dot for low light and moving targets.

In Use

The CSX was used on four rifles – Ruger No 1 (45-70), Browning BLR (300 WSM) Ruger Hawkeye African (375 Ruger) and Mauser M 03 (8.5x63mm). In use it showed no bad manners though dialling the turrets is not that easy with your fingers, as there’s not a lot to get hold of. However, Kahles include their multispanner tool, which was designed for their multizerO system and has a slot in it that fits the turrets for rotating them easily.

The positioning and operation of the automaticlight facility is natural, as your supporting hand drops on to it easily. In low light conditions you really appreciate the 42mm objective, certainly over a 24mm version as you would find on their 1.1-4x24 CSX, as it allows more light into the lens system, which means easier target acquisition and identification.

The illuminated centre of the reticule comes up as a round, black dot when the scope is not lit up. It is marginally larger than the lines of the cross hair, but not that big so zeroing or placing it on a precise aim point is not a problem.

Though I tend to use 3-9 or 3-12x type scopes, the maximum x6 magnification proved good enough to take the shots out past 200 yards without any problems. Wound down for woodland or close range work with the dot on, you can get as low as x1.5, which means both eyes open if you wish with no change in point of aim.

Overall this is a nice piece of glass and a specification that really bridges the gap between a true, low power dangerous game (DG) variable and the more accepted 3-9+. What really makes it for me is the 42mm objective, which offers a most useable mid-compact that can still play successfully with the big boys at dusk and dawn.

We Reckon:

Great mid-spec variable
Versatile
Clever illumination system

PRICE: £1225 Inc vat

  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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  • Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Name: Kahles 1.5-6x42 CSX L
  • Body: 30mm
  • : Fast focus
  • Eyepiece: Fast Focus
  • Illuminated reticule: Y
  • Click values: 1cm @ 100m
  • 60: Clicks per turn
  • Full rotations: 4
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