Kite KSP HD2 2.5-15x56 Riflescope

Kite is a family run optical brand best known for observational equipment that has now been taken forward in conjunction with Browning with regard to riflescopes.

The Belgian company has been running since 1992 although manufacture is carried out in Japan, the scope loaned to me shows all the characteristics of Japanese optical quality with a few markers of the European design input.

The one-piece 30mm aluminium body tube is hard anodised in a refined black finish that neither picks up debris in use, or skin dust from your fingers during operation. The central saddle presents a knurled illumination dial to the left side, with a simple rotary control marked from 1 to 11 with ‘off’ spacings in between for fast intuitive control of the centre dot within one of the finest German #4 style reticles I have yet seen.

Fit and finish is impeccable, with delicate serrations to the windage and elevation dial caps that are grippy but don’t snag on clothing. Each finger adjustable dial below is segmented into 48 clicks, though its ¼-inch at 100-yards or 7mm @100-metres approximations are not exactly long range or precision but perfectly satisfactory for a hunting scope most likely zeroed at a chosen distance and left well alone. The clocks are light in feel and although able to define alterations, I would call this a scope you would do any dialling on, they are just a little bit too easy to skip past without noticing, unless you are looking.

Adjustments when zeroing were accurate though and everything has since held perfectly set up on a lightweight 30-06 Browning rifle with not insignificant recoil.

Occasional repeated adjustments between POI position of three different ammunition brands at 100 metres has not spooked the scope either, with excellent return to ‘zero’.

SFP

The reticle is in the second focal plane, so remains constant in size throughout the 2.5-15x magnification range that is ideal for any hunting rifle. It is one of the slimmest I have seen and certainly on par with a Swarovski for precision aiming on the tiniest of targets. This can sometimes be a problem on low end optics, as the reticle gets visually lost in broken cover, foliage or dim light but this Kite really does show an excellent sharp focus, so you never seem to be straining to see it (and my eyes are starting to get a bit ‘older’, so I definitely appreciate this factor). The small illuminated dot in the centre is nicely dimmed to bring the eye to the reticle’s centre in low light without dazzling you but will happily brighten to give the point and shoot speed you need on any fast-acquired targets or moving game.

Suitably impressed

Optically, I was impressed with both brightness, colour contrast and image resolution from a scope I have been very happy to pair to one of my long-term test rifles, this is actually quite a personal accolade from me! It wasn’t quite Swarovski, Kahles or Zeiss image quality but very reliable to use in the field where I despise having to ‘work’ my eyes’ focus any harder than needed to hold the reticle on the spot for the shot, especially in low light. Field of view was fractionally narrower than the very top competitors but this is 40% cheaper. With 98mm of eye relief that didn’t vary with magnification, I found the eye box easy to acquire and maintain full exit pupil during rapid shooting sequences. At 2.5x, you get masses of spacial awareness and brightness from the optic but even wound up to 15x, the 56mm objective lens is presenting enough light for the optics to transfer to your eye that there is no discernible dimming or discoloration of the image as your thumb rotates the knurled zoom ring at the front of the ocular body. This has a wing at 6x magnification, which correspondingly sits at 9 o’clock when set at 2.5x and 3 o’clock when wound up to 15x. This improves tactile feel for the scope’s set-up in the dark whilst aiding operation if wearing gloves in the cold. The magnification control is totally smooth in its progress, and although not overly tight, the grip from the knurling could be a bit more aggressive to aid control in all positions with either hand. The kite might have benefitted from slightly stiffer springs in the turret detents and a little deeper knurling to the zoom control but what a breath of fresh air, with a cracking picture presented to your eyes with an ultra-fine reticle that was a delight rather than a hindrance. For those using their sporting rifle to shoot (sporting) targets on the Range as well as hunt, the Kite’s reticle is a feature to look out for at no detriment to use on live quarry needing a fine aiming point.

Conclusion

The Kite was just a little bit better than I was expecting, with an image far sharper than I imagined on an optic at this price with luxurious manufacturing quality.