Kahles K 318i

I am a big Kahles fan, and own a few; the trouble is, they send them for review and they are so good I end up buying them! These days, there’s a definite trend towards Tactical genre rifles, and to compliment these types, similar styled or shorter scopes are now coming into vogue.

Short stuff/good stuff

The Kahles 318i is such a design and incorporates a 6x times zoom factor that enables the shooter to engage targets at short to long range using just one scope. Great for target or practical work but also useful for hunting too, which is really my bag! With a spec of 3.5 to 18x power, you have a sensible and very useable mag range that allows a good field of view and precise aiming at all distances.

Combine this with a large 34mm body tube and 50mm objective and you have a good adjustment range and low light capability and some unique features that we will explore later.

Spec

Instantly, the size stands out, as it’s short, or Kurz as the Austrians and Germans say, when you take in to consideration the magnification range on offer. It is only 310mm long, so a great looking and fitting scope to any compact rifle, keeping the whole well balanced in the aim and when handled.

It also weighs in at 925 grams, so quite heavy, but chunky in all the right places, to take the rigours of everyday hunting and practical rifle use. And, as said before, due to its short stature, its evenly balanced, and not front-heavy.

Due to its length, the mounting position or available space for mounts fore and aft for the turrets, is a bit restricted. However, as it is more likely to be fitted to a Picatinny rail, it is of no real concern, only on longer-actioned hunting rifles, maybe? You have 34mm tube length in front of the saddle and 55mm behind for rings and this on a 34mm thick aluminium body tube/shell. It has Kahles’ smooth anodised finish and feels like quality.

Sensible diameter

Sensibly, the objective lens is 50mm dimeter and not the usual 56mm. I always prefer this, as you lose little in extra light gain but really gain in a lower scope mounting/height to the rifle. You must remember that this figure is the actual diameter of the lens and not the outer casing.

This housing is threaded for a sunshade (not supplied) and at the price really should be! You do, however, get a stretchy neoprene scope coat cover, which affords a good level of protection. It also has a handy loop at the eyepiece end; so, a quick tug removes it instantly, nice!

The zoom ring is deeply grooved for grip, with a raised fin for ease of dialling, operation is smooth but firm, so no problems running over or under a setting. The eyepiece bell is marked 3.5, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18 mag and the fin on the moving mag ring has a white inverted triangle symbol to indicate your setting when viewed from the firing position. These may seem small details, but it makes the function and usability, especially in a situation that needs speed a big advantage.

There is also the standard fast-focus eyepiece, which I appreciate more as the years roll on. The large eyepiece certainly helps quick target acquisition and its large 92mm eye relief is great for heavy calibre and shooting from odd positions, where recoil might clip the brow.

Adjustments

Of real interest with Kahles scopes, are the extremely precise adjustment range and repeatability of their settings; I know, I rely on them. Parallax is a ring at the base of the elevation turret, which is very easy to read and access, it’s marked; 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, and 1000m and ∞. There are no click settings, just a smooth, seamless movement.

The reticle is first focal plane (FFP) which again, is sensible for this tactical-type scope.

Here, it stays in relation to the target, regardless of magnification set. Which is a real advantage for range estimation and precise quick shots at range and that includes windage. You have two choices; the SKMR3, which is like the old Horustype, with increasingly longer windage stadia points on the lower vertical axis and the MSR, which I had. This ½-Mil-Dot is precise, with sufficient aiming points for extreme range, windage adjustment and fast close range shots. To the right, is a height-measuring rangefinder grid, cut from 400 to 1300m on height, on the left a vertical/horizontal 5-Mil pattern for further determination.

The key

Typically, the reticle is illuminated with the seamless rheostat on the left of the saddle, power is from CR 2032 3-volt battery under a screw-off waterproof cap. Inside this, is a small Allen T-key for setting the turrets to 0 after zeroing. On the MRS pattern, the centre dot and 2-Mil 6-12 and 3 -9 O’clock are lit, giving a good area without crowding the image.

Kahles fit their double elevation turret with pop up red indicator to show where you are in terms of used and available movement. Click values are 1/10 Mrad dived into 10x1/10th mil sections, with 32 Mil split from 0-16 (first turn) and 16 to 32 (second turn) in this position, the indictor post pops up. Plus, you have a ‘zero stop’ position, which is always useful! In use, you get just shy of two full rotations.

Windage is 1 – 7 Mrad in either direction with a central 0 position, so quick, precise and easy to lay in a correction in both planes and use the T-key to set the turret once zeroed. I like this system, as you cannot lose your way in either plane. One odd thing, is the Twist Guard spinner cap on top of the windage turret. This stops accidently dialling off zero when resting the rifle against a tree or barricade etc, different!

In the field and conclusion

Coated lenses throughout are another Kahles trade mark, with superb clarity at any power setting. There is no vignetting, or blurred edges just flat sharp vivid images. The colour retention too is excellent and the multi coated layers allow great contrast between objects; so, for me, a deer’s ear or leg can be discerned from the background foliage easily. As for low light capability, it could push you way past the legal shooting hours; so, take care!

Field of view was a bit restricted at 9.3m on 3x power and 2m on 18x at 100m, but I can forgive this, as all the controls and ease of sighting is superb. Each adjustment is precise and tactile and like all Kahles optics superb.

If there was one criticism, it would be the price; at over £3000, it is worth every penny but sadly out of the reach of many shooters. Again, another outstanding scope from Kahles.