Real world woodland hunting scope. Kahles or S&B?

[efp]

So. Lupo in .308. Load development done with a Kahles 624i, all good. But obviously not the scope to take to the woods. I’m looking in the 1-8 sort of area.
Lore and peer anecdotal gossip has me conditioned to lean towards S&B over glamour brands who
I wont name, but whose massive marketing budget, social media recognition and branding seem to obscure somewhat mediocre performance in reality. Such is my perception at least.
The S&B polar range, and their pedigree, interest me for the low light transmission values, but I’m a bit of a Kahles fanboi at the moment, having had my well used second hand 624i comprehensively overhauled by them recently, at zero cost. I’m not hearing the equivalent service levels with S&B.
So, thoughts on the Helia range? Anything better with equivalent backup? Or thoughts on the S&B ?
Thanks guys.

 

[Malxwal]

Helia is fantastic glass, no frills, great illuminated reticle, Swaro service/backup.

 

[John Gryphon]

Swaro service/backup

Of course as the parent company

over glamour brands/somewhat mediocre performance in reality.

The glam brands? I don`t know what a glam brand is but I do have both S + Z`s on rifles,bloody good too.

 

[Steff]

Kahles does indeed have an excellent service, not worries here.
Also the Helia 1.6-8x42 is a brilliant scope. I know a couple of people who use it.
The equivalent by S&B would have been the Stratos 1.5-8x42, but they don't make it any longer.
The Polar 2.5-10x50, which is probably the one you are considering, is another great scope. I've got one.
But it has a 34mm tube and though not bulky it is clearly larger and heavier than the Kahles Helia.

If you need the last bit of low light performance go for the Polar, otherwise the Helia will be perfect for your purpose.

 

[Malxwal]

Absolutely no issue with a Zenith by comparison, that's what I use mainly. But I've also a Helia 2.4-12x56. I've not had cause to use Schmidt service of late, I believe things just take longer and cost more in terms of shipping. Swaro, by most accounts,still have the edge on that. Differing business models and target markets.

 

[User00040]

Look at the Japanese-made brands.

No more Eurotrash for me.

 

[caorach]

Another option for a really high quality product from a smaller company might be Nickel, just if you are looking for options. Top notch glass (If I had to guess I'd say they maybe source their glass from Zeiss) but big money for their scopes so not for everyone. Also be aware that the company did have something of a "dip" in quality in the fairly distant past so buying 20+ year old Nickel second hand would require careful investigation. I suspect the company changed hands but may now be back in family ownership after a run in with the marketing men you mention

Nickel : High-End Riflescopes

Nickel Zielfernrohre 1-4x25, 1,5-6x42, 3-12x56, 8x56, 1,5-6x30 mit Leuchtabsehen Isodot, L1, L4d, L4c und Absehen 4

nickel-ag.com

 

[Acm]

I really rate leica, not as popular as zeiss, Schmidt or swaro but I think just as good and you definitely get more for your money. Built like tanks too.

 

[John Gryphon]

No more Eurotrash for me.

Can ye name the best Japanese names please.

 

[Pine Marten]

Kahles does indeed have an excellent service, not worries here.
Also the Helia 1.6-8x42 is a brilliant scope. I know a couple of people who use it.
The equivalent by S&B would have been the Stratos 1.5-8x42, but they don't make it any longer.
The Polar 2.5-10x50, which is probably the one you are considering, is another great scope. I've got one.
But it has a 34mm tube and though not bulky it is clearly larger and heavier than the Kahles Helia.

If you need the last bit of low light performance go for the Polar, otherwise the Helia will be perfect for your purpose.

I have the Kahles Helia 1.5-8x42 on my drilling and it's fabulous, although at one point the battery for the red dot kept draining in between uses. Given that problem vanished, I suspect I had just bought a packet of knackered batteries.

Also I like having a scope named after the legendary founder of the fictional Klingon Empire.

 

[Acm]

Can ye name the best Japanese names please.

Some of the zeiss conquest are Japanese and they’re pretty good.

 

[User00040]

Can ye name the best Japanese names please.

Nothing to do with name, everything to do with spec.

Light Optical Works does not have their own brand, but they do work for Nightforce (of Oz but posing as a US company for defence contracts... ), Bushnell, Vortex, even Leica are their clients.

Nightforce has patents like ZeroStop whilst Bushnell has Rainguard. They can't use these on anither client's product.

They make what you want them to make! To a price and to a spec. I'd like to see the best they can do with a little bit of direction, if they were given free reign to make a hunting/target/tactical crossover scope. Price would be close to the Euro's but for the same money I suspect they would be miles ahead in terms of features, build quality and consistency!

March/DEON optical makes rifle scopes but they have had the greatest take up in the F-class/ ELR world, super pricey hunting scopes too.

Thought the name 'Tasco' would be well known in the outback @John Gryphon ? Plenty pro roo shooters still using em?

 

[Lancaster]

Just to throw in another option, Minox ZE5i 2-10x50, very good glass at a very good price.

 

[Border]

The Kahles Helia 1,5-8x42i would be my choice.

 

[John Gryphon]

Some of the zeiss conquest are Japanese and they’re pretty good.

Ah I think the Conquests are assembled in the US from German materials so as to get over import laws/taxes

Plenty pro roo shooters still using em?

You are in the dark ages there old sun ha ha ha
By your reply it seems that you think that the tascos are 'best japanese' and leave 'euro trash' behind,major fail in thinking there.

 

[User00040]

By your reply it seems that you think that the tascos are 'best japanese' and leave 'euro trash' behind,major fail in thinking there.

Never said they were the best, but your countryfolk bought tons of them and for good reason.

 

[HandB]

I like my little Leupold vx2 1-4x20. It's light and small and has great glass. You can get similar with updates like illuminated reticles.

 

[John Gryphon]

but your countryfolk bought tons of them and for good reason.

Perhaps so and that be because of price, not quality. I wrote about my one and only schittco last year in an essay on how useless it was in trying to see rabbits sitting on hay bales in a dim shed. I can be vociferous in their condemnation compared to the proper Euro gear.
I carry a ZV every day on a deer rifle and swap to a shittco on a 22 and do know the difference.

 

[User00040]

I carry a ZV every day on a deer rifle and swap to a shittco on a 22 and do know the difference.

Under a lamp there is no difference

 

[John Gryphon]

Under a lamp there is no difference

What an absolute crock of schitt caber.