Fixed power scopes. Old Kahles or S&B or new GPO?

[Karhumies]

When it comes to magnification itself i find that the reticle makes up a big part of my choise. With those fat 4 reticles i find that i cant make the longer shots on small game. Purely because my target is obscured. For the same season i dont particularly like FFP on a hunting variable.

Curious how the GPO ends up stacking up against the S&B and kaps offerings, GPO fixed power goes for under 400 new here. That makes me suspicious but iam open to a surprise.

The way i have always found, anyone buying an 8x56 in todays time is someone who prioritised low light over all else. Wich is why i still find it odd that big european names dont come out with a well marketed ultra bright fixed power alongside their variable. Variable is always a compromise. Put the polar glass in a 8x56 klassik and i believe you would have a hyperspecialised monster for night Hunters who are not allowed to use electronics besides iluminated reticles

 

[HonestJohn]

I didn’t think the polar was that special to be honest. I’d take a 4x36 any day

 

[WildBoarHunter]

I find the dedicated driven scopes to be the most usable scopes for driven hunting. I had an Aimpoint and I didn't particulary like it as I like some magnification to be able to distinguish between different animals in a sounder. The problem with driven scopes is they are only really usable on driven hunts and nothing else. So personally I prefer something more universally usable, like a 1,5-6×42. When I was younger all my driven hunting scopes were red doted dedicated driven hunting scopes. Nowdays I have a soft spot for a good quality German or Austrian 1,5-6×42. I know they are a compromise, usable for everything but not really good for anything. However if compromise is what you are looking for you will find them perfectly adequate for driven hunting, stalking and even some high stand hunting in the dusk and dawn.
You would be really suprised how many older gentelmen here still hunt with their trusty 6×42 even on driven hunts for decades and with great success. Younger ones much prefer variables though and unfortunately not many new fixed scopes are sold here anymore.

 

[Karhumies]

I find the dedicated driven scopes to be the most usable scopes for driven hunting. I had an Aimpoint and I didn't particulary like it as I like some magnification to be able to distinguish between different animals in a sounder. The problem with driven scopes is they are only really usable on driven hunts and nothing else. So personally I prefer something more universally usable, like a 1,5-6×42. When I was younger all my driven hunting scopes were red doted dedicated driven hunting scopes. Nowdays I have a soft spot for a good quality German or Austrian 1,5-6×42. I know they are a compromise, usable for everything but not really good for anything. However if compromise is what you are looking for you will find them perfectly adequate for driven hunting, stalking and even some high stand hunting in the dusk and dawn.
You would be really suprised how many older gentelmen here still hunt with their trusty 6×42 even on driven hunts for decades and with great success. Younger ones much prefer variables though and unfortunately not many new fixed scopes are sold here anymore.

I have to partially disagree, i use those scopes for a few other things.

for instance a 1-8x24 is just about perfect for me on a combination gun. On 1x i can use it as a red dot and shoot at grouse springing up from the bushes and on 8x i can snipe a capercaillie out of a tree. It also lets me take opportunistic shots on the od fox or roe i spot. Its my walkabout setup in the woods basically, if only i could get the thing mountef on my drilling... either alot of money or a lot of work in that project.

also i use my Vepr with the 1-6x24 for hunting small clearings and gametrails as it has enough light at 3x to do so on a full moon or in the snow. When dealing with packs or even pairs of racoondog the wide view and semi auto firepower combine into a great setup to take down each individual before they scatter and disappear.

 

[Karhumies]

So after some time in a cue i managed to get a straight answer on the glass in the S&B klassiks.

From S&B themselves: the fixed klassik scopes utilise the same components as the variables and have been updated alongside them over the years. Currently light transmission sits at 90%

The entire klassik line will continue to be updated for as long as they are produced.

 

[WildBoarHunter]

So fixed klassik 90 % and Polar 96 % ? This makes me wonder about the % of light transmission of the Zenith series.

 

[Karhumies]

So fixed klassik 90 % and Polar 96 % ? This makes me wonder about the % of light transmission of the Zenith series.

also 90% they published that. Only the klassik seems to not be advertised. Wonder why

 

[Karhumies]

without trying both side by side and just looking at specs i have to wonder, is zenith just a klassik in a modern jacket. Comparing Polar and PMII that does seem to be the case as they quote identical transmission and any difference on paper is related to things like reticles and turrets etc.

 

[Karhumies]

More info: klassik 2.5-10x56 is also 90% so that suggests it should have the same amount of lenses as the fixed model.

So klassik fixed, klassik variable and zenith all have 90% transmission.

S&B klassik 90%
new made kaps 89%

GPO 87

The rest is ofcourse about what your eyes like.

Also: GPO spectra 3-15x56I is also 90%

90% seems to be where all the good 800-2000 euro scopes sit.

With GPO variables you pay a big chunk extra for the extra mag. 3-12x56 costing about 600 and 3-15x56 costing 900. Otherwise they should be near identical.

Really puts value into perspective.

by comparison a meopta r1 has 91% transmission for about the same price nowadays and the r1 fixed power 95% transmission. Good luck finding one tho, been trying for years. or the r2 8x56 for that matter.

 

[LBchainsawcarvings]

More info: klassik 2.5-10x56 is also 90% so that suggests it should have the same amount of lenses as the fixed model.

So klassik fixed, klassik variable and zenith all have 90% transmission.

S&B klassik 90%
new made kaps 89%

GPO 87

The rest is ofcourse about what your eyes like.

Also: GPO spectra 3-15x56I is also 90%

90% seems to be where all the good 800-2000 euro scopes sit.

With GPO variables you pay a big chunk extra for the extra mag. 3-12x56 costing about 600 and 3-15x56 costing 900. Otherwise they should be near identical.

Really puts value into perspective.

by comparison a meopta r1 has 91% transmission for about the same price nowadays and the r1 fixed power 95% transmission. Good luck finding one tho, been trying for years. or the r2 8x56 for that matter.

Hi , ivythorn sporting has two meoptas listed , not sure how old adverts are though?. Iam tempted myself after selling a meopta armetis 6x42, which I regretted straight away, best glass for my eyes by far

 

[Karhumies]

Hi , ivythorn sporting has two meoptas listed , not sure how old adverts are though?. Iam tempted myself after selling a meopta armetis 6x42, which I regretted straight away, best glass for my eyes by far

iam a bit iffy on international trades. Last scope i bought got stolen before it crossed the border, Sender got a ripped up box returned to them. I was eventually refunded but that was a shop. I an quite happy with my diatal tho, unfortunately diavaris are non existent in Finland nowadays so i think il end up going all in on a victory HT. I learned the hard way that when you like a brand of glass its often best to stick with it. Anything with a T* on it pleases my eyes. Meopta had been hit or miss for me, to my eyes the r1 and optika 5/meosports turn grey at low light. The fixed power scopes are another story tho. I had a meopro 6x42 but that one was tunneling awfully and felt like i was squinting trough a tube.

If the victory HT looks similar to a diavari T* iam just going to get what i know i will like.