Ahead of SHOT Show 2025, Editor-in-Chief John Parker had the chance to try out the new K540i 5-40X 56 mm optic from Kahles during the Staccato Range Day event at Staccato Vegas (formerly called PrairieFire Nevada) in Pahrump, Nevada. Watch the video above.
There are two models, the K540i 5-40X 56 mm and K540i 5-40X 56 mm DLR, both with 40X magnification. Both also boast a wider field of view, and are built on 36 mm maintubes that provide 29 MILS of elevation adjustment.
The standard K540i riflescope features a precise elevation turret with 160 clicks per rotation and is available with SKMR4+ reticle, plus special order AMR and MSR2/Ki reticles, all in the first focal plane.
Overall length is 16.1 inches, and weight is 39.1 ounces.
As for the new K540i 5-40X 56 mm DLR, it sports a special DLR elevation turret with 100 clicks per rotation and EasyRead turret lettering, which Kahles said, “offers a significant advantage in dynamic long-range competitions with an emphasis on speed.” The K540i DLR is available with the SKMR+ and SKMR4+ reticles, developed and optimized for the demands of sports shooting.
In addition, both Kahles K540i riflescopes are available with optional right- or left-side windage turrets. Parallax ranges from 20 meters to infinity.
More from Kahles about the new K540i optics: “In 2024, Kahles successfully launched the new era of tactical rifle scopes with the K328i. For the first time in the company’s history, a completely new technical platform was developed specially to meet the demands of modern sports rifle scopes with reticles in the first focal plane. Today, just one year later, we can introduce the next game-changer, but now with 40X magnification, based on the ground-breaking new-generation optics with 8X zoom.”
The new K540i riflescopes from Kahles will be available in February 2025. MSRP is $4,599. Learn more at kahles.at.
