Steiner T6Xi 1-6x24

The Steiner T6Xi 1-6x24 ships with both capped and exposed elevation turrets in the box, so one optic covers the set-and-forget carbine role and the dialing role without buying a replacement turret later. Steiner builds the T6Xi line in the United States and runs a first focal plane KC-1 reticle here, developed with John Dufresne at Kinetic Consulting.

First focal plane at 1-6x is the hard engineering problem in this category, and it is where the price goes. An FFP reticle shrinks with magnification, which normally leaves the 1x sight picture with a nearly invisible aiming point. The KC-1 answers that with an oversized illuminated ring that behaves like a red dot at 1x, then resolves into a fine center cross with bullet drop stadia at 6x. Illumination runs 7 daylight settings plus 4 night vision settings off a CR2450. Windage and elevation use Steiner's low-profile Never-Lost design with positive detents and audible clicks, and carry a second rotation indicator so a dialed elevation revolution is never in question. Note that the locking turrets found on the larger T6Xi models are not part of the 1-6x24; this model uses the capped and exposed turret pair instead.

At 20 oz and 10.4 inches, the T6Xi is heavier than Steiner's own P4Xi 1-4x24, which is the trade for the extra magnification, the dual turret set, and FFP. The natural cross-shop is the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6x24, which is second focal plane; the Steiner's differentiators are the FFP reticle and the dual-turret package. Steiner rates the optic waterproof to 33 feet and fogproof, and a diopter locking ring keeps the eyepiece from drifting once the reticle is focused.