Derived from their popular T6Xi, Steiner’s H6Xi offers military ruggedness in a compact hunting scope, and now it’s available in a rear focal plane configuration
by Brad Fitzpatrick
Any list of premium riflescope manufacturers would be incomplete without mentioning Steiner. The German brand is renowned for producing scopes that offer rugged dependability, superb optical quality, and precise adjustments. Steiner recently unveiled their H6Xi hunting scope, an optic that shares a lot of DNA with the company’s tactical T6Xi scope.
Compact and durable, the H6Xi immediately won lots of fans in the hunting field, but despite its long list of features, there was one option that many hunters felt was missing — a rear focal plane model. But that has changed, and now Steiner is offering their H6Xi in two rear focal plane versions, the 2-12×42 and 3-18x50mm.
A Closer Look at the H6Xi 2-12×42 RFP
To appreciate all that the new Steiner offers hunters and shooters, we must first look at the heritage of the H6Xi. Because these scopes are closely related to the T6Xi, they share many of the same design components. Since it was built to be a military-grade optic, the T6Xi is extremely rugged, and so are its H6Xi cousins.
The H6Xi main tube is milled from 6061-T6 aluminum. Like the T6Xi, it offers a side-focus knob that adjusts from 25 yards to infinity and an illuminated reticle. The H6Xi’s main tube diameter is 30mm, which is versatile for a hunting optic because it keeps weight down yet offers an impressive 70 MOA of elevation and windage adjustment. The H6Xi 2-12×42 RFP measures just 11.8 inches long and weighs 23.2 ounces, and that makes it practical even for light, short-action hunting rifles.
Steiner utilizes HD glass lenses and advanced lens coatings for 92% light transmission. The company precision-grinds the lenses to ensure optimal clarity. The high light transmission and superb optical quality allow hunters to clearly identify their targets even at long ranges and in low light. The scope design also offers a substantial field of view: 55 to 8.5 feet at 100 yards. The wide field of view and 6x zoom ratio make this one of the most versatile hunting optics on the market. It is perfect for close shots at hogs or bears in low light and yet is capable of making a cross-canyon shot on a bull elk.
The exposed, resettable elevation turret is aggressively knurled, and the .25 MOA click adjustments are well-defined and crisp. By loosening the set screws on the elevation dial, you can reset the zero. Bold, white lettering allows for positive identification of the elevation setting. There’s a capped windage knob on the side of the optic, which is a sensible choice for hunters. This allows you to set your windage, replace the cap, and make rapid elevation adjustments as needed. The zero-stop feature allows hunters to immediately return the elevation dial to the zero position.
Adjusting the illumination is also fast and precise. With 11 illumination settings, you can fine-tune the brightness to match ambient conditions. There are intermediate OFF settings so you can instantly shut off the illumination with a single click of the dial regardless of the brightness setting. A CR2032 battery powers the illuminated reticle. The batteries are easy to find and affordable to replace. The H6Xi FFP scope that I tested two years ago has seen quite a bit of use in the field. It is still functioning with the original battery.
The big news for 2025 is the addition of the rear focal plane model. Steiner was wise to add an RFP version to their hunting scope. Front focal plane scopes like the original H6Xi are excellent for making elevation and windage adjustments using the reticle. But the reticle size on a FFP scope changes with magnification. Many hunters prefer a rear focal plane reticle because the relative size of the reticle does not change regardless of magnification.
Steiner offers the newest H6Xi with the MHR-RFP (Modern Hunting Reticle-Rear Focal Plane) reticle. The duplex design draws the eye to the center of the reticle and offers a precise aiming point. Stadia lines on the lower vertical crosshair allow for rapid BDC holds when shooting at extended ranges. There are horizontal stadia lines that let the shooter adjust for wind. These windage and elevation lines promote rapid adjustments in the field. Because they are illuminated, you can see the stadia lines in any light conditions — from full midday sun to dim light late in the evening.
Eye relief is 3.52 to 3.85 inches, and the eye box is quite forgiving. The Steiner’s operating range is from -13 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is capable of handling harsh hunting conditions — no surprise since it is derived from the rugged T6Xi. Despite its German heritage, the H6Xi is crafted in America and is backed by the company’s Heritage warranty. MSRP for the 2-12×42 RFP is set at $2,183.99.
Range Testing
The new H6Xi RFP is the third scope in the H6Xi/T6Xi family that I have tested, and like its relatives, this scope does not disappoint. I mounted the Steiner on a Ruger American Gen II rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and began with a series of low light tests. The HD lenses and lens coatings live up to their promise of providing a clear image even in poor light. The clarity is excellent, and color fidelity is as good as you’d expect from a Steiner. Additionally, the reticle was clear from edge to edge and did not lose perimeter focus through the magnification range.
There’s a growing trend toward large, heavy tactical scopes on hunting rifles, and while these scopes work well for hunters who don’t need to hike all day at thin-air elevations, the compact H6Xi is a much more versatile option for mountain hunting. The short design also lends itself well to modern short-action sporting rifles like the Ruger, yet it offers a magnification range that makes it suitable for most any hunting conditions.
Inferior hunting scopes often fail to track properly, and that’s a major problem in the field. Hunters who dial for distance are reliant on their optic’s adjustment system to track properly out to long ranges, and not all optics track properly. The Steiner does, and this was illustrated by shooting a modified box test at 100 yards and steel targets to 400 yards.
At 100 yards, I zeroed the rifle on the base of a grid target. These targets offer multiple aiming points positioned exactly three-inches apart, so when I made my first adjustment (up 12 clicks, or 3 MOA) at 100 yards, the point-of-impact should have been in the center of the aiming point directly above my zero…and it was. I dialed three additional MOA of adjustment and fired again. The bullet’s point-of-impact was directly where it should be — three inches higher than the previous point-of-impact. I then adjusted for windage, moving first three MOA left, back to center, then three MOA right. The scope and POI tracked precisely. I then returned the scope to the original zero position, moved to the 400-yard steel target, and made my adjustment for that range. The first shot bounced against the AR500 steel and left a splash dead-center.
When you pay $2,000 for a scope, you expect precise tracking, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Steiner.
The Final Analyses
In this price range, you can also expect a scope to offer crisp adjustments, and the Steiner does just that. The adjustments are precise and there’s a distinct click with every quarter-MOA turn of the dial. The bold, white numbering on the elevation turret also allows you to immediately identify the adjustment setting.
I’m a big fan of the MHR-RFP reticle. It’s informative yet doesn’t clutter the reticle like some “Christmas tree” tactical reticles. There’s ample open space to observe the target and the simple layout offers immediate feedback. It’s versatile and well-designed for hunting large or small game at any range.
I’ve praised Steiner for their previous H6Xi scopes, and I must do the same with the new RFP versions. These scopes have already accumulated several awards from editors in the shooting and hunting industry, and the H6Xi 2-12×42 RFP shares the same construction and quality components as its award-winning siblings.
If you’re searching for your next hunting scope, you should give the H6Xi a close look. I think you’ll like what you see.
Steiner H6Xi 2-12×42 RFP Specifications
- Magnification Range: 6x
- Focal Plane: rear
- Main Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Adjustment Per Click: .25 MOA
- Elevation Adjustment Range: 70 MOA
- Windage Adjustment Range: 70 MOA
- Turrets: exposed (elevation), capped (windage)
- Eye Relief: 3.52 to 3.85 in.
- Length: 11.8 in.
- Weight: 23.2 oz.
- Focus Range: 25 yards to infinity
- Illumination Settings: 11
- Battery: CR2032
- MSRP: $2,183.99
- TESTED: Steiner H6Xi 2-12x42mm RFP Riflescope - April 25, 2025
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