I bought and shot all of the Arken Optics models for a year, and this is what I think about them afterwards.... We talk: EP5 5-25x SH4 4-16x SH 6-24x The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Fully agree...I too have all of the Arken scopes minus the brand new one that just came out...and like you I have some very high $ scopes that are $2-3k and above (S&B, NF, Leupold, IOR Valdada...and yes there are some differences between Arken's and these top tier scopes...mostly things like durability (especially IOR Valdada...a true tank), locking turrets, etc...and yes the glass is marginally better. But none of us are going into combat (at least I hope not) and honestly with my eyes (getting older 50+) I cannot tell ANY difference anymore. Maybe some of you younger bucks can tell a difference but...certainly not $2k worth of difference...so I say save the $$, spend it on something else that you care about (wife, kids, etc) and go Arken. Yes I am a believer...in more ways than one!
Some of us just do not make enough money to buy a 3k optic. One $500 optic shared between 2 gums is the beat we can do. I personally would never spend 3k on optics or weapons unles. I was making money for my family with it.
Good review sir. To me, consistent tracking ability is what really matters. I don’t care too much about glass quality. Durability is also very important simce I shoot magum rounds. Would it survive from 7mm remag without a muzzle brake/prone shooting for a long term? My 7mag ate two mid range -priced scopes so far.
Haven't had a chance to test if it holds zero, but mounts just fine and has nice clear glass. Centered vertically true to a plumb line with the crosshairs which is always a plus!It's a great ru-vid.comUgkxc4K63Fd5LglDMObu7-Bgapxp_ef0W8hE scope. There's no parallax adjustment or focus ring, so may be limited to 3-7x, have to see how it is on the range. Also be aware that the rings are "look through" so you can still use irons, but they are really tall if you only intend to use the optics. On a 22LR no biggie since I'm not shooting competitions or worried about a hard cheek press. Will boresight and range test, if all goes well, I'll leave it at that!
Ive been searching the ep5 videos for hours and this is the first video i saw with actual long range shooting and not just spewing the fact sheets. Thanks so much!
Wow man,,,, What a great review on these scopes. You really covered the bases on your comparisons and the features these scopes have. Absolutely a great video and yeah,,,,I'm going to pick up a couple of these today, (if they're available),,. For years I've been dedicated to another steadfast brand as they're local and have never had any issues at all with them but for now it's a value issue. Thanks for your insight on these and between you and Rex, my mind is made up. I couldn't agree with you more regarding the VPR reticle. The Arken folks clearly have been around the block more than once and know what works with their focus on simplicity. Keep up the great work and I'm really looking forward to your review once published, on the EP4 if it comes to fruition from Arken. Not sure if it is out and available yet. Thank you so very much again and all the best with your shooting. 😎👍
I’ve been doing a. Lot of research on scopes. I’m building an AR10. .308 long rifle now and I decided that I’m definitely getting the Arken. It’s a badass scope from what I have found and from review after review.
@ADude&SomeGuns as someone just getting into Long Range shooting I very much enjoyed this video and you explanation of the three. Looking forward to the Light weight Build.
Great review as always. The EP4 lightweight model looks interesting. I’m not really in the market for such a scope but will be looking to see what people think. Take care friend.
I really think the new EPL4s will be another game changer. It should definitely make brands selling Chinese scopes lose a lot of sales just like how the SH4 and EP5 already did. Finally no doubt a superior alternative to the Athlon Argos and Element Helix and pretty much everything else $500 and under.
I got the 5-25 when they first came out and was blown away at how nice they are. I made a comment on it on another channel and got a bunch of people saying I was wrong but I stand my my comments. Other than the weight and the low light performance it’s as good as scopes costing 3-4x more. I put mine on my 50 and got about 120 rounds through it and it’s solid. Still tracks well. I had it at my friends ranch this past summer with a bunch of other optics and only a couple of those other scopes were noticeably better and each of those better scopes cost over $2500. Arken is the truth. Great review btw.
I just got my EP5 a few days ago, it is really nice for the price. That 20 MOA mount awesome, you'd have hundreds of dollars in a 34mm mount from another company. I'm probably going to buy a 4-16 to replace an older scope on a hunting rifle.
I bought my first Arken in November 2022. I now have seven of then on my better rifles. 1- SH4 4-16x50 on a Mossberg MVP Patrol 5.56, 3 - SH4 6-24x50 (RPR .17 HMR, 24 inch AR15 .223 Wlyde and 24 inch AR15 6.5 Grendel), 2 - SH4J 6-24x50 (Savage Moden 10 Stealth .308 and Howa 1500 6.5 Creedmore) and 1- EP5 5-25x56 on a Winchester XPR 24 inch .223). I love these scopes and the price is in my range. The zero stop helps me a lot because I often would forget to move my turrets back to zero after a long day of shooting, so next time out I would be as many as five rotations off. lol. Now I don't worry about it.
I ordered one of their new LVPOs on faith based on my two EP5s and one SH4. Im sure it will get the job done and I really like the reticle in the new LVPO.
I have a couple of their scopes. The $500 range is starting to get very competitive in the optics game. My Element Helix is fantastic as well at a similar price point. One minor thing that bugs out my OCD on the Arken is how far off the parallax is. It's WAYYY off. But outside of that it's a nice scope for the money (but.. I'm saying that a lot lately about scopes in this price range)
I have two sh4s would love to get the 4x16 I know they are at a great price still hard with kids because they are always first and the way everything is I agree with everything you said keep stretching it out
The image quality on the 4-16x is a lot better than the 6-24x SH4. I really think the 4-16x SH4 is the best model Arken makes followed by the EP5 second and SH4 6-24x last based on image quality alone.
If I'm shooting out to a mile, I'll get a Nightforce or high end Vortex. Anything less than that, Arken scopes provide all the features and quality that you need. Their scope mounts are amazing as well.
I use low strength loctite on the turret screws. (Purple color.) Medium strength on the scope mount. (Blue color.) I currently own five Arken scopes. And nothing comes close for their price point. Especially when they are on sale.
Agreed, there's nothing on the market right now at this price point, comparable!!! I also have 5 of their optics, and they are top notch... 4 of the 5 have been 1000 yard successful!!! 💯👍
I too changed out my Vortex on my Tikka T1X for an EPL Arken! So much better, but be warned, the EPL is a light weight scope, so watch the torx settings on the tube, as you can lock up the turrets. It was/is so good, I'm in the process of changing the Vortex on my Tikka T3X for the larger EPL Arken, I'm looking forward to getting that.
Very nice review. Leave it to a guy to be honest that puts his own money on the line. I have 2 SH4's, 6-24x50, and like them, especially for the money, (the second one was only $299, no brainer). Shipping has been slow compared to other gun stuff suppliers.
Great review and just ordered the SH4J 6x24x50 to give it a chance, as I wish to try another brand on a new build in Grendel. Had compared to the Venom and went with the Venom last time, which ended up on a .22 RPR rim and is happy there. Original was going to use on a .308 and was disappointed with the .308 consistency, but that is the rifle issue of which I am still fighting. Found I missed the illumination which I never use, so go figure... Just wanting to try another brand to compare the other three to and appears Arken has piqued my interest as I found a lean towards optics, due to aging eyes. "Back in the day," we didn't need no stinking scopes as we just licked a thumb transporting the spit to the front sight. With some Kentucky windage (of course a 4 MOA was considered in spec) we let her rip. Maybe that is why that old M1A is giving me fits with a scope on it, I am not supposed to look that close...
I concur with everything you said about these. I have 4 Arkens myself (sh4's and ep5) and at their price point they are outstanding scopes. These have everything you need to be competitive in the precision game. Are their better scopes out there? of course! But you're gonna pay double the price to get it.
@@ADudeAndSomeGuns meh, I wouldn't got that far. I've used an Athlon Ares that edged the ep5 out pretty easily (to my eyes) in the glass department, and matched the ep5 everywhere else. But that's an $1000 scope...it better!
I really like the Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 for $700. It's definitely better than the Arken EP5 and I prefer the Athlon's better Chinese HD glass, lighter weight and more useable illuminated reticle. The Arken turrets feel a little better though.
I shoot 7mm rem mag a lot in prone position(no recoil sliding) with no muzzle brake(for the sake of pure aesthetics of the rifle.) Would it endure the recoil of 7 rem mag for a long term? It has eaten two $1k range scopes so far.
I bought the SH4 Gen 2 , nice , then bought the EPL 4 . very nice , then the day the EPL4 arrived ARKEN had the EP5 on sale for $397 with a 25% for $316 so I could not pass it up . I`m pleased with all of them , they make a good product .
I absolutely agree. I now have four! Two on heavy barreled Tikka builds (260 Rem and 6 Dasher), one on an AR, and one on a CZ457 22. My very first one had a bad elevation turret. They got a replacement in my hand in about a week! I even retired a Gen I Vortex Razor, as the EP5 is clearer and brighter, and I also prefer the reticle. I use and like the Arken mounts from the pack (both the offset mount and the rings), the throw lever and the caps. The rest went into a drawer. I found the level to be too small to see past the turrets, so use Vortex levels there. I would love first rate glass, and I could, but to buy 4 premium scopes is too much to justify for a range toy. I also wouldn't mind a EP4L. I would prefer the Christmas tree reticle on it though. I also would like the 1/4 mil wind hold marks to extend out further.
I shoot just as well with the Arken scopes as I do Tangent Theta, S&B, NF ATACR. People get to caught up in trying to buy performance but it really comes down to skill. Get out from behind the keyboard guys and go train. Walk around the block and put the fork down as well.
So, it finally came the Arlen’s EPL4 4-16x30mm two months of waiting. I looked at the other offerings from Arken and said “too heavy”. With the EP5 and the ELP4 upgrade in glass quality over the early models, a wise decision by Arken Optics. Now the question remains “how good durability of these cheap scopes?” I'm looking for another upgrade to Leopold Mark5 3.6-18x35mm tube 26oz; the Arken backup scope range day usage save the other scope day a more serious day. Additionally: waterproof? To see if the Arken scope is waterproof, place it in warm water, and see if bubbles come then you will know it is waterproof.
Solid compressive review! I just bought a Arken EP5 from their Black Friday deal. Can't wait to mount it on my Sako and take it out to the range. I know this scope has some flaws, but what a fantastic value for the price. Those major scope brands better get their shit together. Their market share is getting eaten up fast by a so-called junk Chinese made brand haha.
@@dougmorehouse7035 mine had an issue causing it. That would have just been a band are. My new one is gtg. I did dab it with orange finger nail polish to keep an eye on it.
Thank you for the awesome video on sharing your experience with Arken Optics. I'm looking at their new EP-8 LPVO and thinking about should I get one or not. What do you think about it? Will you make a ideo about it once released?
Honestly, I’m not really sold on the reticle they chose for that. Everything else about it is pretty awesome. I haven’t ordered one yet. Although I may. I’m also looking at the sig 1-8s. Decent optic and it comes with a scope mount.
@@ADudeAndSomeGuns I'm the opposite then, since I was interested mostly by its reticle lol. I know PA has a similar reticle on its PLxC 1-8, but that thing is 5 times more expensive than the EP-8. Sig Tango 1-8 is surely a great choice as you mentioned, and I'm kinda struggling among these two and the cheaper PA SLx 1-8
I’ve got a review coming on the plxc this week. The slx models are solid options too. You won’t go wrong with either of your options, just more preference than anything else.
The Hawke sidewinder are ridiculously overpriced Chinese scopes even worse than Element Optics but at least the Elements got zero stops but still way overpriced for what you get.
The only thing going for the Hawke Sidewinder is the exterior cosmetic fit and finish compared to the crappy thin primer that rubs off that all Arkens have and sunshade that don't even match their scopes.
Sh4 gen II 4-16 on a sauer sohn s-100 fieldshoot in 308. Dead nuts at 200 yds all day. Not what you wanna haul up a mountain, but will DROP a deer in its tracks at 300
Thanks for providing the detailed review. I got the Bushnell Pro Match for NRL22 for $499 and it has similar features so I’m not so sure that you have to pay 2-4 times the price to get a scope with similar features. I went with Bushnell because of the locking turrets and the 10 revs per turn. Perhaps I will give their light weight scope a try for a 22 lever action rifle. It looks like a good value.
The Bushnell doesn't have a zero stop either. I considered buying the Match Pro but ended up buying the Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 which weighs about the same, has better glass, more elevation travel and has a zero stop. The $200 higher price of admission was well worth it. The lack of the zero stop was a real deal breaker for me when paying close to $500 for a Chinese scope.
So after covid took my left leg above the knee, i started long range precision shooting. Optics was a problem that i just couldnt get around. I was at a point where i was considering hanging it up. I was just not going to spend over a grand on a scope. I ran across an Arken and ordered one immediately. I was so impressed i ordered 2 more fairly quickf
Quickly. They are absolutely amazing quality and durable scopes. Now i recently installed 2 muzzle brakes to both of my centerfire LR rifles. Suddenly niether rifle would hold zero. I was all over the place. Now obviously im leaning heavily towards the new brakes but it was very much acting like an optics issue. I just dont believe it. Anyone else have an issue with a new brake? Now i admit, these 2 brakes i got off amazon. Very inexpensive, which i know breaks the rules in LR shooting. If you shoot long range, and you buy anything thats inexpensive, then its not going to work
Great review. So if u already have an sh4 gen2 it's not worth getting the new model with the Japanese Glas? And if u were to buy one today for long range shooting which would u pick
Go check out Rexs newest review “numbers don’t lie”. They’re both good. Honestly very good. I wouldn’t buy the new jap glass unless I sold my older model. But it is good to support the Japanese glass market like Rex was talking about.
I have an arken 6x24x50 sh4gen2 the features are great and its cheap, however the glass is not good so it got moved down to my 22lr out to 150 yards max.
You might have gotten a bad one due to their very poor QC. If your scope starts to get milky or you notice chromatic aberration past 13x you should exchange it under warranty or ask to upgrade to the EP5 that has better glass and just pay the difference. The 4-16x SH4 is also better than the 6-24x SH4 FYI...
I have the ep5 on a .338 Lapua. It's a good scope for sure. As clear as a night force it is most definitely not. As clear as a viper pst gen 2 it is also not. It is however a damn good scope that doubles as a club if you run out of ammo.
At 15:04 you barely touched the windage turret and it adjusted what appeared to be two clicks. Did they get loose over the year, or is that how easy they move? One thing I love about my Strike Eagle is the locking turrets. I'm really looking into the Arkin scopes, but I don't need something that is going to dial itself.
No, the turret screws were loose on that scope, I hadn't noticed until I picked it up for filming. When properly tightened the knobs don't move like that. I know dudes had issues with turret screws walking out, in that case I'd send it back in if it was a repeatable issue.
Burris and Leopold are made in the USA and nothing else. My EP5 is worth 2x what I paid. guys I shot Benchrest for 24 years (Leupold 36’s) these scopes are that good 😊
How long it takes after ordering Arlen scope? I ordered one since 11/19/2022 until now didn’t get it yet, but they took my money out of the account one day after I ordered. Any body have any idea please give me information. Thanks. Chan.
No scope is made in America BTW. Either China Japan or Phillipines. Assembled in USA? Maybe some scope Companies, but glass ground overseas, tubes and gears machined overseas......
I personally Prefer Japan made scopes and try to stay away from Chinese made ones unless they can at least be pretty close to the quality of Japan made scopes or cheap enough to overlook their country of manufacture. There are only a few mid to higher priced Chinese made scopes that are actually worth buying IMHO.
Last Friday I ordered the EPS 5 x 25 x 56 along with the cant 20 moa mount. $600 for scope and mount, front & back covers etc, tough to beat price wise. I was always handgun, never a rifle guy so high dollar glass just doesn't interest me. It's going on my first rifle. An Aero M5 308 Gen 2 DPMS / AR10 20" barrel and magpul precision stock.
Everyone log into your Arken account. They just started a loyalty points program and I was able to get a free scope mount from points I accrued on a purchase a few months back!
It’s not insane that they’re cheap. It’s insane that these scopes are still 3k. Back when that kind of precision machining was rare I get it but nowadays they have no business charging so damn much. Never heard of these guys til now, would you say better than primary arms or comparable?
@@michaelhill6451 interesting. I have primary arms and I was wondering how it would stack up to this. So you would still lean towards pa? I think the sl6 3-18 I have was only about 500
15:30 Finally someone with some cred highlighting this problem with the set screws backing themselves out and the turret covers spin. And yes, I shoot 40 rounds at a range, at a minimum. Everything is fine. I go home, clean the rifle, stow it in the cabinet. Leave it sit there a month and spin, spin, spin. Me no likee. So, I went back to Vortex, which has done that zero times. I know others have had some problems and that will happen with any brand. And the Vortex warranty cannot be beat. But these Arken scopes work well in other ways and you get lots of elevation. That being said, I imagine that you, as do other long range shooters, will normally get a 20 MOA rail and zero at 200 yards. Then you still have plenty of clicks left approaching 1,000 yards.
All lower to mid range optics I’ve used tend to only be usable up to 17-18 power or so… of the 24 or 25 max…. How does the Arken tend to hold up past 20x? Still clear and sharp or blur out like most?
None of the Arkens will be crystal clear when used at their highest magnification. You need to go with the Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50 ($500) or Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 ($700) if you need the best image quality on high magnification (when buying Chinese made optics priced under $1000). I'd recommend buying Japan made scopes instead of Chinese made scopes if you desire the nicest image quality on high magnification at least starting from the the Sightron SIII 6-24x50 from $600 and up. Only these Athlon models are the clearest Chinese scopes with zero stops that you can buy for under $1000 that have good repeatable and reliable tracking with class leading elevation travel in lighter weight 30mm tubes compared to 34mm tubes.
The AYIN 6-24x50 FFP selling for under $160 delivered (sold on Amazon and eBay) is clear all the way to 24x and seems to be better than the Vortex Diamondback Tactical for less than half the price. It is also better than the Athlon Argos BTR and Element Helix but doesn't have a zero stop.
My SH4 6-24 is not clear at 400 yrds at 24 power. I looked thru a vortex gen 1 razor 5-20 at my range and I could see the rings on the target at 400, can not do that with the Arken. My next scope will be the Burris xtrIII 5-30.
I thought that was a really good review. If you could’ve went a little more in depth with each scope separate would be nice, but it sounds like they are all just quality scopes and just pick the magnification you need
Thanks dude. And Not at all man. You can always challenge yourself with 1 or 2 inch targets at that range and have fun. 16x will be needed for zeroing too.
A chunk of my tax return has been set aside for an Arken optic. I'm still not sure if I'm going to grab the EP5 or the SH4J. Either way its going on a heavy target rifle that will be shot prone or off a tripod. The weight will not be an issue for me.
Can anyone let me know if Arkans one piece scope mount is of quality? Their website has it priced around $70. Most other one piece mounts go for double or triple. I want something of quality.
Athlon has 20moa cantilever mounts on sale for under $50 until December 31 2022 and all Athlons on sale for the same as Black Friday Cyber Monday sale prices.
Not sure if they are "rated for" the double recoil that pellet guns have but there's another review on RU-vid (forgot where) that said the pellet recoil didn't do anything.
I'm no expert so see what the experts have to say in this very informative article on "Long Range Optics Brands Ranked Sniper Country". See where Arken really ranks.
The “ranking” that this guy uses for different tiers of optics makes no sense at all. Say what you will about Arken optics but from my experience and the experience of actual experts like RexReviews, Arkens track excellently. Much better than many of the scopes on that entire list. So not sure who the “expert” that wrote this opinion piece even is, but I wouldn’t take his word on optics rankings with much credit.
