Arken Optics?

William Suter

Well-known member
On another site a guy claims they are as good or better than many upper end scopes. What I do know is they are a little hard to find and none locally. Reviews are pretty good and they seem to have good glass and the mechanics are strong. Anyone use them? Opinions please.
 
I don't personally have any, but I know tons of people that do and have watched countless reviews on them. They are the real deal. When I finally decide to build a "long range" rifle it will have an Arken on it.
 
I have a scope on a rifle now that is just to big. To much weight, size and power. I'd like to replace it with some smaller in all those areas. I guess I will have to order one as there is no place in the Tulsa area that stock them.
 
I have a scope on a rifle now that is just to big. To much weight, size and power. I'd like to replace it with some smaller in all those areas. I guess I will have to order one as there is no place in the Tulsa area that stock them.

I think most of their sales are online. If you spend a lot of time watching reviews you will hear the Arken compared with high dollar names a lot. Of course these $2,000-3,000 scopes are better, as they should be. However, for a $600 scope to even come up in conversation with them over and over says a lot.
 
These are some of the more budget oriented optics I've used that one might be inclined to compare to something on the Arken line. An EP5 5-25x for example.
I have posted this list on other forums as well.

Are they as good as a $1500 scope? Some, probably yes.
Are they better than a $2000 scope, some maybe.
Should they be included in the conversation with most scopes over $1500, Absolutely not.

One thing about the top tier optics is you can buy without much fear of quality concern...but it still comes down to personal preference if you're going to actually LIKE the optic. if you DON'T, you take a huge hit trying to flip it. However, if you buy a pre-owned top tier optic, you save 20-25% and that value stays pretty consistent to the 2nd and even 3rd owner.
I have had 3 of the Arken EP5s so far, still have one and there's really only one reason I'll sell it, and that's IF/WHEN DNT releases something smaller than their The One 7-35x.
That's the only thing I feel that's better than an Arken EP5 for under $800

The Arken EP5 actually reminds me a lot of the Eotech 5-25 with the size being the obvious difference.
It's absolutely better than the following
Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x
Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30x

and surprising to say, I prefer it over this one as well, even though it may not be objectively better.
Bushnell XRS Gen3 6-36x
 
I've never been much for online shopping. I like to hold it in my hands before buying. But it looks like if I want hands on, I'm going to have to buy one.
 
I have a few. Have also sent a few back for repair. Glass is mediocre. Tracking is pretty darn good. For the money, pretty darn good but not top tier quality. Fairly heavy too. I have one on a 300wm and one on a 17hmr.
 
Heavy isn't what I want. I already have one of those on it. As for used, I haven't seen one yet. I'm looking for max power in the 14-16 range.
 
I bought an Arken SH-4 4-16 to see what all the whoopla over FFP scopes were. It is big and heavy with a 34mm tube. It did everything it was supposed to and I sold it to my grandson knowing I wasn't screwing him. He has it on his new LR rifle and is happy.,

A FFP scope like that just doesn't do anything for me. Glass was clear and the adjustments worked.
 
rokslide is doing drop tests on a bunch of scopes. That might be excessive and not reflect everyone's use or needs, but there is one aspect of their tests that can be relevant to most people. It's the vibration tests from riding around in a truck on wash boarded roads or atv's. I think the Arken failed that test. With that said Leupold's have also failed that test. However my Leupolds have rode thousands of miles on washboard roads over the last three decades and held their zero. YMMV.
 
I have two of them on range only rifles, they are still mounted and doing their job well.
Good values IMO, however they are too bulky and heavy to hunt with.
(EP5 5-25X56 & SH4J 6-24X50)
 
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And they are FFP which I don't care for on a hunting rifle. The crosshairs are just to small for early morning and late evening when on low power.
 
I picked up a SH4 Gen II, 4-16x50 at a local gunshow today. I did get it mounted but that's as far as I got so far. Its shorter than the scope that was on it but not any lighter. It is a FFP which I didn't really want but I'm going to try and use it. One neg right off the bat, it didn't even come with a dang battery. It looks to be a solid scope and looking through windows at the house it seems really clear.
 
I picked up a SH4 Gen II, 4-16x50 at a local gunshow today. I did get it mounted but that's as far as I got so far. Its shorter than the scope that was on it but not any lighter. It is a FFP which I didn't really want but I'm going to try and use it. One neg right off the bat, it didn't even come with a dang battery. It looks to be a solid scope and looking through windows at the house it seems really clear.
I just got my 1st arken recently and noticed that to, did not come with a battery.
That being said I'm pretty impressed with it, nice and clear, clean.
I'm still waiting on my barrel to show up for this project, but hopefully next month I'll have range time with it.
I got the epl 4-15×44
 
I got mine mounted and its ready to go but I had a tree take out my roof and kitchen ceiling and my house is in shambles right now. I can't get in my reloading room until things get back to somewhat normal. I wanted the LW model but seems they are few and far between right now. This one was available (gun show) so I bought it. I took a more expensive scope off and replaced it with the Arken. I hope it works out.
 
I got mine mounted and its ready to go but I had a tree take out my roof and kitchen ceiling and my house is in shambles right now. I can't get in my reloading room until things get back to somewhat normal.
Yikes! Glad you're okay and good luck getting that all sorted out.
 


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