Arken Optics?

another vote for pretty dang good.

Ive got the EPL4 on my 22-250AI and was pretty impressed with the clarity! zero stop is a little weird. Once you take it apart and see how it works, its not the best. Ive spun the cap a few times on the brass post. now that I know, I crank down those set screws and show no mercy. Its been an upgrade, glass clarity wise, from the Atholons Ive had in the same price range and seems to hold its own to my buddies vortex.

Liked it enough that I bought the EPL4 6-14x44 for my kids creedmoor.

Looked at the EP5 for a second until I saw the weight. its a beast for sure.
 
Owned a few. Only did a track test on ONE (my first one)

SH4J (Jap Glass) 6-24 passed box tracking test perfectly. Glass is decent. Not Zeiss Victory and not Vortex Razor good but its fine for the price.

SH4 4-16, got in trade and used it briefly for prairie dogs. It was okay. Sold it after.

LH4 4-16, again was decent for the money but sold it.

EP5 5-25, HEAVY but solid. Recently aquire so will be doing a box test on it too. Glass is pretty good, on par with the SH4J Japanese Glass model.
 
Well its January now and I had a few outings with the Arken. I had it out and ran the dials a few times and they seemed to work but I just couldn't get use to it for some reason. It was Mil and I am more use to MOA. I had it on my Sig Cross and it just made that rifle a tank. I compared the Arken with my Nightforce NX8 and to me, there was no comparison with the NF winning hands down but there was a lot of money difference between the two and I think I was a little biased. Would I buy another Arken? Maybe if it was MOA and 30MM, not another 34MM though.
 
William Suter said:
Well its January now and I had a few outings with the Arken. I had it out and ran the dials a few times and they seemed to work but I just couldn't get use to it for some reason. It was Mil and I am more use to MOA. I had it on my Sig Cross and it just made that rifle a tank. I compared the Arken with my Nightforce NX8 and to me, there was no comparison with the NF winning hands down but there was a lot of money difference between the two and I think I was a little biased. Would I buy another Arken? Maybe if it was MOA and 30MM, not another 34MM though.
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The 30mm EPL series is the sweet spot for a light varmint/tactical rifle. And the LH for a simpler version, same reticle but a capped turret and very similar/same glass. I've owned both and kept the EPL.
 
I bought a used EPL-4, 6-24 at a gunshow this week-end. Its a little smaller and lighter and I think I'm going to like it better. It came with a real nice set of rings to. A little plus!!
 
I ordered an ep5 5-25 a week ago to put on my 243 just to blast steel with. They say shipping from arken takes forever so we'll see. I have an older vortex hslr 4-16 on it now and the glass looks like there's dry milk on the lenses. I need to send it back to vortex. I ordered the MOA reticle and it's marked in increments of 1 moa. The mil reticle is marked in increments of .25 mil.
 
New hunting model available.

OUTRIDER 2-12x42 SFP Illuminated FDR / Non-Illuminated DLR - 30mm Tube

Sale price$312.48 Regular price$349.99
 
Cameralandny has the Arken 2-12x42 for $249 and $299, I'm seriously thinking about one. I had an Arken before but it was big and heavy but clear and tracked I liked it but just didn't fit what I do. My nephew is a LR shooter, I sold it to him and I picked up a S-tac 3-15.

I've been shooting a couple Athlon Argos 2-12x42s and like the power range for more open country.
 
I have several LH4's and a SH4J. So far, my experience is on par with most everyone in here. Tracking has been excellent for me. Glass is good, but not great. They are plenty heavy for what they are. Overall, they're a solid choice and good value for the money. While they're great scopes for the price point, just remember comparison is the thief of joy. If you start comparing them to $1500+ scopes, you'll find they fall short in at least one or more metrics, so just enjoy them for what they are.
 
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