Arken eps5 info

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Clemenchick

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Outside ottawa but not far enough.
So I have been considering buying one of these Arken ep5 optics. I hear mixed thoughts on this. It seems to be from two crowds- 1” it’s chineses junk stay away from china crap” or 2- “ it’s amazing it’s better than nightforce”. I find both extremes hard to buy into. What I’m actually wondering is from people who actually have one in their possession is this scope decent? Maybe comparable to a pst gen 2 ? Or what are the thoughts in general. Good and bad? Yes I’m aware there are other threads on this but they seem to dissolve into personal childish commenting quite quickly at which point I stop reading. I would appreciate input please! Thanks guys !
 
Im looking at an EP5 myself.
I have 2 other Arkens.
I like them all but i have to say;
I am looking at the EP5 because it is supposed to be an improvement on the the sh4j 6-24x50 that I already have which is already a great scope for what I use it for but i cud use more at 1000m.

The 4-16 EPL4 i have is also good but with limitations. I bought it for hunting and it was a disappointingly “darker” experience in the low light grey drizzle that predominates West coast hinting scenarios

I moved it on to a target 22 and it’s doing fine there.
 
I've never heard anyone in your first category.

The only complaint for competition is the turrets are mushy and don't lock like the Match Pro.


 
Beeron said:
Im looking at an EP5 myself.
I have 2 other Arkens.
I like them all but i have to say;
I am looking at the EP5 because it is supposed to be an improvement on the the sh4j 6-24x50 that I already have which is already a great scope for what I use it for but i cud use more at 1000m.

The 4-16 EPL4 i have is also good but with limitations. I bought it for hunting and it was a disappointingly “darker” experience in the low light grey drizzle that predominates West coast hinting scenarios

I moved it on to a target 22 and it’s doing fine there.
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Thanks for the info, yes from the data I’ve collected online the ep5 is supposed to have decent glass.
I just hesitate to invest in something when a bit more money could have had me a better product. From all the YouTube shills I see doing tests the ep5 seems to be pretty decent
 
I think Arken/DNT is better than anything sub $1500. Which is to say, better than any of the other value brands I've looked through but no one should compare it to the big boys.
 
I've got the SH4j on a Tikka .223. Its been fine for the 200 meter shooting at our local range. Turrets feel good, build quality seem solid. No issues in tracking/repeatability or point of aim either. Illumination is nice for aging eyes. I cant compare to Nightforce as I've never used one but its been comparable to some of the Leupolds/Nikons/Sightrons I've owned. I'm not sure what your intended purpose is, but I certainly don't feel limited by the SH4j for my needs. I'm looking at a PRS rimfire build this summer and I'll be looking at an Arken/DNT or Discovery for an optic when its time.
 
I have had an EP5 for two years - no regrets. I prefer my match pro due to glass and how the turrets index, but I know there are updated versions of the Arken I have not tried. I chose the Arken after looking through the Venom, but a bunch of this is just personal preference.

When the EP5 came out my impression is it was one of a small handful of sub $1000 scopes to have many of the features of more expensive scopes. So the youtubers embraced it and were really excited. The glass was fine, but not sure anyone really thought it was at the same level as nightforce or what have you.

The EP5 also, in my opinion, has been riding the rimfire PRS wave where you need easy dailing, good reticle, and a wide adjustment range. You also do not need top tier glass to hit steal in good light within 300m. Not to say nice glass is not appreciated, but the EP5 and others like it were a way to get in the game.

So ya, EP5 is great bang for the buck, but you look side by side through a Razor, ZCO, or Nightforce and it is what it is, haha.
 
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I sold a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 inorder to buy both an SH4J and the EPL4.
Worked out for me and the SH4j is a good stand in for the SE.

I will add that the reticle I have on the EPL4 4-16 is among the best hunting reticles i have ever looked at. Comparable to the Nightforce NX5/8 (not sure the model).

I also see more illumination bleed on my arkens than i do on any of my other illuminated scopes.

E extrwmely good value i have bought a couple of lately is the new Viper HD.
I have two of these and they are both excellent scopes for the money.

The largest of these is a serious contender for my long range rifle rig. As is the PST.
 
I have a Arken EP5 5-25x56. I also have a couple Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56, a Vortex PST gen II 5x25x56 and a DNT 7-35x56. And have looked down many higher end optics.

Yes the Arken is Chinese, no the glass is not as good as a nightforce. All the cheap optics come from South East Asia, you'll be over $2k to get something with a comparable feature set from Japan.

I've done tracking tests on all the above scopes, they all track decently, within 3%. I have spent a lot of time behind the above 5 scopes I own, both on Rimfire and Centerfire. The glass on the Vortex PST is the the best, followed by the vortex Strike Eagles, the DNT is 3rd and the Arken last. For $680 the the Arken is the best. You'll have to spend more than $1000 to get something better the Arken. If all you have is $700, buy the Arken. If you can afford more the DNT or Vortex SE is better. If it is going on the Rimfire and you have $1100 I'd recommend the Bushnell Match Pro ED 5-30x56.
 
Rankuwa said:
I think Arken/DNT is better than anything sub $1500. Which is to say, better than any of the other value brands I've looked through but no one should compare it to the big boys.
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Yup. I agree The Arken EP5 is comparable to a 1300-1500 scope.

To the OP:

It’s not better than than Night force, Delta Stryker etc. The Low brand Japanese scopes do have slightly better glass. At least to my eyes. The high end stuff ie S&B etc are in a different league altogether. But.. I find the Arkens EP5 and DNT “ the one “fairly nice to use. I like the field of view and I like the glass well enough.

It offers everything you want for features, repeatability and is well made. Yes it’s made in China, but it does have Japanese ED glass!! For $700 ish, it’s a great option. I have a few of these.

Another option, especially for rimfire are the Discovery ED scopes. Comparable to the Arken, Chinese made with Japanese ED glass. Longer in length but shorter parallax distance for rimfire. The Arken is more tactical and cooler looking, plus it has a shorter length. But when behind the scope, the Discovery ED stuff is very comparable and for $150 or so less.

I only recommend the ED glass stuff from either Arken or Discovery. Great value, decent scopes.
 
I was super impressed with the Discovery, but the eyebox on it is brutally tight! Not sure if thats a bad thing in competition (forces you to be in line).

This was the same day I was looking down Leupold Mark 5's and the equivalent Vortex's and they all seemed pretty dang close looking at something 400y away.
 
I guess I should have stated my purpose, I plan to shoot longer ranges. It’s nothing competitive at this point should shooting the fields at home 500-800yards with 308. I quite enjoy it and may want to compete at some point so I don’t want to limit my self. How ever I don’t want to spend crazy money. So basically in my head I was thinking Arken ep5 or the strike eagle 5-25 or the pst gen 2.. but there is quite a price jump from the Arken to the pst. Is it worth the jump ? Or even between the strike eagle and Arken what’s preferred Glass quality?
 
Clemenchick said:
I guess I should have stated my purpose, I plan to shoot longer ranges. It’s nothing competitive at this point should shooting the fields at home 500-800yards with 308. I quite enjoy it and may want to compete at some point so I don’t want to limit my self. How ever I don’t want to spend crazy money. So basically in my head I was thinking Arken ep5 or the strike eagle 5-25 or the pst gen 2.. but there is quite a price jump from the Arken to the pst. Is it worth the jump ? Or even between the strike eagle and Arken what’s preferred Glass quality?
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Look at the Burris xtr 2 …. Really nice bang for ur buck scope and really nice glass … I have 1 and I like it quiet a bit more than my sj4
 
Clemenchick said:
but there is quite a price jump from the Arken to the pst. Is it worth the jump ? Or even between the strike eagle and Arken what’s preferred Glass quality?
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You should try to look through both of them. To me, the Arken/DNT is a better product than the Strike Eagle and PST.
 
Here’s my honest 2cents worth…based on 6 Arkens, 4 Nightforce, 20 Leupolds and a bushel basket full of Japanese Bushnells. You get a REALLY big bang for the buck with Arkens in that $600-$700 range but I only put them on rimfires, 17HM2, 17HMR, .22LR and .22mags. I have a love/HATE relationship with first focal plane scopes because I think their reticles suck in most low light dark background environments encountered if you’re hunting fur. Just punching paper or steel during daylight hours, no problem, no challenge. And I hate ‘Christmas trees’ for reticles or anything that looks like specks of fly #### on the lenses when I’m looking at a target. Nightforces ARE INCREDIBLY, they have served me flawlessly for the past 20 or so years. Leupolds hold up well and if the occasional one goes sour after 25 years of service, it can be forgiven and Korth can replace it within a week with no receipts or any other bull#### excuses. Now I’ve just bought my 4th Leupold HD5 and for a guy that wears glasses I think the view is fantastic. The turrets are solid and repeatable. I parked one on a 25cal PCP air rifle for starlings and pigeons up to 100 yards and that combo rocks !! As for the Bushnells, well the Japanese stuff has been good and reliable and will tolerate a little bit of turret twisting but I don’t even come close to trusting that like a Nightforce. And as for all these newly rebranded Bushnells with macho sounding names like Nitro etc etc we’ll….i hate them too…and their first focal plane setup. Oh…and Vortex?? 90% trash. Supposedly one or two of their high end scopes are good but I don’t believe it. Quite possibly Vortex has the highest return rate for warrantee replacements or so I have been told by friends that have returned scopes in the past. There, I feel much better now. lol
 
I picked one up for the the fun of it and figured if nothing else I’d flip it or put it on a 22…
Just mounted it, haven’t shot it yet.
First impression before shooting takeaways:
The illumination isn’t that great, definitely sub par anything.
Kinda heavy.
Overall initial quality (feeling) and packaging (if that matters) seems really good for the price.
The audible and clear clicks of the turrets is not something you wouldn’t notice…it’s positive and loud.
The glass seems good but to my poor eyes no better, and maybe no worse than many of the scopes I’ve played with.
One big thing I noticed was how small the eye box is, one of the worst scopes I’ve been behind for that. Got your anchor perfect and all looks fantastic but if you are just the slightest bit off it just isn’t there.
So slow shooting on a bench in good weather with a static shooting position I expect it to be a decent enough scope for the price but is it all the hype I saw on YouTube…no.
Still for what I paid I don’t feel like I got ripped off (yet)
But my jury’s still out, hopefully on the weekend I can put it side by side a few other scopes to see how it works for me.
 
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