Arken Optics

[bboswell]

Anyone here with first hand experience? The YouTube reviews don’t match the price point IMO so looking for first hand knowledge

[mkk]

I’ve got a couple of them.

One of the SH4 series in 4-16x50 with a 34mm tube. It’s big and heavy. It is on a bench gun so the weight doesn’t matter. Turrets are nice with crisp clicks when dialing. Return to zero has been accurate. Glass is ok, somewhere between a Vortex and Zeiss V4.

Also have a couple in the EPL4 series, same as previous comments only considerably lighter and 30mm tube.

[bboswell]

I’ve got a couple of them.

One of the SH4 series in 4-16x50 with a 34mm tube. It’s big and heavy. It is on a bench gun so the weight doesn’t matter. Turrets are nice with crisp clicks when dialing. Return to zero has been accurate. Glass is ok, somewhere between a Vortex and Zeiss V4.

Also have a couple in the EPL4 series, same as previous comments only considerably lighter and 30mm tube.

Which end of the Vortex line are you comparing to? Vortex goes all the way from cheap crap to premium optics.

[mkk]

I haven’t had one of the cheaper vortex scopes in a long time so I would say something around the diamondback range.

[bboswell]

I haven’t had one of the cheaper vortex scopes in a long time so I would say something around the diamondback range.

Then I’m likely staying away. I haven’t been impressed with anything below Razor from Vortex.

[PVDT]

I have two Arken SH4 Gen II scopes. I also have a couple of cheap Vortex up to the Viper PST Gen II 5-25 (MSRP $1,600ish). The cheap Vortex scopes are on 7.62x39 type guns and don’t necessarily need a better scope. They’re noticeably “cheap”. You can sometimes find the Viper PST 5-25 for under $1000 street price. But they are 30mm compared to the Arken 34mm. For me and without question, I’d go with the Arken over the Vortex Viper. The glass in the Viper is definitely not better, IMHO, than the Viper. As I understand it, the newer Arken SH4J has Japanese glass and should be even better (not to mention the EP model). I’m actually very impressed with the Arkens. I shoot the two 22 cal guns the Arkens are on (fast twist 223 and a Valkyrie) quite a bit and out to 1000 yards pretty often. I dial elevation most of the time and haven’t had any issues with the Arkens. The only thing I have found is that their parallax is off more than usual. One of them is set for 250 yards when shooting 100. It’s only an observation and not a problem. This is the reason you’ll find that Nightforce doesn’t even mark the yardage on the parallax. Overall I’m impressed with Arken. For me, it fills a large “gap” from economical all the way to my Nightforce scopes. However, for a mountain type gun, the Arken would definitely be heavy. Otherwise, they work great.

[BLACKFINTURKEY]

I have a couple of them. I’ve only mounted one of them so far and it’s pretty good glass for the price. I believe mine is the elp 34mm tube it’s definitely better than the vortex viper.

the only major complaint I have is that the zero stop screw came loose and fell out on mine, Arken charged me 20$ for a replacement screw…

I did by a second one but have not had time to mount it yet.

[muzzlebrake]

I have one NIB. Couldn't use it because the parallax won't adjust below 50 yards. I was going to use it on a .25 cal PCP rifle which needed parallax adjustment down to 10 yards. Ended up going with an Element Helix which has much better glass. https://element-optics.com/product/helix-ffp/

[muzzlebrake]

https://spaweapons.com/collections/element-optics-by-fx/products/element-helix-ffp-pre-order

Air gunners use these a lot even though they will handle recoil of the heavy magnum centerfire rifles, these European optics are much superior to Chinese stuff.

[jhunter77]

Arken Japan glass is better than my vortex viper.

[Matt_C]

I own two of them and love some of the features. Glass isn't world class but I don't expect it to be for the price. If putting on a hunting rig like I did, the EPL scopes are fine 44 or 50. Better in 44 due to weight.

[Gunnyart]

I'm too cheap to buy expensive glass so I bought the SH-4 Gen II and I think it's better than any of the $300 Nikons or Leopold's I've owned.

[bboswell]

I own two of them and love some of the features. Glass isn't world class but I don't expect it to be for the price. If putting on a hunting rig like I did, the EPL scopes are fine 44 or 50. Better in 44 due to weight.

If I want great glass I want it in my binos and spotter. I just don’t want the terrible low light performance in a scope like every Vortex I have owned that sub Razor.