Arken EP5 5-25X56 Myth Busting

Warning: This video contains the truth.
This is not a video that will make me popular with some people.
I hope you enjoy this rant!

[samstone]

Your rant just helps prove how the Arken optics team has shook the optics world as far as what the simple common man can afford and have the same controls as a $4000 scope! Tracking is +-1% deviation that's way better than most 4k euro scopes! Glass is certainly not on par and the illumination...works lol. Vortex needed a wake up call anyway with the sh*t they've been getting away with price gauging on their 500 to $1000 scopes.

[timhealy]

The very fact that there is an EP5 on the same table as some of these other scopes tells me that this scope at it's price is awesome for a lot of people!

[TiborasaurusRex]

Fair rant, sir. I appreciate your perspective and I think you are right that we can more clearly define our terms. When we say "better" it is certainly subjective. Keep em coming.

[allandunaway]

I agree with your comments. As the owner of quite a few scopes in ranges up to 3k. I recently purchased an Arken. I had no expectation that the scope would perform at an unrealistic level. The scope is certainly not as good as 1-2k plus scopes. I would say that at its price point it is hard to beat in that range. As a family man who can not afford to equip every rifle with 1-2k plus dollar scopes it is nice to see a sub 800 dollar scope that performs very well. Its a great option in its space for what I believe is its target audience. Thanks for taking the time to put out a real honest opinion that is pretty spot on.

[BodyRocker]

I have a night force in excess 8x32x56 and I have the arcken ep5
The night Force has better glass indeed and a better overall sight picture but as far as tracking and performance the ark and ep5 stands toe to toe with it I will stand by that

[EagleEyeShooting]

Brother thanks for being real. Popularity and video views are last priority in reviews. Your a competition shooter that uses these scopes. Experience is hard to explain in scope reviews, your doing an excellent job

[anthonyperry]

The hubbub with the recent Arken praising reminds me a lot of Swampfox. It seems more like paid advertising/endorsements from guntubers. I think the bottom line is that most people in the market for a $500 optic aren’t going to buy a $1.5-$3k optic. Arken is filling a spot for your average weekend shooter who wants a good combination of frills, function and repeatable performance in a budget friendly scope…..me being one of those people

[jefferyking]

Thank you for the video. I would like to add my thoughts. I own an Arken, Vortex, Leupold, and some others. The Arken is not as bright as the Vortex or Leupold. The tracking and illumination is as good. The zero stop is as good. For those that need the brightest scole because maybe their vision requires it or you're shooting at a mile or better, spend more money for sure. Out to 1000 yds, i didn't see enough difference to pay that much more. In your video, we did get your opinion but you didn't show us video through compared scopes, or compare tracking or other features. Pls show us what makes the others worth so much more. Those are just my comments.

[blazerbarrel]

If you can see the bullet impact and accurately move your reticle … what more do you need . If you can spend $2000.00 go ahead .
If $600.00 gets you into the game … for not much less performance .

[ertatta]

Rex was referring to the tracking of the turret system on the Arken’s. I never got the impression he was comparing the glass of the EP5 to $2k+ optics.

[makanaInthe]

I’m an Arken dealer as well here in Utah, I’m sponsoring PRS/NRL shooter Greg Hebert, he’s gonna run it on his 6 ARC, looking forward to his feedback and review. They have been selling like hot cakes, especially for the new shooters that want to get into the game, tested the tracking against my Schmidt and Bender, tracks just as well, but I do agree we do need actual videos of the performance, hopefully coming soon

[KevinWood]

I have to admit, at 1st I didn't like your videos (not sure why, I think bc you weren't filming thru the scope) but you have come to be one of the only people I truly trust in the optics community.

I 100% agree with you about this Arken because I think the Athlon Midas Tac is neck and neck with the Arken) but the degree to which the Arken is propped up youtube is insane!! I lost faith in Arken bc they come across as the new Vortex (buying good reviews from youtubers) I no longer believe ANYTHING I hear about the Arken!!

Thank you for being honest!!

I would really love to see you review some of the next tier scopes such as the Sightron SVIII and the Zeiss S3

Keep up the great work and honesty!!!

[rustynut]

To be fair I think TiborasaurusRex was referring to scopes that not to long ago (8 or 10 years) were $2000 and was not just talking about the glass, but tracking and robustness as well (the scope as a whole). At least that's how I took his video. The key word in your clip of him is "Was a couple thousand bucks" past tense and I'm pretty sure he mentioned at least once in his video how far scopes have come recently.

[brentnelson]

So, a $2000 scope is better than a $550 scope? Roger. That checks out.

[OregonBladez]

Thank you for the honest info a review. I purchased the Arken EP5 as I am just getting into long range bench shooting. I watched the video and many others about the EP5 as well as some other scope reviews. I am not naive enough to believe my scope is going to out preform any $2k scopes. But at the moment, it will out perform me and it gives me a decent budget scope for my budge rifle. If I find that long range shooting isn't for me, I have not dumped $2k into a scope I don't use. I love to reload and shoot, but due to a car accident, I cannot stand very long.

[ronmartblog]

In Rex’s detailed review vs the Viper and the EP5 he clearly says the glass on the EP5 is a 5 out of 10 for the glass, so I think his detailed review redeems his enthusiasm in his first thoughts video

[daviddubois]

Great review, I appreciate your honesty. I have an Arken SH4 Gen II that plan on using in NRL22 base class. I feel for the money, it is at the top of the pile as far as value goes. Does it compete with my Vortex Razor, not even close. The Vortex glass is much brighter and clearer. However, for my need to keep the rifle/scope cost below $1200 combined, the Arken does fit the bill perfectly. At the end of the day, I feel that Arken gives you a good scope for the money you paid, nothing more, nothing less. Keep up the great reviews!!

[dangerranger]

A breath of fresh air. I don’t know why people can’t accept that this is a great scope without becoming a runaway freight train and going off the rails about being better than 1500 dollar scopes.

[hulley]

I watched that video from Rex and I thought he said it was as good as $3000-4000 scopes from 5-10 years ago. That is still impressive, but not nearly as bold a statement that it is as good as modern top-tier scopes.

[gouldgibbonsiii]

You bring up a lot of good points, and I will never dispute anything you said. However, I have two SH4 Gen II 6-24x50 and two EP5 5-25x56. I have compared them to several Vortex models, Nightforce, Leupold, Bushnell, Primary Arms, Athlon, Tract, Hawke and others. ARKEN set out to build a very high quality precision rifle optic and keep it affordable for the average shooter, and you know what? They did just that! Their scopes WILL absolutely run neck and neck with the highest priced optics out there in any environment. As with any scope, there are some rather minor issues, but they are just that...MINOR, very minor. Lets face it, nothing is perfect. In this current economy and financial crisis, if one still has thousands of dollars sitting around to spend on an optic, then go right ahead. I am sure that person will not be disappointed with their chosen purchase, nor would I ever tell them that they made the wrong choice. But the rest of us can now spend $400 to $500 and lay right next to that same shooter at a long range match and shoot just a well or even better! ARKEN scopes are fantastic products and will perform way better than most shooters will ever demand or have the ability to actually see the difference. Heck, one of the best hunting scopes I have used and own is the Redfield Revolution made by Leuplod. It is very light weight, has super clear glass, very forgiving and easy to use eye box, great eye relief and the hold overs are dead on the money for the intended cartridges at max power. I spent $180 on it. Lets just say that one will not be disappointed with an ARKEN scope, but in the end, each shooter should buy what he/she wants and can afford. The old guide to optic purchasing of spending more on the optic than one has spent on the rifle does not hold true any longer...Enter ARKEN Optics. Try one! You wont regret it.