-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Arken LPVO is out
- Thread starter Im2bent
- Start date
Looking at this scope with "fresh optics" it actually checks some good boxes...
1.A dual plane usable reticle at low power Whoops, it's all FFP. The horseshoe dot is odd that it looks unusable at low mag and too big at max power.
2. Low pro knobs since it's a BDC
3. Throw Lever & caps
4. $300
Fuck it. I'll try one.
1.
2. Low pro knobs since it's a BDC
3. Throw Lever & caps
4. $300
Fuck it. I'll try one.
Last edited:
Oh, the reticle looks dumb, but if the scope is mechanically sound, for $300...
I was going to run a Romeo4S. 14.5 pin/weld build
I’d probably go with the Primary Arms Nova 1-6. Not as precision oriented but daylight bright dot and does have some basic mil hashes.
I've been toying with the idea of a Burris RT-6 too.
I wanted to grab one of these to try it out and compare to a few lower end LPVO I have had kicking around lately and the NOVA reticle 1-6 from PA thats on its way here but GOD DAMN that reticle is fucking awful.
Come on Arken, make a model with a simple mil pattern. WTF is this monstrosity lol.
Come on Arken, make a model with a simple mil pattern. WTF is this monstrosity lol.
Last edited:
Would be better IMO if the kill box just did 30"X18" Waist to head/shoulders. Would clean it up a bit.
I got mine for the $315 shipped. Darn fine shooting in IN. They have two in stock as of last Wed.
It took me 4 months to get one (and there's currently a 6-week wait!).
Ask 10 different people what they think about a reticle and you'll get 20 different opinions.
I also thought Arken's BDC squiggles looked dumb when I first saw it. But after I actually tried using it I appreciated it. The vertical lines are useful because the shoulder estimation by itself is just too difficult to tell the difference between each 100y distance.
No, it's not as good as my friend's Nightforce F1 or Razor Gen3 but it's a 500 LPVO so base it on that. IMy thoughts after testing it against some other "budget" LPVOs.
#3gun #tactical #pewpew
Ask 10 different people what they think about a reticle and you'll get 20 different opinions.
I also thought Arken's BDC squiggles looked dumb when I first saw it. But after I actually tried using it I appreciated it. The vertical lines are useful because the shoulder estimation by itself is just too difficult to tell the difference between each 100y distance.
No, it's not as good as my friend's Nightforce F1 or Razor Gen3 but it's a 500 LPVO so base it on that. IMy thoughts after testing it against some other "budget" LPVOs.
#3gun #tactical #pewpew
That was a great video. Very well made and edited. To see if there is fisheye, one needs to move it around and observe the parallax, just FYI.
- The mag range direction is opposite all my other scopes. Muscle memory nightmare.
- The 1X reticle size looks ok for smoking a dude at 10ft, but MOA of BUS at 100yds.
- The BDC only looks usable starting at 6X, so again I say they should have made it SFP.
- Good on them for making the turret clicks audible and defined, but on a non dialing scope. A wash really
Maybe looking through it with my own eyes will alter these initial gripes.
Last edited:
I've definitely fucked off $300 in worse ways in which I have nothing to show for it!
And @gr8fuldoug's link gets it to you with no tax/delivery charge. I may have to wait for it, but I spent $299.99 OTD instead of $315. Used the 6 months no interest Affirm.I've definitely fucked off $300 in worse ways in which I have nothing to show for it!
Awesome. For the price of two craft beer pints more I get to play with it this week.
I'm still building the gun, so no hurry on my part. Looking forward to your impressions, though!Awesome. For the price of two craft beer pints more I get to play with it this week.
Thanks for that unboxing portion of the video. First one I ever enjoyed.
So, you are telling me that a scope designed by a Navy SEAL who has seen more action and is more attuned to the needs of quick target acquisition might know more than some guys who have shot PRS or fancy themselves PRS shooters on their farm?
Shutchomouf!
No, I am not a big Arken fan. In fact, I like a brand that is hated here more than Arken. However, I think this reticle has value. Which doesn't mean anything, I cannot afford a gucci purse, so, my opinion will not matter. Or, as I like to say, I had the right to remain silent, I did not have the ability.
A Quigley-Ford man, huh?
I just got mine in today and initial critique out the box: (Straight shooting, no dildo youtuber paid review)
My previous LPVOs have been:
Vortex Razor Gen II 1-8 (Japan)
Burris XTRII 1-8X24 (Japan)
Burris XTRII 1-8X28 (Philippines)
ACOG Marine RCO 4X32
ACOG 3X32?
EP8
Glass:
Is on par for Jap glass. Closer to Razor than the Burris even.
I am most impressed with the nearly zero parallax/distortion/walleye/ at CQB ranges of 10ft and beyond on 1X. I have heard this referenced as a true "1X" or "Flat" sight picture. Both Burris scopes were terrible on this. Razor had some issue IIRC. 10-15ft door frame was a fucking banana bend. EP8 is unreal great in this regard.
1X FOV is large. Larger than the Burris XTRII Jap scope.On Par with the Burris Philippines scope. Razor was the biggest FOV.
Edited to add: After mounting the scope to a rifle and evaluating, it's as big if not bigger FOV at 1X than the Vortex.
Build:
Fit & finish top notch. Satin type
Turrets low pro and overbuilt in quality, but a plus
Illumination knob is never going to get inadvertently knocked off setting. That dial is a beast to turn and it locks hard into each setting.
Mag dial is stereo smooth. Diopter focus stereo smooth
Electronics:
Illumination in snow covered landscape daytime is not "daytime bright" for sure. Highest setting I couldn't even tell it was illuminated. (That is a tough test most LPVOs would fail) Illumination only benefits indoor use. At max mag its of no use.
Pay $400 more and you get the shut off of illumination between clicks. (I personally like that feature)
Reticle:
1X useful indoors at illuminated 6-9 setting.
Illuminated indoors you can center on a bad guy in a hallway and you will win. Pretty much as by design.
There is a large gap of reticle uselessness between 2X and 5X. Meaning that if you aren't needing 1X and want more power to see the reticle, the reticle only comes back into play at 6X-8X to use the "Killbox".
Eyebox:
Not as generous as the Burris, and not as "blinking eye" as the Razor. However, that flat sight picture this EP8 has, I will forgive that.
I expected to see the same if not worse close range parallax/distortion/walleye sight picture on 1X with this EP8 and I actually said out loud, "Holy shit" with a smile on my face, when I didn't see those distortions.
8X at 1000yds only fell short in definition by a miniscule amount over my 2-10X Credo at 10X at 1000yds. So that is very good. (I could make out the metal roof corrugations better with the 2-10X Credo, but how many are going to shoot 1000yds with a 1-8/? LOL.
It's a sexy as motherfucker scope.
Personal gripes:
That reverse mag dial is going to screw with my muscle memory. I would think these Americans that send off a product design request would have thought this aspect through.
It's the same gripe I have with all FFP FPVOs. The full benefit of reticle is useless 2X-5X so why not have it visible at all powers if it's 1X then slam to 8X?
In Summary:
I like this thing 70% more than I don't. That 70% is well worth the $315 shipped price of admission. Take out my personal bias/gripes and the like ratio is "No brainer for $300!"
My previous LPVOs have been:
Vortex Razor Gen II 1-8 (Japan)
Burris XTRII 1-8X24 (Japan)
Burris XTRII 1-8X28 (Philippines)
ACOG Marine RCO 4X32
ACOG 3X32?
EP8
Glass:
Is on par for Jap glass. Closer to Razor than the Burris even.
I am most impressed with the nearly zero parallax/distortion/walleye/ at CQB ranges of 10ft and beyond on 1X. I have heard this referenced as a true "1X" or "Flat" sight picture. Both Burris scopes were terrible on this. Razor had some issue IIRC. 10-15ft door frame was a fucking banana bend. EP8 is unreal great in this regard.
1X FOV is large. Larger than the Burris XTRII Jap scope.
Edited to add: After mounting the scope to a rifle and evaluating, it's as big if not bigger FOV at 1X than the Vortex.
Build:
Fit & finish top notch. Satin type
Turrets low pro and overbuilt in quality, but a plus
Illumination knob is never going to get inadvertently knocked off setting. That dial is a beast to turn and it locks hard into each setting.
Mag dial is stereo smooth. Diopter focus stereo smooth
Electronics:
Illumination in snow covered landscape daytime is not "daytime bright" for sure. Highest setting I couldn't even tell it was illuminated. (That is a tough test most LPVOs would fail) Illumination only benefits indoor use. At max mag its of no use.
Pay $400 more and you get the shut off of illumination between clicks. (I personally like that feature)
Reticle:
1X useful indoors at illuminated 6-9 setting.
Illuminated indoors you can center on a bad guy in a hallway and you will win. Pretty much as by design.
There is a large gap of reticle uselessness between 2X and 5X. Meaning that if you aren't needing 1X and want more power to see the reticle, the reticle only comes back into play at 6X-8X to use the "Killbox".
Eyebox:
Not as generous as the Burris, and not as "blinking eye" as the Razor. However, that flat sight picture this EP8 has, I will forgive that.
I expected to see the same if not worse close range parallax/distortion/walleye sight picture on 1X with this EP8 and I actually said out loud, "Holy shit" with a smile on my face, when I didn't see those distortions.
8X at 1000yds only fell short in definition by a miniscule amount over my 2-10X Credo at 10X at 1000yds. So that is very good. (I could make out the metal roof corrugations better with the 2-10X Credo, but how many are going to shoot 1000yds with a 1-8/? LOL.
It's a sexy as motherfucker scope.
Personal gripes:
That reverse mag dial is going to screw with my muscle memory. I would think these Americans that send off a product design request would have thought this aspect through.
It's the same gripe I have with all FFP FPVOs. The full benefit of reticle is useless 2X-5X so why not have it visible at all powers if it's 1X then slam to 8X?
In Summary:
I like this thing 70% more than I don't. That 70% is well worth the $315 shipped price of admission. Take out my personal bias/gripes and the like ratio is "No brainer for $300!"
Last edited:
Feeling good about my purchase. Thanks for the review
This. “Killbox” is some retarded shit for an actual manufacturer to say about about a bunch of preschool penmanship drills that block the view through an LVPO.
Oh don't worry. It don't block the view. In fact, you can't even see the fucking shit, unless you are at 6X. It's FFP, not SFP.
Bro, I have argued tactics with Navy SEALs, seen SEALs argue tactics with other SEALs, learned shit from SEALs had SEALs learn shit from me. Currently meet with a SEAL on occasion to shoot pistols and to try to beat that little fucker with a pistol to no avail. SEALs I know always say, "A jack of all & a Master on None".
So, moral of the story, is that SEALs can differ in opinion like anybody else. Maybe Arken talked to a SEAL at SHOT show and now that scope is NAVY SEAL DESIGNED. LOL
1.3-1.5" Height will clear the Troy BUIS. You can go higher since you can QD rip off the scope that got fucked up.
"Actually," no.
The about page is easy to find.
About
We stand united in our passion to redefine the standard in optical precision. Together, we share a commitment to excellence that’s evident in every role, from advanced engineering to our customer-first service approach.
www.arkenopticsusa.com
OK, So even better, this SEAL is head shed. No Bias..."Actually," no.
The about page is easy to find.
About
We stand united in our passion to redefine the standard in optical precision. Together, we share a commitment to excellence that’s evident in every role, from advanced engineering to our customer-first service approach.
Got it delivered from CameraLandNY 2 weeks ago.
Here are my impressions and my experience is much less than most here.
I own a Meopta Optka6 1-6x24
A Bushnell Forge 3-24x56
A Bushnell Forge 1-8x30
In other words, I buy glass that punches above its price point, but it's crap compared to what most of you run.
The glass clarity on the EP 8 is the best of the bunch, as is the illumination.
The eye box (and I don't have it mounted yet), is the most finicky.
I thought the reticle would annoy me (my other scopes are simple German #4s). It doesn't. It's unobtrusive at lower magnification and easy to understand how to use quickly at higher magnification.
For $300 shipped, I'm glad I bought it.
At the $375 it's at now, it's still a good buy.
I'd still like recommendations for a sensibly priced QD mount. I'm currently leaning towards a Samson Mfg or Steiner's new QD mount.
Here are my impressions and my experience is much less than most here.
I own a Meopta Optka6 1-6x24
A Bushnell Forge 3-24x56
A Bushnell Forge 1-8x30
In other words, I buy glass that punches above its price point, but it's crap compared to what most of you run.
The glass clarity on the EP 8 is the best of the bunch, as is the illumination.
The eye box (and I don't have it mounted yet), is the most finicky.
I thought the reticle would annoy me (my other scopes are simple German #4s). It doesn't. It's unobtrusive at lower magnification and easy to understand how to use quickly at higher magnification.
For $300 shipped, I'm glad I bought it.
At the $375 it's at now, it's still a good buy.
I'd still like recommendations for a sensibly priced QD mount. I'm currently leaning towards a Samson Mfg or Steiner's new QD mount.
Sensibly priced would be a Warne QD
I do not but based on your review, I'll stand by Burris and the rt6 over your assessment. I've had two Arken scopes and loved them but for the price, RT6 all the way, not even a debate
I'll need to look at an RT6. I had an RT25 and was not impressed with build. Felt cheap. (I've owned 50 some Burris Scopes past 28yrs, so my opinion is particular to this RT25 model)
While I have my gripes about the EP8 features, as you read, this EP8 definitely does not feel cheap. If it doesn't shit out anytime soon, it's definitely worth every penny of $315.
Might want to check out @gr8fuldoug's Add to Cart price on the RT6 right now. I'm either getting a Steiner Predator 4 2.5-10 or a Delta Titanium 1.5-9 next. Have to pay off some holiday bills first.I'll need to look at an RT6. I had an RT25 and was not impressed with build. Felt cheap. (I've owned 50 some Burris Scopes past 28yrs, so my opinion is particular to this RT25 model)
While I have my gripes about the EP8 features, as you read, this EP8 definitely does not feel cheap. If it doesn't shit out anytime soon, it's definitely worth every penny of $315.
Similar threads
