I agree. It is still a $550 scope, but it's a damn nice $550 scope. Remember the $500 scopes from 20 years ago (I.E. Leupold VX-3 level options)? Capped turrets, duplex reticles, max of 10 MILs of adjustment (for both directions), glass was so-so (good for 20 years ago, but Tasco level today)... Hell, I'll take a 2020 $550 scope over a 2002 $550 scope any day of the week.
I agree. It is still a $550 scope, but it's a damn nice $550 scope. Remember the $500 scopes from 20 years ago (I.E. Leupold VX-3 level options)? Capped turrets, duplex reticles, max of 10 MILs of adjustment (for both directions), glass was so-so (good for 20 years ago, but Tasco level today)... Hell, I'll take a 2020 $550 scope over a 2002 $550 scope any day of the week.
Agreed. I also think due to inflation, a lot of scopes out there aren't worth what they cost.
www.snipershide.com
Thank you sir, that thread was a shit show, man I would have been flaming ass mad if that would have happened to me, the first time, alright, but twice, I would probably have asked for my damn money back... But to be fair, I guess all optics can have flaws, even the 3800 plus optics...The one inside the scope
Top scope brand that costs 4k+ keeps cracking
About 3 months ago I bought top of the line scope. (I don’t want to use the manufactures name because they’ve been great). I mounted it on my 6.5 creedmoor with ARC m-brave mount, torqued to 49inch pounds. (It’s the fixit sticks limiter I had). I took it out to shoot for the second time and...
Getting closer... Hopefully mine will ship either end of this week, or early next week, and be here before the following weekend.
I think I need to order a 5-25x now, I was having issues picking up them 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" diamonds even at 16X 
I couldn't agree with you more on that part. Especially now after dealing with the EP5!!
The only bad thing I encountered is....
my eyes are shot
Contact Arken customer service. See if they will start making new ED eyes for us poor aging old bastards
....I'm seriously considering it, but I'm in no hurry and I can wait for their supply to "normalize" and hopefully become "In Stock". My testing the other day was basically to function validate the build, put rounds down the tube and zero the scope. Probably the biggest thing was I need to reposition the mount on the rail, just a bit too far forward and I get tunneling when I assume my natural cheek weld.
I heard rumor the MOA versions are shipping pretty fast. Apparently MIL is more popular, so it's more in-demand. That's why they're taking so long to ship. I'm a MIL guy, so i'm still waiting.
Awesome! Can't wait to see your results and hear your thoughts once you've had more time behind it out in the wild.
After seeing you got your confirmation, I’m just about ready to do that.@Gohring65 Man, if they're taking this long to ship, and they're this backlogged, I'd go ahead and get in line. It'll be over a month before you see it anyway. You'll have plenty of time to buy another, or figure out which gun to put it on.
I see that... On their website you can't even add it to cart anymore... Wonder why?
Did you hear any reason why they stopped? Were they having issues sourcing parts?
There was talk about it yesterday on the Arken forum by a few I assume tried to place orders & could not. No official reason , no word from Arken on the forum.I see that... On their website you can't even add it to cart anymore... Wonder why?
Good chance. Glad to hear yours is on the way finally! I'm extremely pleased with the SH4's I got. I still may order an EP5 once they catch up. Although I'd prefer it in a 50mm. I might just order 2 more SH4's instead. I'll see how it plays out.....
Yeah, I'm pretty relieved it's finally shipped. Been kind of bored, with no motivation to go the range lately. Been needing something new to tinker with. LOL
I'm terrible like that too. Constantly ordering shit I don't "need" so I got something new to shoot, sight in or install . #ThisIsWhyImBroke!
I've never been one to sell guns or high-end optics, but at this point, I'm considering selling a couple rifles that are brand new and never shot, that I've had for nearly a decade, that just take up space in the safe, and a few of my high-end scopes that don't have target turrets, just because I don't hardly hunt anymore, and I like to dial. And I want some new projects with nicer glass on them. Maybe it's a mid-life (35) crisis, but it is what it is...
Ironically, my .30-06 AI 40º is one that I'm considering breaking down and rebarreling into a semi-short action cartridge, but one that is better suited for a long action, maybe a .25x284 Norma...or .25x284 Blackjack. I have a brand new 26" Proof carbon .257 1:7.5" twist barrel blank sitting around needing to be used with the Blackjack 131 ACE and new Berger .257 135 Elites.
I've got everything I need for reloading except the patience to sit my ass down & do it lol.
Are you talking about the lens coatings marking up? Like fingerprints, or permanently? I keep Butler Creek caps on all my rifles and keep them closed at all times unless I'm shooting. When done, I pop them shut. Just habit after years of hunting in thick brush and woods.
No I’m speaking of the scope housing. It’s sort of has like a parkerized feel
Oh yeah, the scope finish is kind of weird. I did notice that as well. Reminded me a lot of the the top-end tactical scopes from 15-20 years ago, when scopes were just starting to get matte finishes for tactical reasons. They were the same way...Kind of a smooth matte finish, but still showed fingerprints. It's nice finish though...Very smooth matte, and laid-down very evenly. I'll give them that.
Yeah. I think for what it is, they are excellent scopes. Glass clarity is my favorite part.Oh yeah, the scope finish is kind of weird. I did notice that as well. Reminded me a lot of the the top-end tactical scopes from 15-20 years ago, when scopes were just starting to get matte finishes for tactical reasons. They were the same way...Kind of a smooth matte finish, but still showed fingerprints. It's nice finish though...Very smooth matte, and laid-down very evenly. I'll give them that.
Dude, you're entitled to your opinion but its obvious these Arken sh4's beat the overpriced "top tier" S&B's etc. hands down- in EVERY WAY! (Kidding-sort of, just poking the almighty scope lickers a little. Especially those short bus passengers calling it trash having never even fucking looked through one!Ok... I just went and read some of the early Arken threads, because it recommended them at the bottom of the screen... I just want to say, I totally get the hate now. Wow...
Having spent inordinate amounts of time behind high-end optics, and owning several $1,500+ scopes...And shooting through scopes all the way up to $11,000 Hensoldt's (not mine, some rich old guy that used to be a regular customer at the gun store)... Here's my take, versus what I was reading...
While these are phenomenal scopes for the money, and hell, even phenomenal scopes for twice the money... And while they may be as good, and in some cases, feel superior mechanically to some of the alpha-tier scopes (a lot of that, like turret feel, is matter of personal preference). But, folks comparing the glass to Razor G2's, Steiner M7's, ZCO, TT, USO, and Kahles... Come on...
Look, I'm the first person to tell you it's retarded to pay over $2,000 for a rifle scope, BUT... Facts are facts. The top-tier glass IS superior. Period. Is it $2,000, $3,000, or $4,000 superior? Not in my opinion, but NO optic on earth is, or ever will be, unless it's X-Ray vision. But there is a very noticeable difference, even between my $1,500 Zeiss 30mm FFP and my SH4 Gen2 scopes. So, I guarantee you there is a VERY noticeable difference between an SH4 Gen2 and a $4,000 ZCO or TT when comparing glass. Is the cost differentiation justifiable? That's a matter of bank account and personal opinion. I'm not going to tell anyone what to spend their money on, just like I respect folks doing the same for me. I started this thread and bought these scopes because I personally wanted to see what all the hype was about. And so far I'm pretty impressed for the money.
I'm not rich, but if I was, yeah, I'd probably run alpha-tier scopes on everything just because...Especially if I could afford some of these hunts people pay to go on...$4-5K for a scope is a drop in the bucket compared to that. Or, if one of those scopes was less than a month's pay for me. Right now, with the slow season, one of those scopes is over twice that...Tough times. Anyway... I totally understand now why they're so controversial and why all the hate.
) Arken are definitely a decent scope at a great price.
You saying that Arken's are the Jeff Gordon's of the scope world?
I just had two failures with the mount plate, I think it’s more of a design and material flaw. It’s a easy remedy, that if they fix, would be great rings. Just make the plate out of steel, like weaver, UTG pro, and several others. But I have two sets of broken rings. I warrantied one set, probably going to the other set, but I can’t put them on anything. I just lost confidence in them.You saying that Arken's are the Jeff Gordon's of the scope world?
What don't You like about the rings? I used their 20moa mounts on the 2 I've got mounted so far, seems pretty decent. I did buy a set of the Arken 1.26" rings in case I needed them for something else but haven't installed them on anything yet. Upon visual inspection, they seemed well made.
coulda saved $3500.00!
