Talk me out of an Arken EP5 5-25X56mm FFP MIL VPR for my son

[GlockandRoll]

I have my old .308 savage and want to give it to him with an optic and don't think I can go wrong in the price range, but do not know anyone personally that has shot one. I've only read reviews and seen youtube vids. Does anyone here have experience with one?

EP5 5-25X56mm FFP MIL VPR Reticle

www.arkenopticsusa.com

 

[db2000]

All the reviews on here are full of folks experiences. Mostly positive with occasional QC issue, which Arken promptly exchanges the scope for a new one on their dime. The only negative is Chyna. It does have Japanese ED glass though.
If you can get past that, the EP5 is hands down better than anything in the current price and equal if not better to $700-$800 MSRP scopes.
Also, you will get your money back out of it if you don’t like it after using the 25%off deal.

 

[GlockandRoll]

I dont have a problem with China except for their electronics and software that spy on us.
For hardware, it is what it is.

 

[B y r o n]

I just took deliver of one in MOA the other day so no range time with it. I put it on a Ruger Precision Rimfire and went with their high ring and glad I did as their medium would not have allowed the end caps to clear the handguard. Power ring had some resistance but nothing objectionable with their throw lever installed. Turrets had clear and distinct clicks but nothing excessive as far as resistance which some have complained about. I look forward to using it at the range.

 

[db2000]

I just took deliver of one in MOA the other day so no range time with it. I put it on a Ruger Precision Rimfire and went with their high ring and glad I did as their medium would not have allowed the end caps to clear the handguard. Power ring had some resistance but nothing objectionable with their throw lever installed. Turrets had clear and distinct clicks but nothing excessive as far as resistance which some have complained about. I look forward to using it at the range.

I definitely use a throw lever on mine. I also is a parallax wheel, which makes it butter smooth and easy. You can get both from MKM and support small business. “Text10” will get you 10% off.

Arken Archives

Make sure to check out our Arken at low prices!. Our Arken are manufactured using cutting-edge technology and materials right here in the USA.

www.mkmachining.com

 

[celltech]

The worst thing about it is the 34mm tube and the extra ring expense and weight that comes with it. The glass is clear but can have a fair amount of CA if that bothers you. Turrets are firm, clicky (maybe too clicky??), and it tracks perfectly. For the money, especially with the 25% off, it's hard to say no.

But do you really need such a big, honking scope? I would also consider an Athlon Midas Tac...

 

[j741]

I may have missed it, but what is the 25% off deal?

 

[femadog]

I may have missed it, but what is the 25% off deal?

If you donated $10 to the SEAL foundation you got 25% off an EP5. Donation had to be in the cart with the scope and discount. I don't see the discount there anymore. I used the discount they have now a month ago ($170 off the complete accessory pack.) Makes the combo pack $25 for rings, scope level, zoom lever etc.

I have an EP5 in Mil and like it so far. Be aware that low rings won't clear a one piece base rail. there is a protusion on the bottom of the scope that hits so you can't level it (unless you grind off your base where it hits I guess)

 

[j741]

Looks like that is dead now. Added the donation and tried to use the code but its noted as invalid. Now the discount is $170 off when you buy scope + the $194 combo pack.

placing both the 1) optic of choice, and 2) Combo Pack of choice in cart. Then redeem code: NSF$170 during checkout. You save $170. We donate $10 to the Navy SEAL Foundation.

 

[Heavyopp]

Last week the 4x16 scope was not $289 was 400+ minus the 25% plus the $10 donation brought a 4x16 to $321 delivered I believe

the current, labor day pricing is much better

 

[femadog]

They have good deals on the SH4 sopes if that might work, Plus the $170 on the combo pack. Everything you need for $315........

 

[GlockandRoll]

Yeah, I noticed that. It makes even more sense considering I only paid $425 for the rifle 22 years ago, 3 years before he was born lol.

 

[K2e2vin]

But do you really need such a big, honking scope? I would also consider an Athlon Midas Tac...

I have the 5-25x56 Midas Tac and this past weekend my buddy and I were just comparing our scopes, but he was extremely impressed with the Midas. He owns an SH4 but I had the Cronus, Midas, EP5, and a PA GLX out there. First words out of his mouth when he looked through the Midas was "Holy shit." He said it didn't feel like you were looking through a scope at all.

For under 500yd, the value out of the EP5 is pretty hard to beat. It was noticeably sharper with a more forgiving eye box than the SH4.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Ok, just for an update here. I purchased the SH4 GEN2 4-16X50mm FFP MIL VPR.

SH4 GEN2 4-16X50mm FFP MIL VPR

www.arkenopticsusa.com

And, I've got to say, I'm astounded by what you get for the money. This is nothing short of shocking.
Honestly, if I were blindfolded, and you put this in my hand, I would think it was a $3K optic.
Likewise, if you put it in a box and I could only look through the reticle, I would still believe it was a high-end optic.

Now I can't wait to go shooting, which sadly will have to be next week as my son works all weekend!

 

[srt-4_uk]

Honestly, if I were blindfolded, and you put this in my hand, I would think it was a $3K optic.

Can you please expound on that. It "feels" like a $3k optic? What $3k optic do you feel it compares to?

 

[roberthu526]

I have 1 Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25 and 2 EP5 5-25. My own experience is they are pretty similar in terms of glass clarity. The EP5 eye box is more forgiving and the eye relief is also a tiny bit longer. The EP5 overall is more comfortable to shoot for those 2 reasons. But the Strike Eagle not bad by any means.
Price wise, the EP5 is 20%-30% cheaper than the Strike Eagle. For a trainer rifle that shoots no more than 500 yards, I think both are just fine which is why I have mine on 308 and 223.
I also have a Razor gen 3 6-36, ATACR 7-35 and a Mark 5HD 5-25. The EP5 is nowhere close to the glass quality to those guys. But if you don't shoot beyond 500 yards, I don't think it's worth the extra $2K to buy those advanced scopes. I think that's another reason I feel more comfortable shooting the EP5 and Strike Eagle because I don't really care if they get dinged or scratched. They are trainer scopes and I don't really care that much.

 

[GlockandRoll]

Can you please expound on that. It "feels" like a $3k optic? What $3k optic do you feel it compares to?

No, because you put parenthesis around it.

 

[GlockandRoll]

I have 1 Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25 and 2 EP5 5-25. My own experience is they are pretty similar in terms of glass clarity. The EP5 eye box is more forgiving and the eye relief is also a tiny bit longer. The EP5 overall is more comfortable to shoot for those 2 reasons. But the Strike Eagle not bad by any means.
Price wise, the EP5 is 20%-30% cheaper than the Strike Eagle. For a trainer rifle that shoots no more than 500 yards, I think both are just fine which is why I have mine on 308 and 223.
I also have a Razor gen 3 6-36, ATACR 7-35 and a Mark 5HD 5-25. The EP5 is nowhere close to the glass quality to those guys. But if you don't shoot beyond 500 yards, I don't think it's worth the extra $2K to buy those advanced scopes. I think that's another reason I feel more comfortable shooting the EP5 and Strike Eagle because I don't really care if they get dinged or scratched. They are trainer scopes and I don't really care that much.

I've looked through a lot of strike eagle and, for the most part, I think it's shit.
Sorry.

I'm glad I went with the 4-16, as I've always noticed people using too much magnification, and was tempted... but I avoided the temptation and it paid off big time.

And I've sent tens of thousands of rounds over half a mile going back almost twenty years and have used everything there is, just about, including S&B, Hensholdt, etc. Mk8, USO, NF, Kahles, all of it.

Put your eye through the Arken 4-16 and I think you will be surprised.
That's all.

 

[srt-4_uk]

No, because you put parenthesis around it.

I didn't put parentheses around anything? I just don't understand the comment. If you were blindfolded then you're not talking about the glass and you're talking about feel alone.

Or do you mean if the manufacturer label was covered that you might confuse it with a $3k optic? I'm genuinely curious.

 

[K2e2vin]

I've looked through a 4-16 SH4 and wasn't really impressed at all. I did just buy an EP5 but even then the SH4 owner thought the EP5 was better and the Athlon Midas TAC was better than both.

Though, this makes me think Arkens QC isn't quite up to par, because you may very well have a super nice example of the SH4, but there's others that quite aren't as good. That's the only thing I can think of given my own experience and consensus being all over the place.

 

[acudaowner]

why talk you out of it , decent scope at a reasonable price go figure . A 5x25 that's not 3k plus just to buy it . no no no don't but it pay 6x's more just to get a 5x25 lol you know you wanna shell out the money just on a name . best of luck hope your kid and you like it as much as we have our 6x24 .

 

[GlockandRoll]

I didn't put parentheses around anything? I just don't understand the comment. If you were blindfolded then you're not talking about the glass and you're talking about feel alone.

Or do you mean if the manufacturer label was covered that you might confuse it with a $3k optic? I'm genuinely curious.

Quotation marks, my bad.

 

[GlockandRoll]

why talk you out of it , decent scope at a reasonable price go figure . A 5x25 that's not 3k plus just to buy it . no no no don't but it pay 6x's more just to get a 5x25 lol you know you wanna shell out the money just on a name . best of luck hope your kid and you like it as much as we have our 6x24 .

The 4-16 is a better image to the eyes from what I've read.
I have a friend here in Austin that lives an hour away with a 5-25 so we will head to the range soon and compare them.

 

[GlockandRoll]

I've looked through a 4-16 SH4 and wasn't really impressed at all. I did just buy an EP5 but even then the SH4 owner thought the EP5 was better and the Athlon Midas TAC was better than both.

Though, this makes me think Arkens QC isn't quite up to par, because you may very well have a super nice example of the SH4, but there's others that quite aren't as good. That's the only thing I can think of given my own experience and consensus being all over the place.

All the reviews I've seen of the 4-16, especially showing the glass at long distance, are unanimous in saying it punches WAY above it's weight class.

Is this the best optic I own, no.
Is it a steal for the money, absolutely.

For $340 shipped with glass this bright and clear, as well as a mount and flip-up covers, it's a no-brainer for my son's 1st decent bolt gun and we can enjoy shooting together without him having to stress about having a $3500 optic as I have on my main bolt gun.

 

[z71rat]

For the price, there isn't anything out there that can touch them, IMHO! I have 4 SH4's, and 1 EP5 currently. Arken has super deals all the time, so that makes it extremely difficult to justify thousands of $$$$ for something that doesn't get you much more. Save the funds, buy ammo!!

 

[GlockandRoll]

For the price, there isn't anything out there that can touch them, IMHO! I have 4 SH4's, and 1 EP5 currently. Arken has super deals all the time, so that makes it extremely difficult to justify thousands of $$$$ for something that doesn't get you much more. Save the funds, buy ammo!!

yeah, I mean, $340 shipped with a mount, flips, and throw lever is really a no-brainer for a beginner.
20 years ago, I started with an SWFA 10x side focus on the very savage .308 I'm giving him.