Are Arken scopes actually good?

[GravelRider]

I've been recently looking into getting into longer range shooting, and have been looking into sub-$500 scopes. Arken keeps popping up, with a seemingly rabid following, especially on YouTube... But it's painfully obvious that most (all?) of these YouTube reviews are paid advertisements from Arken. Now, I understand that a new company spending money on marketing makes sense... But it'd be nice to have more honest reviews.

For those of you who have used these scopes, are they as good as the YouTubers would have me believe? Or just clever marketing?

 

[Megawatt maker]

Why risk it? Why, when for the same money, you can get a low end to lower middle grade Leupold that is well know to just work, and if it doesn't, they fix it pain free?

Of...the same money will get you a very very decent Vortex...with the same warranty..

Or even go with Athlon..which is an up a comer with an excellant (and growing) reputation.

Its your cash brother...but I'd let others "break the ice" on new and potentially overhyped brands

 

[GravelRider]

That's why I'm asking the question here. They offer a lot of features for the price point. I'm seeing if others here have broken the ice.

 

[redcon1]

I bought their 6x24x50 SH-4 Gen II based on the overwhelming number of positive reviews for it. I put it on my AR10. It replaced the old Nikon Monarch tactical 2.5x10. between the positive reviews and the price point, I felt like I couldn't say no. I like the zero stop better than the Vortex system. The turrets are pretty ginormous and have very positive clicks. It's FFP which doesn't really matter to me but is considered desirable and a higher end feature. The glass seems as clear or more clear than my Nikon, Vortex or Leupold. The magnification and focus adjustments are tight and require a bit of man strength to turn. It has an illuminated reticle. I like the on-off-on-off switching for the illumination so you don't have to turn the knob all the way back from your setting to off. off is always just one click away as is on. It is very very robust. It came with like $150 worth of free goodies including mounts, a bubble level, caps, a mag lever. I feel like it was a steal and the top end manufacturers are probably not real happy about Arken optics. At the price, I certainly felt like I couldn't go wrong.

 

[LoonWulf]

I have an sh4 G2 6-24 on my 6.5 target rifle.

The mechanicals on it are excellent, and the glass is better than average for the price range.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

This one looks interesting. Especially at the price for a FFP.
https://www.amazon.com/WestHunter-H...2R9BF/ref=dp_prsubs_2?pd_rd_i=B08T62R9BF&th=1

 

[greyling22]

I got to spend some time behind the 6-20x arken that runs about $400. The YouTube guy cyclops had it out at the range. (He's a nice guy)
Up to 16x or so it was great, but it the image degraded above that. And the eyebox is tight. I was talking him about that, and he said that is the price you pay for wide field of view.

 

[Walkalong]

It's going to be hard for me to pay $400 for an unknown to me Arken when the PST Gen II 3-15 is on sale for $550. And I really dislike a small eye box, although some people don't mind them.

When the Arken's were $100 off it was tempting to try one.

 

[LoonWulf]

Arken's were $100 off it was tempting to try one.

That's when I got mine I think I paid 320ish or something.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

YES, the ARKEN are GTG! I own 2 so far & I am really pleased. They are as good or better than scopes costing twice as much! I will be buying several more for a few other rifles of mine that'll benefit from the upgrade.

 

[redcon1]

It's going to be hard for me to pay $400 for an unknown to me Arken when the PST Gen II 3-15 is on sale for $550. And I really dislike a small eye box, although some people don't mind them.

When the Arken's were $100 off it was tempting to try one.

I have a 6x24 PST. I paid a grand for it several years ago. The Arken feels like maybe 25% more scope for half the price but I haven't taken it to the range yet so... Physically, it definitely is more scope as you san see. It is a large optic. The size of this thing is somewhat surprising, especially the turrets. It seems very "tank like". I really just wanted more magnification than my 2.5-10x Nikon was giving me. The reviews were compelling and for $500 with $150 in "free" accessories, the price was acceptable to me. I felt like I should get one just to sock away in the back of my safe if nothing else. I have also read some reviews that suggest that Vortex QC may be slipping on new scopes which seems possible given the rapid increase in demand for their products and the equally rapid expansion of their lineup since their debut in 2004. I figured that Arken, being a newcomer to the optic market (2019), has probably gone to extremes to ensure their quality is where they want it so as not to build a bad reputation right at their start and their lineup is far less extensive than Vortex so they can really focus on QC. I also suspect that their current modest prices will increase as their reputation grows.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

It seems very "tank like"

Lol, that they do! I think you could use as a defensive club, reinstall, and be right back on zero 1st shot. I especially love the large turrets because my 50 year old eyes can actually see them without reading glasses!!

 

[redcon1]

Lol, that they do! I think you could use as a defensive club, reinstall, and be right back on zero 1st shot. I especially love the large turrets because my 50 year old eyes can actually see them without reading glasses!!

Nice. I just got mine recently and haven't even had a chance to see how it does at the range. It's going to be a summer toy. All the youtubers seemed to think it was right on the money though. Has that been your experience? I'd be real tempted to buy another one if it tracks well.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

Nice. I just got mine recently and haven't even had a chance to see how it does at the range. It's going to be a summer toy. All the youtubers seemed to think it was right on the money though. Has that been your experience? I'd be real tempted to buy another one if it tracks well.

There are a couple good threads on another forum that rhymes with "hipers snide". I've had both mine out 5 or 6 trips to the range so far (only to 400 meters) & am very satisfied with the clarity & tracking. 1 replaced a Nikon M Tactical 800 bdc on my RPR 308. DEFINITELY brighter, clearer & better turrets. My 2nd one went on my Armalite AR10 T 308, replacing the Trijicon Accupoint TR23-2G i. Mil dot. The glass is NOT quite as good as the Trijicon, but I like the reticle & turrets much better. I'll either sell the Trijicon to fund a few more Arken's, or put it on a different rifle.

I'm dieing waiting for spring! Our groundhog hunting property gives us out to 1500+yards to shoot! I'll really get to stretch it out & have some fun

 

[redcon1]

There are a couple good threads on another forum that rhymes with "hipers snide". I've had both mine out 5 or 6 trips to the range so far (only to 400 meters) & am very satisfied with the clarity & tracking. 1 replaced a Nikon M Tactical 800 bdc on my RPR 308. DEFINITELY brighter, clearer & better turrets. My 2nd one went on my Armalite AR10 T 308, replacing the Trijicon Accupoint TR23-2G i. Mil dot. The glass is NOT quite as good as the Trijicon, but I like the reticle & turrets much better. I'll either sell the Trijicon to fund a few more Arken's, or put it on a different rifle.

I thought that was an Armalite AR10T. My Arken is on an older Armalite AR10T with the 24" barrel. I shot that penny in my avatar pic with that rifle at 80 yards in my backyard using a Nikon Monarch tactical 2.5x10x. I shot several of them in a row that day actually. That was with 42 grains of Varget and a 168 gr AMAX. I named the rifle "Penny Cutter" after that. I got the Arken scope for the increased magnification so I can see the penny at 100 yards. I want to shoot those pennies at a hundred yards. That's my summer agenda.

 

[Walkalong]

I have a 6x24 PST. I paid a grand for it several years ago. The Arken feels like maybe 25% more scope for half the price but I haven't taken it to the range yet so...

Yep, I had a PST Gen I, not a great scope glass wise, the Gen II is far superior.

I'd love to look through an Arken, but don't want to spend $400 just to look at one.

 

[redcon1]

Yep, I had a PST Gen I, not a great scope glass wise, the Gen II is far superior.

I'd love to look through an Arken, but don't want to spend $400 just to look at one.

This then brings up the question of glass. My understanding is that the glass is all coming out of China. I spent an hour or two researching this just last week and that's what it looks like to me. These optic companies don't like to discuss this though. I know Nikon makes/made their own lenses but they don't make scopes anymore. Like I said, I spent a couple of hours last week trying to find where Leupold gets their glass and I think it comes out of China. And that brings up the question of sand and silicon. I was "told" though no matter how much I look, I can't verify, that Japanese sand is optimal for optics. So I want to know where Leupold and Schmidt and Bender and Zeiss and Nightforce and Vortex and Arken are getting their glass.

 

[LoonWulf]

Yep, I had a PST Gen I, not a great scope glass wise, the Gen II is far superior.

I'd love to look through an Arken, but don't want to spend $400 just to look at one.

I can send you mine to play with for a while if you'd like, im pulling that rifle apart again, and the damn things too big to ride on any of my other guns...well besides ones that dont already have better optics.
Id honestly be interested to hear what you think of them.

Ive had mine out to about 1k, and really like using it.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

I thought that was an Armalite AR10T. My Arken is on an older Armalite AR10T with the 24" barrel. I shot that penny in my avatar pic with that rifle at 80 yards in my backyard using a Nikon Monarch tactical 2.5x10x. I shot several of them in a row that day actually. That was with 42 grains of Varget and a 168 gr AMAX. I named the rifle "Penny Cutter" after that. I got the Arken scope for the increased magnification so I can see the penny at 100 yards. I want to shoot those pennies at a hundred yards. That's my summer agenda.

My 10T was manufactured 2011. Has the factory 20" triple lapped match barrel. I use 9" paper plates for targets and trace a quater with fine Sharpie for a bullseye. Cake to hit it at 200yds with FGMM or PPU 168gr match ammo. Been destroying groundhogs with it out to 750 yards, it's accurate! Eventually I'll sit my impatient behind down & reload some good hunting ammo for it lol.

Shame Armalite quit making the 10T Target models....

 

[Megawatt maker]

This then brings up the question of glass. My understanding is that the glass is all coming out of China. I spent an hour or two researching this just last week and that's what it looks like to me. These optic companies don't like to discuss this though. I know Nikon makes/made their own lenses but they don't make scopes anymore. Like I said, I spent a couple of hours last week trying to find where Leupold gets their glass and I think it comes out of China. And that brings up the question of sand and silicon. I was "told" though no matter how much I look, I can't verify, that Japanese sand is optimal for optics. So I want to know where Leupold and Schmidt and Bender and Zeiss and Nightforce and Vortex and Arken are getting their their glass.

Lots of secrecy involved with that question. Most of the optic companies won't tell you.

Nikon did..because they made their own. Some German firms tell you...because its known to be the best on the planet..Valada tells you...German glass.

The Philippines is a source for glass also. But you can bet the bank...if they dont tell you...that means its China.

 

[redcon1]

But you can bet the bank...if they dont tell you...that means its China.

Bingo.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

This then brings up the question of glass. My understanding is that the glass is all coming out of China. I spent an hour or two researching this just last week and that's what it looks like to me. These optic companies don't like to discuss this though. I know Nikon makes/made their own lenses but they don't make scopes anymore. Like I said, I spent a couple of hours last week trying to find where Leupold gets their glass and I think it comes out of China. And that brings up the question of sand and silicon. I was "told" though no matter how much I look, I can't verify, that Japanese sand is optimal for optics. So I want to know where Leupold and Schmidt and Bender and Zeiss and Nightforce and Vortex and Arken are getting their glass.

The sh4 models use HD Chinese glass. The New EP5 models use HD Japanese glass.

 

[LoonWulf]

My impression is the actuall GLASS is usually china, or europe, not many other places it comes from. The processing and coating tho tends to vary by manufacturer and line.

The Riton X5 Ive got has "Japanese" glass assembled in china....Its nicer to look thru for sure, but id bet its the same glass with different/better process and coatings.

Actually that X5s glass compares favorably with my Meopta HTR, and my dads Sightron SIII LRT

 

[Megawatt maker]

I'm an industrial electrician by trade, and early in my apprenticeship I worked at a Corning glas plant that produced TV screens (back when they still used CRTs)...the engineers told me once the furnace was up and running (they called it the "tank") it had to stay running, because once it was shut down...it had to be rebuilt. Just the nature of a glass foundry.

There were just few plants like it world wide that made CRTs...this was so there were always orders to fill...and it kept the furnace and line running 24/7.

I suspect its the same for optical glass...its the same process to make it...only different chemicals introduce compared to TV glass.

My point is...while we would all love to have US made glass...Its logical to consider that the market for optical glass is pretty limited...hence only a few foundries are needed to meet the demand...and when ones puts environmental and labor costs into the mix...its easy to see how China could dominate the market.

I know at the beginning of World War 2...the US had a extremely serious shortage of optical glass. This handicapped our Tank gun sights, artillery...etc..because we were almost 100% dependant on imported German optical glass...and were we went to war with them..poof!

It wasn't until late 43 that we really had the bottleneck fixed, and learned how to make good glass...

Just something else to think about on this subject.

 

[CowboyTim]

This then brings up the question of glass. My understanding is that the glass is all coming out of China. I spent an hour or two researching this just last week and that's what it looks like to me. These optic companies don't like to discuss this though. I know Nikon makes/made their own lenses but they don't make scopes anymore. Like I said, I spent a couple of hours last week trying to find where Leupold gets their glass and I think it comes out of China. And that brings up the question of sand and silicon. I was "told" though no matter how much I look, I can't verify, that Japanese sand is optimal for optics. So I want to know where Leupold and Schmidt and Bender and Zeiss and Nightforce and Vortex and Arken are getting their glass.

Last I heard Meopta still makes most of it's glass in it's Czech factory. They were a supplier to Zeiss, don't know if they still are.