Arken Optics 4-16x50 EP4 | Honest Review and Test

You can check out this scope by clicking this affiliated link:
bit.ly/36xnMKg
Scope based used is a 34mm F3RMachine. 1.25 height Outstanding scope mounts:
f3rmachine.com/product/1-25-h...
An honest review of the EP4 scope. Tracking, reticle and test at 1K. This optic is awesome for under 700$!

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Check out Arken Optics using this link: bit.ly/36xnMKg

[@echosreloadingchamber7306]

Great honest Glass review. We'll be watching for more product review in the future Eagle, Echo.

[@TreeTopFlier]

Nice job Kenny. I was amazed at what you did to those turrets and still returned to zero. Impressive.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Thanks brother! Ya I totally abused this scope previously also. Even left it outside in the rain. Its holding up fairly well

[@unclejohn1053]

Kenny. As always, im amazazed how too do this stuff.

[@williamdodge7253]

Great Review... Helped me make up my mind on what I was considering. Thank you

[@FullLeadTaco]

Lol when you put both hands on the turrets and went nuts my jaw kinda dropped, ha ha. Way to give it a good test 👍

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Haha. I also thought about bringing out a mallet... hmm maybe next test scope? Lol

[@FullLeadTaco]

@@EagleEyeShooting lol

[@FullLeadTaco]

@@EagleEyeShooting what's their warranty like?

[@ElfstersRiflesandReloading]

cant sleep. up late. checking out some videos & love the vid! nice work man! editing is solid :)

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Thanks brother! Ya im forced up at night also lol

[@VaMike9]

I bought an Arken SH4 years ago and never could get the parallax to work past 150yds. I'm disappointed that they still haven't corrected this in their scopes after hearing all of our feedback. Thanks for your honesty review, folks need to know this info from reliable sources.

[@slugcatcher5558]

I just received my EP-4. You're right. They still haven't fixed it.

[@papaske3375]

Great practical review!

[@jh5869]

Good to see ya doing more scope stuff. Hope ya do a review for the SH4 soon. That one looks awesome. Thanks Buddy!

[@GhostRiderUSA]

I just ordered a SH4 from Kenny!

[@jh5869]

Ghost Rider I’m still saving, but I’m getting closer and excited.

[@jamess662]

I got a sh4 on my 6.5 grendel. It’s a very nice scope for the money. I liked it enough I ordered a EH4 6-24 for my 308.

[@bradleytyrrell4417]

Hi mate nice honest review I hope one day they will be sending these over here in Australia

[@tonygillahan]

Delta tactical has them atm mate

[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

Looks like it’s a good scope there Kenny , It certainly tracks well , hopefully they can sort out the parallex issue soon . Mate it looks to be a lot clearer than my Nightforce NXS 5.5x22x56 scope .

[@Leverguns50]

Looks like a decent scope, good shooting

[@mkcraghead]

So was the rifle canted or the scope. You can see it clearly at 5:34 into the video. You had taken a still shot of what you were seeing through the scope. I could see it before hand, but when you did the still was the clearest. Thanks for the review. It's always great to have someone review a product and give honest feedback before making a purchase sight unseen. Keep up the great work.

[@bigal7561]

Well done. Great review

[@ThecrazyScotsman]

Good honest review

[@ShowemRight]

Nice shooting, glass clarity, and tracks great too.

[@idahorodgersusmc]

Good looking scope review 👍 Nosler accubond👍 my fav bullit. But dang! That rifle looks sweet😁

[@EagleEyeShooting]

😉👍 Thanks brother!

[@bigal7561]

BTW. I bought 2 of these scopes after seeing this vid. I let Arken know. Thanks buddy

[@Scrizzapp]

Awesome review🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Thanks ScRAP!. Looking forward to using your beat next vid

[@Scrizzapp]

@@EagleEyeShooting heck yah bros🎶

[@jamespollard1670]

Good stuff

[@GhostRiderUSA]

Nice review Eagle eye!

[@dmoran65]

What did Arken say about the parallax issue when you taled to them, and did they address it for you since?

[@barryboyd7973]

About that parallex issue. If you go back and fine tune your diopter very carefully for reticle clarity you might find an improvement in your parallex. Something I picked up in a Rib Furlong class. Worth a try. I thought it improved the parallex matching the focus in my Delta Stryker.

[@josephhomen]

I 2nd

[@stevekiemele995]

I third that suggestion.

[@drd1924]

The Diopter should be adjusted for sharpest "RETICLE" clarity --- Not field image focus

[@tonygslc801]

Aah the ol' nipple twister test! Great review Kenny👍 Nice Shooting 👊😎🇺🇸

[@jimmymcg7081]

Picked up a SH4 6-24x50 this week, took it out today and it will not hold zero.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Im hearing some reports of that also. Ive had this EP4 and its been on everything from 50 bmg to 6 ARC

[@commonsense5709]

They are known to have bad QC issues. Good news is they send you a prepaid shipping return label so you aren't out of pocket for shipping. You have the option for a refund too which might be the wisest choice and get something else with better QC and is reliable such as a $500;Midas Tac or $700 Ares BTR which are also Chinese but I really believe they are hands down the best in class.

[@bigal7561]

How long is that barrel? I got the 6-24x50 and the 4-16x50. Both MOA because I can't do mill dot worth a crap. I love the FFP.

[@williebulletman5217]

Cool Kenny

[@robertobenejam5258]

How are you lapping your rifle barrels?

[@thewatcher9778]

the camera fainted when it saw you get all Mr Miyagi on that turret

[@josephhomen]

Bahaha

[@Mattytube18]

Also, who makes your stock?

[@angelcapote1218]

Very nice Kenny, where did you get that level on the scope. Thanks

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Hey brother, I made it myself. They are available forsale on my website DPGunworks com

[@shortkid8599]

Did Arken every get back to you on the paralax issue. It's not a huge problem imo, but im just curious.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

They have not. Its hard to get a hold of them

[@jillbluerei4806]

All the reviews talk about how great the turrets sound & feel, but do they adjust accurately??? One test I'd like to see, that no one seems to do is: zero the scope @ 200yds, shoot a reference group, dial the scope 2mil up & over, shoot a group, dial 2mil more up & over, shoot another, ... and so on. Really test accuracy of the elevation & windage adjustments.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Dialing up and shooting a group is pretty much just verification your rifle holds a group. If you think about the tracking aspect, as long as the rifle is held stationary at the set 100 meter distance for MRAD or 100 yards for MOA, filming the movement of the reticle in correlation to elevation adjustment is verification of tracking. The only reason one would shoot a group is to make sure the rifles recoil doesnt knock out tracking. In summary, tracking can be done without shooting. Verification of the scope reticle's sub tensions are spot on in comparison to dialing is something many "reviewers" don't verify.

[@jillbluerei4806]

@@EagleEyeShooting If you're primarily interested in target-shooting, sure. If you plan to do much hunting, then accuracy of the reticle/subtensions is key. Especially with such a new-comer, like Arken, testing their products to ensure quality is, well, just smart. That's why so many of us rely on reviewers like you to learn the strengths and weaknesses of different products.

[@scarter176]

Kenny, Arken ever get squared away with their issues ?

[@mikekupetsky6879]

I have never seen a scope that would not move if you Bob your head up and down this is why we keep a solid cheek weld it would do the same thing with a Schmidt and Bender

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Pretty much every modern day scope with a parallax adjustment that is properly adjusted to you locks in position even if moving your head. Simply try for yourself without touching the rifle. Adjust your parallax as you move your eye around the scope. Adjusting parallax is one of the most misunderstood concept in fundamentals. Even with cheek welds held down, adjusting positions like most hunters or PRS shooters do, with a misadjusted parallax, POI will change

[@EagleEyeShooting]

winchester.com/Blog/2017/10/understanding-and-correcting-parallax

[@lewisrice3741]

How do you get one they say 16 weeks before you get one I would like to have a 4×16×50 ,but I'm too impatient to wait 16 weeks for one.

[@kevincook5004]

There’s an Arken scope page on Facebook. You can find them very lightly used for a great price

[@laventadoralindog1576]

What kind of scope mount are you using sir?

[@EagleEyeShooting]

That is a F3RMACHINE scope mount. Outstanding mount for the price

[@wnield]

Do a comparison of leupold and vortex glass with the arken please that’s the only thing holding me back

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Will do! Waiting on the new EP4 6-24 to arrive.

[@brettwing737]

Question I have a vortex viper 4-16x44 scope I have taken out to 500 yards with success. Is this scope capable off distances like 1000 to 1250 yards. It's on a ruger precision rifle 6.5 creedmoor. Awesome content just subscribed

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Awesome thanks. In this video, I made impacts at 1K with a 308 and shared how much Elevation I had after zeroing

[@DerickPelser]

I like their scopes however I am concerned about their customer service as I have emailed them twice and even reached out via Facebook without any reply. Now I am questioning should I rather have purchased a vortex scope?!

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Ive heard many complain about that aswel. I too get delayed responses. Arken may have gotten a little overwhelmed hitting the market this hard. Mike and Mike I've met in person and definitely have a passion to provide outstanding scopes. IMO give them a little time and I forsee better customer service.

[@DerickPelser]

Eagle Eye Shooting I fully understand that they are experiencing delays. This is my 2nd scope I have purchased and acknowledged that it was on backorder when purchased. Other companies that I worked with in the past would have provide a status email and an update on their website explaining if you placed an order between x and y date then you can expect your order around this date and so on. Getting zero response is not acceptable.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

A simple response like you mentioned I agree. I appreciate sharing this 👍

[@commonsense5709]

Probably too overwhelmed with all of the warranty returns. I hope it gets better but they recently lowered all their prices across the board so I can imagine 100x more warranty claims with such a major boost in their sales.

[@allamerican5127]

IMPAC!!!

[@BigPom-fk8re]

wait time is 8-10 weeks... sending money to some company that is barely known :D

[@TheZrig]

Where on earth did you find this been looking for months

[@EagleEyeShooting]

They where more readily in stock when they first came out.... unfortunately they're struggling on getting these products in stock from overseas

[@richpryor9650]

How does it compare to a Bushnell Nitro?

[@commonsense5709]

Image quality is better on the Nitro. Turrets better on the Arken and adds a zero stop while the Nitro doesn't have a zero stop. You probably won't need to send the Nitro in for warranty though.

[@netsurfers9357]

Your problem is not with the scope as you need to tune the ParallaxSide Parallax Adjustment so that it doesn't give you any difference based on your eye movements into the scope. That is what the Parallax Adjustments are for.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Arken confirmed parallax was off track. It would not align past 700 yards

[@netsurfers9357]

@@EagleEyeShooting Thanks for the update as I plan on buying this one and know these are pretty decent!

[@Mattytube18]

Did you purchase or make the target? Thnx

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Measured and made the target. Im a custom rifle shop. The stock is modified walnut ADL. Check out our work at DPGunworks.com

[@Mattytube18]

Any suggestions on where to get a similar made target or instructions in how to make one? I’m pretty new to this, so I appreciate any advice.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

1 Mil at 100 yards = 3.6 inches ( 3" 19/32). Just duplicate your MRAD scopes subtentions on a white posterboard and see how it matches up at exactly 100 yards

[@Ericg3654]

I know this is an old video, but I have been looking for scopes and trying to decide on what to get. These arken videos keep popping up and they all have one thing in common, nobody has bought these scopes with their own money. Arken sent a bunch of scopes out to popular youtube channels. I don’t know how honest these videos really are 😐

[@commonsense5709]

Buy a $500 Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50 or $700 Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 you'll be much happier. Yes they are also Chinese but at least they are reliable and don't have QC issues. You are far less likely to need to send in either of these Athlons in for warranty compared to the Arken. The downside of the Arken scopes today is their sub standard glass and their very poor QC, I listed common and typical failures on another reply. The plus side of Arken is they "feel" rugged with a lot heft in them even though they have a very poor exterior finish that rubs off that don't look very appealing with included sunshades that doesn't match the scope color, their turrets are excellent and have easy to set zero stop and "feels" like a $1500 scope with terrible glass. IMHO all the cons outweigh the pros with Arken and I personally can't recommend buying this brand of scopes if you have to keep sending them in for warranty which is why I can't recommend Chinese scopes sold under the Vortex brand labels either. Many people don't understand how KZbin reviews actually work and often wonder why there's an overwhelming amount of nothing but positive reviews even when the products aren't as good as they say they are in their reviews. There's a commission paid to them fir each and every scope that sells by clicking their KZbin affiliate link that earns them money on their sleep called passive residual income. Who wouldn't want to earn an extra free 10 grand a month by shilling for a company by posting a very favorable tour review ONCE. Even if it's a sub standard mediocre product who could possibly pass up so much free commission each and every month and don't need to anything more for that KZbin video besides just answer to comments? If they are honest and post anything negative then they get paid less money since they don't help sell as many scopes thus less qualities sold less commission and if they are known to be too honest, no company will want to send them a free scope to do reviews on. They send free scopes to KZbin reviewers to post favorable reviews as advertisment fir the company. Who would want to post anything negative when they got it for free? I have some shooting buddies who were actually solicited by Element Optics to do favorable online reviews for and if they list a good review and want to keep the scopes they get to pay half price for them while some others were offered for totally free only if they would shill for then and state nothing but positives about the scope. Couple of my buddies already bought their Element scopes prior to being solicited by the company. They're not even great scopes to begin with for the money they charge. None if my buddies took the offer to shill for Element Optics and when they told me about it I told them why not get the free scopes they said they didn't feel they were worth what they paid. That's true honesty and integrity in my.y book. I did a comparison between the Element Helix and Athlon Midas Tac 6-24x50 with similar price points and the Helix had an awful eye box and image quality was just ok nothing to rave about and not clear at full magnification. Turrets with zero stop felt decent but the Midas Tac literally blew it away in total elevation travel 85moa vs 65moa. Image quality was night and day difference the Athlon was at least 2 levels up in glass quality and speaking of glass quality compared to the more expensive the Element Titan at 1.5x the cost of the Athlon Midas Tac didn't have as good glass either about one step down in level. When head to head with the Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 in the same price range the Ares was also superior to the Titan without the extra weight. Someone else compared the $1500 Element Nexus 5-20x50 to their $450 Arken EP5 specifically at 5-20x side by side and they were very close in image quality and there is a $1050 price difference and China vs Japan. I don't normally recommend buying Arken due to obvious QC issues but you can buy 2 EP5s for $900 just keep one for a spare if you have to get the other exchanged under warranty and still save $600 by not buying the Nexus. The $700 Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50 is also better than the Nexus when compared side by side specifically between 5-20x.

[@commonsense5709]

This guy no longer recommends buying Arken scopes. See his other Arken honest review on his channel. He is an Arken dealer who does not recommend buying Arkens due to poor ongoing QC and warranty issues. He himself had to send several Arken scopes in for warranty. I'd be "over" Arken too if I were him. I'm kind of itching to try the new EPL4s though Lololol ...

[@commonsense5709]

Check out X-RING on KZbin he did an Honest Arken SH4 review he is spot on when he stated the image quality got milky past 13x. He didn't get it for free to shill for the company, another shooter sent it to him to borrow to do a KZbin a review on.

[@commonsense5709]

Worse is the cheap Chinese scopes that have point if impact shifts when you adjust the ocular eye piece. Some have zero shifts just by putting the rifle in a gun case just with the eyepiece weight leaning against the foam.

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty1197]

The Tasco really, looks like like a copy of Cyclops video. . .tell me something I can use n

[@EagleEyeShooting]

A subscription to hooked on phonics. It may help you write a intelligent positive sentence..

[@henryhester1897]

$399

[@vieuxacadian9455]

why do shooters feel the need adjust dials on a zeroed scope with a tree style ret ?

[@carlosnavarrojr.6912]

I honestly think that it’s because youll at least be close enough on elevation to where you can do less hold over if you are off and i think that christmas tree can hurt your eyes trying to focus on the exact dot where your bullet hit. In a dangerous situation like in a real life fire fight, thats when you leave the turret alone and do quick hold overs using the reticle. So what I’m trying to say is, when you’re just sighting in and shooting for fun, the turrets are cool to use. But in a situation where every second counts if your going for center mass you can afford to be slightly off because chances are if you’re the guardian angel for your brothers getting close and personal with the bad guys, you need to be able to make quick corrections or your brothers can be killed especially by bad guys you can see they cant but the bad guys can see your brothers. Thats my honest theory I never served, never killed anyone nor have I been in any fire fights, just my educated guess.

[@carlosnavarrojr.6912]

Or if you’re hunting long range and are using a good suppressor and you take a retardedly stupid long range shot to impress your friends on a coyote or some kind of non game varmint and you miss but see exactly where the bullet hit on the christmas tree, just take a quick corrected follow up shot and watch wylie or slappy the squirrel take an eternal dirt nap and your friends hot girlfriend now wants to lick your little 2 inches of chaos.

[@maedatyson9143]

5:39 looks like broken glass in lower left side of reticle.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

What?. No dude, look again. Thats a near by sage brush

[@maedatyson9143]

yup you're right..great optic. i ordered it but 8-10 weeks out. super popular! @@EagleEyeShooting

[@ADN1996]

almost clicked the dislike button when you did the ole fire starter on the elevation turret... either way, good job.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

You would hate Joe Rhea Cyclops videos then... though he provides the best scope reviews

[@joesample3796]

Arenk makes good products - but the new line is FUBAR... been waiting OVER 3 months and nothing... 4-6 weeks on their website, contacted them - they say its 8-12 weeks... still nothing - no response from their customer support. Think twice before ordering from Arken!

[@joeldubose5762]

You dont know how to set parallax. You dont set it to make it clear, you set it to where it doesn't move around when you move your eye up and down side to side.

[@nicholaswestendorf1983]

what is it with all you youtube steel shooters saying "Impack", its "IMPACT", damn.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Why does little petty shiz like this bother you?....... Maybe it ain't "us steel shooters" that need evaluation. (Damn) 😄

[@nicholaswestendorf1983]

@@EagleEyeShooting Because its a sign of how ignorant the average person is today. Simple fuckin english, learn it.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

I speak 3 languages... English has the most ignorant ways of pronouncing words. I'm glad it annoys you😄🖕

[@rickytaylor4928]

Arken Optics WORST customer service I've ever experienced !! Buyer BEWARE

[@jacewilcox7333]

How so? I’m researching all I can to find stuff like this any insight?

[@falba1492]

🇨🇳NO MORE CHINESE SCOPES 🇨🇳!!!

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Many U.S. based rifle scope brands will import the scope components from outside the U.S, then assembly the scope at their facility in the United States, so the government mandated location of manufacture can and will say “made in the USA”. Keep in mind, that’s really only a half-truth as the scope components are sourced outside the USA.

[@falba1492]

Eagle Eye Shooting - Yes, I am fully aware of this. Zero Compromise assembles components from Germany/Austria, and Nightforce from Japan. I have no problem with this, especially since we do not manufacture the actual glass in the US for decades now. There are 70,000 dead Americans because of China’s 🇨🇳 Purposeful cover-up. You would not invite over the person responsible for killing your family, over to supper. I believe in free trade, and see nothing wrong with purchasing scopes from Japan, the Philippines or any of our European allies. But China is a completely different story.

[@falba1492]

Eagle Eye Shooting - Arken’s top of the line scope (Nexus) is made in Japan. Buy that if you will, but not the ones from China 🇨🇳. At one point the Chinese were threatening not to sell the United States components for the manufacturing of antibiotics. I feel sometimes this is like trying to explain the Second Amendment to a liberal Democrat. China wishes us ill, and we should not put coin in their pocket.

[@EagleEyeShooting]

This channel doesn't do political bitching.. its a waste of time to bitch about. Actions speak. If your looking for a political bitch debate, go bring that crap to the Yankee Marshal's channel. Wanna learn about long range shooting and what works? I can help

[@rodneydockter7380]

@@falba1492 you better get rid of your electronics and vehicle then, that's where most parts are made!!!