Received an EP-5 5-25x56 in late March. Has been an outstanding scope.
Whatever springiness exists in one example, I have not seen in this and a few other of the earlier gens.
Most reviews will site the high quality of the clicks. Mine is great. I'd call Arken if it was an issue.
The rings. I chose the low (.094) rings, which would have worked for my rail and eye position.
BUT, the projecting gas purge plug protrudes so far below, I couldn't use those without notching the rail.
Not a big deal; the notch is barely visible, but I wish they'd mention that in their information page.
Two piece bases would make the plug issue irrelevant.
Now the fun part:
Did a test with this, a gen 2 Razor, and a current production S&B and Nightforce -all set to 20X.
This spanned a price range of $550.00 (Now $565.00) to around $5000.00.
Looked at high quality printed pages at 300 yards. Had all rifles on rests, with the scope bodies covered
in black cloth, so nothing but the rear focus ring was visible. The parallax knob was adjustable through the
cloth. Had a half dozen reasonably serious rifle shooters look through the assortment. One was a High Master, another a Distinguished Class High Power shooter, both from back when iron sights ruled.
None of the viewers had any idea what scopes they were looking through. Someone intimately familar with all the various reticles could probably figure it out, but that wasn't these guys.
The amazing part:
1. No one rated the S&B on top; A couple commented on the "dark ring" effect -"looking down a pipe".
2. The $3K Nightforce was rated slightly brighter, but not noticeably sharper in resolution in this test.
3. The Arken was rated equal, or "not enough to matter", to the others in overall image quality.
4. No one singled out eyebox/relief as an issue with any of them.
Clearly, a very limited test at close range. Other factors, mirage, etc., were not involved here.
Hope to do a similar test at 1000 and more yards at some point. Have a Gen 3 Razor to add to the fun.
RE: Chinese. The EP-5 is listed as having Japanese ED Glass.
So, instead of the nasty Chinese, I guess my money went to the nice folks who gave us Pearl Harbor and
the Bataan Death March. Irony Intended.
Whatever springiness exists in one example, I have not seen in this and a few other of the earlier gens.
Most reviews will site the high quality of the clicks. Mine is great. I'd call Arken if it was an issue.
The rings. I chose the low (.094) rings, which would have worked for my rail and eye position.
BUT, the projecting gas purge plug protrudes so far below, I couldn't use those without notching the rail.
Not a big deal; the notch is barely visible, but I wish they'd mention that in their information page.
Two piece bases would make the plug issue irrelevant.
Now the fun part:
Did a test with this, a gen 2 Razor, and a current production S&B and Nightforce -all set to 20X.
This spanned a price range of $550.00 (Now $565.00) to around $5000.00.
Looked at high quality printed pages at 300 yards. Had all rifles on rests, with the scope bodies covered
in black cloth, so nothing but the rear focus ring was visible. The parallax knob was adjustable through the
cloth. Had a half dozen reasonably serious rifle shooters look through the assortment. One was a High Master, another a Distinguished Class High Power shooter, both from back when iron sights ruled.
None of the viewers had any idea what scopes they were looking through. Someone intimately familar with all the various reticles could probably figure it out, but that wasn't these guys.
The amazing part:
1. No one rated the S&B on top; A couple commented on the "dark ring" effect -"looking down a pipe".
2. The $3K Nightforce was rated slightly brighter, but not noticeably sharper in resolution in this test.
3. The Arken was rated equal, or "not enough to matter", to the others in overall image quality.
4. No one singled out eyebox/relief as an issue with any of them.
Clearly, a very limited test at close range. Other factors, mirage, etc., were not involved here.
Hope to do a similar test at 1000 and more yards at some point. Have a Gen 3 Razor to add to the fun.
RE: Chinese. The EP-5 is listed as having Japanese ED Glass.
So, instead of the nasty Chinese, I guess my money went to the nice folks who gave us Pearl Harbor and
the Bataan Death March. Irony Intended.
Last edited:
