$200 Scope vs. $3,000 Scope
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2024
- In this video, I compare 3 rifle scopes ranging from $200 through $3,000.
Arken LH4: bit.ly/3OVXgmG (Code "texasplinking" saves 25%)
Blackhound: www.blackhoundoptics.com/?ref... (Code"texasplinking" 15% off)
Vortex Razor: amzn.to/3IbGe04 - บันเทิง
In this video, I compare 3 rifle scopes ranging from $200 through $3,000.
Arken LH4: bit.ly/3OVXgmG (Code "texasplinking" saves 25%)
Blackhound: www.blackhoundoptics.com/?ref=texasplinking (Code"texasplinking" 15% off)
Vortex Razor: amzn.to/3IbGe04
While I appreciate the review on the glass, could you please do a tracking test on the lower budget options vs the higher budget ones?
I'm curious to see if the lower end optics track as well as higher end scopes.
Id like to see tracking test and drop test for zero retention. Like the rokslide scope reviews.
Brandon, How much you charge if I use code “TexasPlinking” to come shoot at your range?
@@Schneeef yes!! This is what im talking about!😂
Can’t wait to see a video on the prisms that can get you out to 2miles. Like what the Canadian snipers used for the longest confirmed killed.
Great performance for a budget optic. I’ve been scoping out a primary arms 4-14 FFP scope for $300 with a good feature set. Great video as always
Yup I got that scope 7 or 8 years ago when they still offered a mil BDC tree reticle. Honestly was pretty damn happy with it. I got consistent hits out to 850 with it on a savage 110. 1k was a little more challenging.
My immediate reaction watching this video is your mic. Watching the wind go across your shirt and almost completely no wind noise? I'm sold! I've watched plenty of standalone mic reviews, but this real world (unintentional) review of your mic is awesome! LOL. I can't read the brand from my phone. Would you mind leaving the make and model please?
looks like DJI brand
Looks like the DJI MIC. I use the same one and it's great.
It's a 419
That's the DJI mic 2. It's the new model.
Better get the Hollyland Lark Max - trust me - waaaaaaaaaaaaay better and even easier to use
Because of one of your videos and a review from TiborasaurusRex a few years ago I bought an Arken Optics EP-5. I put it on my PSA AR-10 in .308. Nothing but ear to ear grins from day one! I can’t thank you enough bro! Incredible glass and full of incredible features for $500.
I did exactly the same and same result. I am less than 1k in that whole rig (including a cassette trigger that is awesome) and it is my most enjoyable rifle.
Yeah! PA-10 GANG GANG! 😂 mine has been awesome for 3k rounds now. Toolcraft makes an awesome dual ejector BCG upgrade for 135$ I also added a POF roller cam pin 🎉
@@mobilegamersunite Awesome! I'm getting 1/4 MOA but that's at a 100 yards. Hard to find an outdoor range here in NC that goes much beyond that unless you want to spend $$$ on a private gun club. I put on an Ultradyne Apollo Max muzzle brake. Gun go BIG BANG - pisses off the guys at the range but I truly don't care...lol. I am determined to find a range that goes out to 1000 yards so I can start shooting out Texas Plinking's 1000 yard challenge has me motivated - my favorite series on any channel!
@diodeone1 I have the same range problem in Michigan. I have a long range but it's far away from my house and I'm always stuck at work...the only range I have time for is only 100 yard indoor range. I'm working on setting my rifles up so I can take full advantage of some private property out here when I go on vacation. I just got a Armalite TAC16 308 I'm setting up for "run and gun" my PA-10 is set up as a bipod rifle with a FAB quick deploy bipod handgrip. I made the gun to shoot from a squat or prone position. I review most of this stuff in my Armory Playlist ▶️
Stuff like Arken at $300-$500 is better than what we payed $1000 just a few years ago. Now unless you're a serious competitor, using it for serious social purposes, or just feel compelled to drop a mortgage payment on one spending money on these uber expensive optics seems a fool's errand because diminishing return comes on quicker nowadays. I have a NF NXS on my 338 Lapua and I love it. But it's definitely not 4-5x better than the Arken EP5 I keep on my 6.5 CM or the SH4 in my NRL 22 rig.
This. I mean I'm not well read on optics enough to know but like Leopold feels like they have been hurt most. NF and others in the price point were always that top tier option from what I could tell.
@@christianarrington6492 I can see Leupold having issues with the new budget stuff. Their budget tier stuff is not on the same field as the new budget stuff out there. Basically decent hunting scopes and that is about it. I still can see the big boys taking a few losses because until recently to get the higher priced features you had to buy the higher priced stuff. I love my NF but I'm not running to spend $2k+ when I don't need to anymore.
Arken are very good rifles. I wish they would make a series for more hunting rather than long-range shooting
Except when it comes to customer service. Arken is the worst
3000$ is nothing
Fantastic info and helpful, always enjoy, thanks
I run a mark 5 7x35 leupold on my Christensen mpr. I have a mark 3hd on rem700 i have leupold rds and patrol lpvo on ars. I’m a huge leupold fan but after trying them. My ar10 hog gun my wife’s 22-250 and few other rifles i have primary arms optics on them and I must admit I’ve very very proud of them and the quality is outstanding.
There’s so many choices in scopes now , thanks for the video
I don’t consider scopes until C_Does gets ahold of them.
1000% percent
Yup
I've got a Primary Arms SLx 3-18x50 FFP on my 6.5cm and its comfortably taken me out to and a bit beyond 1000yards. It has illum. and is easy to "reset" my turrets at zero. It was I think 400 bucks for me? I definitely recommend.
Vortex diamondback tactical 4-16 has been fantastic. Also Primary arms has so many options for less than 1000 bucks and they are amazing.
My vortex db tactical has been great with great customer service. I got it used and it broke within a year and vortex sent me a new one.
Primary arms SLX 4-16x44 for $300 is almost exactly the same as the Arken. Purely user choice since they have different reticles.
My wife got me the 6-24 for christmas. Ready to sight it in im excited
Hey this is a very helpful video. Thanks for making it!!
Vortex, Prmary Arms, Arken all give great value for the money in their budget lines.
A Vortex VIPER,.. PST Gen One, 6x-24x-50 is working, FINE for , Me !
$400- $500 depending on Reticle and,.. SFP or, FFP GREAT, "Deal" for, us average Folks.
Razors are real Nice,.. but LOTS more Money !
@@douglash.8862 yah I got a vortex diamondback tactical 4-16 a couple years ago for $200. I eventually had it break and vortex replaced it immediately.
I got a hawke for 250 that is excellent
Excellent comparison video. I haven't seen anybody else put this subject to rest. I have Four of their scopes EP-8 1-8x28 LPVO FFP Illuminated Reticle - 34 mm, $399 X2, EP-5 5-25X56 FFP Illuminated Reticle with Zero Stop - 34mm Tube $529, and SH4 6-24X50 GEN2 FFP VPR Illuminated Reticle with Zero Stop - 34mm Tube $339. I also bought their mounts, bubbles... But just haven't had the time to mount them on my rifles. One last scope I am going to buy from them is their night thermal scope with range finder: ZULUS HD 5-20R Day/Night Digital With Laser Rangefinder And Ballistic Calculator which retails for $933 minus 25% off $699.
Solid overviews thanks. Maven does DTC with price points similar to blackhound. Thanks again! Cheers
The same day that you head to sporting clays with your new Perazzi or Krieghoff a 16 year old will show up and smoke you with a Remington 870 😂
No.
That is always possible.
My son won second place at our state trap meet with 49/50 rock. He did tbis with an off the shelf Mossberg 500 12 guage.
He was beat out by a kid shooting his Dad's old Savage single barrel with 50/50 rocks hit.
They were both competing against youths shooting expensive, dedicated trap/skeet shotguns! 15:25 g@@carlosalessandrini117
@@carlosalessandrini117yes, actually. You can’t buy skill.
@@carlosalessandrini117 Trust me, they will
Being young and new helps with energy and motivation and if you're actually intersted in something, you'll learn more and more about the topic. Those, who start young, will see plenty of success if they can keep up the motivation and interest.
I could outshoot my dad with a pistol when I was a kid, because I would constantly think of ways to improve, I would learn and I would dry fire when I couldn't shoot.
So yes, a 16 year old probably can and will outshoot a tired, stressed adult, who practices way less and focuses on irrelevant stuff
Cyclops review sold me on arkon, love it.
Most people can't shoot as well as their equipment. I've got several Arken scopes and I'm very happy with them.
Facts. And they won't put in the work for them to improve. It's like the guy who puts a dot on a pistol and claims it makes them a better shooter. Ask them to present from a holster and see how good they actually are. Usually it's a hot mess.
@@bmstylee Agreed. What I have learned is that the error in order from highest to lowest is:
#1 shooter
#2 ammo
#3 rifle (and gear)
If you're not having fun with a $300 scope, a $3000 one won't change that.
Love my two Arken scoops!
Le's all just appreciate your mic working so well in that 162mph wind.Good work.
No kidding!
Purchases two of the arken with the Japanese glass. They work great to 1000 yards no complaints. Liked it better than my vortex that was closer to 1k. The only issue I'd wonder about is their return policy. Vortex has amazing support.
Great video. Appreciate this honest advice to get what you can afford and it will get you there for the average shooter. Always heard the “spend as much on the optic as the rifle” adage and it seems unnecessary these days with the advances in optics.
Another Great Video Brandon 💯 Thanks for Sharing💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Great job Brandon👍
Great video. While I tend to lean toward the higher end optics, I have had very good luck with Vortex and the have a great warranty.
Excellent Information here. Well done.
I've had one on my 2nd gen scar 17 308. and had no issues holding zero. Tibrex thank you
I was wondering about the cheaper arken option, very glad to see this video
Great show and thanks for the info 👍👍👍👌👌👌😁
I've seen lots of reviews on the EP-5 and have heard nothing but good. I may have to get one just because of the price. I have a handful of NF and Vortex scopes on various rifles and they have never let me down but the Arken is inexpensive enough to allow taking a chance on it.
I'm a big Primary Arms shill, I've got optics from their SLX, GLX, and PLX line and I enjoy using every one of them. The PLX in particular really represents some nice value on the mid-high end.
Their reticle is the best, glass quality on the SLX line is not good, but usable. I like their weight and form factor though, they need to have a PLX line for their micro prism scopes.
The firearms game has changed a lot in the past 15 years. The budget side of things has really stepped up its game and i’m glad i’m here for it…
It's definitely the best of times right now. Sadly there is significantly more gimmicky junk floating around as well so buyer beware. I compare it to the home gym industry. Those of us who play in that area have a lot of cool stuff and companies other than Rogue, Sorinex, Elite FTS making awesome gear. But there is significantly more garbage than when I build my setup 5 years ago.
@@bmstylee yeah, i agree, u gotta dig through the weeds to find the gems but at least they’re there
I have been using Mosntrum on my non-serious rifles and it does the job.
i do love my chinesium flashlight/laser combos for 70 bucks
When I got into deer hunting as a kid 30 years ago, a budget scope (around $100 back then) kinda sucked. You could still kill a deer with one but the glass would be cloudy, especially after some use in the field. And the zero would sometimes move. It's nice that we can buy affordable optics now and they are actually pretty good.
Great videos!
it will be amazing to see this kind of comparison, but shooting paper at 200/300 meters, with the same rifle, same ammo, and the 3 different optics. It will be nice to understand if there's any difference there!
Fortunately I took advantage of picking up a Nikon P223 BDC for my AR15 and a Nikon P308 BDC for my AM10 before they were discontinued. Both were right at $200, had excellent optics and coatings allowing 98% light transfer, lots of windage and elevation adjustment (100 MOA for the P223 and 60 MOA for the P308), and turrets resettable to zero. Only things they're lacking is zero stop and they're not first focal plane but I can live with that for their price range. The BDC on the P308 is Nikon’s popular BDC 800 reticle was specifically engineered for the 168-grain HBT Match bullet at 2,680 fps but their app allows you to plug in just about every bullet made for the .308/7.62 and atmospheric condition to give you the altered hold at the distance you are shooting. Same with the P223. I don't know why Nikon stopped making these excellent scopes but I'd guess they weren't making much money on them at that price point.
Talking about great optics while showing off the Terry Black's shirt, now I'm really jealous. Need to find me some property there so I can move and set up my own range AND have good BBQ
Enjoyed your video.
It would have been nice if you added a tracking test and tall target test on all those scopes.
A Panzer 1-10x is amazing for the money. Its my default scope now that i can throw away if i want. Its the same as a 2400$ vortex. For the 1500$+ you better get thermal IMO
I have a EP5 from Akren Optics and I have the Razor Gen III 6x36x56 as well. EP5 is on my 308/6.5 AR10 and my Razor is on my 7PRC/300PRC/300 Norma Mag Bolt Action Rifle
Do you switch the scopes to those different rifles or do you have that many? Like the ep5, do you have one on the .308 and one on the 6.5?
I have the vortex gen 2 and it's an amazing scope. LEO discount makes it much nicer too lol. Love the razor as the glass quality at distance is so good. The scope is more robust and has a thicker construction etc. I got the scope for long range shooting, hunting and I would like to get into competition with it.
If I was just hunting or plinking targets I would get a 500-$1000 optic. No need to get a razor or similar scope.
Cheap optics still work. Have a $150 nikon on my 20 gauge that is 20 years old. Has moisture in it now, but it still holds zero and can still see through it enough to make it ethical. It's only seen 40-60 yard shots anyways. My 22-250 has a $220 Simmons scope on it. Groups we'll, glass isn't horrible and it works.
Depends on what you want, but now days you can get a lot on a cheap scope!
Thank you 😊
Nice of Vortex to casually increase the MSRP of their Razor Gen III 6-36x56 from $2999 to $4799 within a week without making any changes to their product 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Not related to scopes, but video idea -- think you could one day do a 1000 yard (plus) challenge with various Influencers/TH-camrs competing like Clark Shooter, Impact Shooting w/Piet, 9 Hole Reviews, Mountains-Mullets-Merica again, etc.?
Even if for charity or something. A lot of the AR channels get other influencers on all the time having fun together, but rarely if ever do I see the same for long distance precision.
It would be awesome!
I have a arken ep5 and I love it. I'm a new shooter of long range.so I probably not the best person to ask. But I'm glad I got it.
Good review. Just curious about the parallax "clicks"? Don't think I've heard of that before. Can you confirm that as a feature or a concern?
Really been debating on an epl4. Got a ep4 original release but with the newer L being about a pound lighter with center illumination, might be worth the upgrade to lighten up my HMR 300prc rifle, heavy beast
Have you tried US Optics, Nightforce or March scopes (8-80) ? I'm referring to NightForce Competition scope (15-55) with the DDR-2 reticle, my forvorite!!!
You should have talked about the differences of eye relief and amount of MOA adjustment each scope offers
I wonder where my Sightron lies. I bought the old Sightron SIII 10x fixed mil-dot hash, made in Japan, Japanese glass, no chromatic aberration that I can see.. I got it for $300 on clearance on Midway since they stopped making that particular model. I was waiting for the Leupold M3 Ultra 10x to go down in price from $1200 and it never did. I feel like this scope is actually just as good... now both are discontinued.
Have you ever had any experience with Monstrum optics? I have a few and been very pleased with them. Very budget minded optics.
Primary arms is probably the best benchmark for optics. Anything they make is about a quarter of the price as their competitors with the same or better quality. The $400 1-6 raptor is one of my favorites (best eye box and great Chevron,). There is a 1-10 that is about 1000 bucks. And they just recently they came out with a $330 1 -6 nova that uses a fiber optic set up for the red dot in the center. The Chevron set up is in most of their scopes. Primary arms have the best price point and are the standard and when it comes to diminishing returns. Pretty much getting anything from them is going to be almost a half or quarter the price as their competitors at the same quality.
i work at sportsmans wearhouse and have earned some free scopes from rewards programs, id say best band for buck ffp scope ive received was a sig whiskey 4 5 to 20x50, had locking turrents and lit up reticle for around 450 to 550 reg retail
I have a fire field on my ar10 it was 100$ I put it on my rifle because it’s what I had laying around. It’s been on it for a year now tbh it’s a 2nd focal plane but other than that it does the job
6:55 Cheapest you can get one is $2,450 for a black color Razor G3 6-36x56 from EuroOptic.
Also it'd be cool if you did a low-light component to looking at the differences in the optical quality. Those differences will be more noticeable in low-light performance.
Eurooptic is one of the best kept secrets. Every optic is cheaper there. Got my RMRs there because it was hands down the cheapest anywhere.
Should have been interesting to see tracking test to 100, how true is 1mil, 2mill etc on the turrets and then back to zero from both directions to see if the poi shifts from turning the knobs? And range of elevation adjustment?
I never heard of Blackhound Optics till now. Japanese made too. Interesting. You gave me something to think about. What do you think about a Vortex Venom 5-25x56, or a Strike Eagle 5-25x56 on a Ruger 338 lapua magnum?
what's the breakdown Texas Plinking on the rifle. It's looks good. with the silencer
I’ve used a 3k Vortex scope and when I look through the Arken EP5, I can see a difference but really not that much. The question is, is that difference worth 2k-2.5k to you? It might be but Arkens really are amazing scopes for the majority of folks who can’t drop that money easily.
You might want to look at benchrest scopes with the 10-50x zoom. Most hunters never need more than 16x as groundhogs vanish in a 12x scope at 500 yards.
I got my first optic when I was 18, $100 truglo. It holds zero and it works. Still use it on some rifles, even holds up to 308 surprisingly. Covered turrets (it matters to me) basic cross hair and no illumination, bare bones basic but does what it needs to.
Unless the scope has some sort of major fault such as loss of zero or unable to handle recoil or has a necessary feature missing, the difference is usually a factor of 10 for price/quality. You'll spend 10x to get a 10% improvement on glass or the like.
How long are your discount codes good for? I use my monthly bonus check for stuff like this and have missed good deals.
The difference in glass quality gets more pronounced as lighting conditions become more questionable. That Arken $200 FFP scope is almost a no loose proposition. If it's total trash, put it on a .22! I'm tempted to pick one up.
Now you have to do some Primary Arms videos. You did it to yourself 😎
Zeiss had their med to high LRP3 scopes for under $2000 during black friday last year, that quality of glass, even at max Zoom, will blow both Arken and Vortex out of the water and the planet. Not even close, I went to Scheels to compare all of the expensive optics, and Zeiss was the best and it wasn't even close, especially at max zoom.
I still need to get a arken ep5 for my 6.5 creed ar10. Everything ive heard and seen they are amazing for the price. My vortex razor hd's im getting for $2400 from Govx which is definitely the cheapest ive seen. I did get one of my gen3 from dvor for $2500 when govx was out of stock on the mils. So you can find then cheaper then $2700 or $3000. So when i get the arken ep5 ill definitely be putting it through its paces against the vortex razor.
Gotta get a primary arms arken comparisons with like a red dot, prism/lpvo, and a long scope.
Their stuff is basically the same as everyone else. It's the retical that makes the difference. My OG ACSS in their 1-6x might be the most useful design I've used. Ranging, BDC, wind holds all in the reticle.
From someone that has used everything from a Vortex crossfire to Tangent Theta take my advice. Save your money the top of you budget and buy once cry once. Do not go down the "budget" scope rabbit hole. By the time you're done you'll find out you could of just been patient and got something in the upper class after saving within your budget.
100% agree. And always remember spend the money on the scope because you can always upgrade the rifle and use the same scope.
@@yuccaman3545precisely why I don't listen to the "over scoped" nonsense. You buy the best you can afford and use a high quality QD mount.
You don't have to ever tolerate using inferior optics again on any rifle you own. You also build up a good deal of experience with that scope and reticle.
But how are you going to grow your collection of crappy scopes to give to the nephews?
@@blackhawk7r221 You don't. You tell them moochers to get their own @#$&
This 100%, it took me several months of saving and not let the temptation of “ iTs JuSt As GuUd” to rush completion of my AR-10 .308 and was finally able to get a NF NX8 2.5-20 FFP Mil-C reticle and I am sooo glad I did, my eyes aren’t the greatest as I’m getting older and the quality of the glass cannot be matched at longer distance with parallex adjustments from 11yds to infinity, the edge to edge clarity stays constant, it has a comfortable eye box and FOV throughout the magnification ranges, its built like a tank and customer service if ever needed I’ve heard is great, I’m sure it’ll outlast me and likely even my sons who will get it when I croak lol, I am now 100% onboard with buy once cry once!!
The rule of thumb I was told decades ago was your optic should be double the cost of your rifle. Simple reason was most people can’t shoot to the capability of their rifle. Until that point spend your money on ammo and training. It’s nice to finally have really good optics at a reasonable price.
Who invented this rule of thumb? The optics companies ?
@@Noscrap909 wish I had that answer for you, just the rule of thumb I’ve been hearing for decades
I think decades ago is the exact reason why this rule of thumb was used. There weren't many companies making quality mid prices glass. So in order to get something of quality you had to shell out the money. Fast forward and there are many companies who have found a niche market in the mid-value glass. So this rule of thumb shouldn't be the case anymore. I think the new rule of thumb is spend as much money on the highest quality scope you can since you can always upgrade a rifle and reuse the same scope.
I have plenty of scopes that are pretty worthless as for resale value.
Decades ago there were no scopes that could be sourced from china . The high end scopes were either made in Germany or Japan .a few American brands were also making some ok scopes. Vortex uses Japanese glass for the razor, rest is Chinese. Primary arms, arken etc, all china . They make nice scopes for the money, but can’t compare to a Steiner or Zeiss at 1520 yards
Ive got a 500 dollar athlon scope on my scar 20 and its a first focal plane. I hit everything just fine with it. Holds zero really well too.
I've had a LH4 4-16 ordered since early January. I have 3 other Arken scopes, very good I wish they would send my LH4. They said 4 to 6 weeks when I ordered it . Been 8 weeks now ! Hmmmm you have one.!
I appreciate the work of the camera to auto focus but holy hell my eyes hurt now lol
14:21 what is that thing on top of the scope under the cover? Please do a vid on those
Looks like a Vortex Impact 4000 weapon-mounted LRF.
I was looking for an LRP scope for my modified RPR. I did look at Nightforce and Vortec. However. I found Tract Toric. Half the price of the others and as good with the glass in some ways better. The old rule has become obsolete with technology and small houses putting out custom stuff.
Can we get a video with the Arken ep5 used on a m82a1?
Got to shoot the 36x razor last weekend and buddie got it for 2200 and I found out that 36x is more than most will need for anything…the 22x lht is what I’m gonna put on my waypoint 6.5prc….btw. Love that allterra…the 3x15 viper I have is my best scope and has took a major fall and held up so it sold me…I think there bout the all around best bang for buck…$800
Hey, I think you should make a review of the new Remington 700 Alpha 1
Where can I get one of those bullet holders like on the side of the rifle with the Razer scope?
😂 like a spotting scope on your gun is right...
Long ago I bought two Mark4 4.5-14×44 👍🏾
Recently I went cheap.. bought Athlon and Love the price performance of my
8-34×56 Argos btr gen2 ($500)... Great for a Ruger precision 6.5CM ....
APLR2 FFP IR MOA reticle
The whole plinking package costs less than that Vortex scope you reviewed😢
😂 And it's not even a Nightforce!?!
❤ Your shooting range is awesome, especially from my California perspective...🇺🇲🏁
I got a vortex razor gen 3 1×10 on my AR15 and a vortex razor ge2 on a my scar 20s
Lpvo game too!
I just put an LHT on a 300 WinMag and I love it
It also depends on where you live. Here in North Georgia, you can’t see beyond 200 yards before a hill or some trees blocking your view. With that, you don’t need something like a 3.5K NF! Yes, my local shop has them, but even the store clerks admit they’re overkill in Georgia. They recommend a Trijicon Creedo for my DD5V4 at $1,200. But after a bit, I’m now thinking another Sig Tango MSR first focal plane 1-10x LPVO for my DD5 and save $600. Simply put, you don’t need a super high tech scope here.
look at what Athlon has to offer. Believe it or not the Talos 4-14x is incredible, clear and holds zero perfectly and you can find them for $250 easily.
Can't go wrong with Arkin optics 👍
I bought a Monstrum G3 that I'm pretty happy with... FFP 6X36-56
I bought a 338 lapua and a vortex. I went to sight it in, I went through 3 boxes of ammo until I realized the scope wasn't staying true. Went back to the store swapped it for a nightforce and after 200 rounds the scope stays true. Just my experience.
I have found Sightron and Athlon to be great scopes for the money. I have a few Sightron, but recent;y grabbed an Athlon Ares etr 3-18x50 ffp, and I have to say, Its very good for the price. FYI, I also have Nightforce, Stiener and Zeiss, so i'm comparing it to those.... It's good
You should try out the Trijicon Tenmile
The thing about the cheap scope on that rifle is that it matches the rifle's purpose better than the Vortex.
Ya I mean if all your gonna do is target shoot every once in a while, then you don't need a razor. If you're gonna use it in competition etc then yes get a razor by all means.
I shot my mule deer this year at 585 yards right in the boilermaker using an arken EPL4. They are seriously good scopes for the money.
arken ep5 is amazing for the money and will stack up against much more expensive optics
The $500 price point is really stacked now. I just don't see spending $3k or more unless you really feel compelled to spend a mortgage payment on one.
Only by people who have never used a nf, mk5, or razor.
Put it through a season of real competition and it will fall flat on its glass. It’s great for occasional shooters maybe just maybe 400 rounds a year and that’s a stretch. And not a lot of dialing. Go for it. There is a place for the high end scopes. Just not for hunters and the occasional shooting enthusiasts. These scopes will do you proud.
My only complain of that glass is the eye box, everything else checks out.
The price doesn't always reflect the build quality: however, most cheap scopes will degrade with constant use. The exception, in my opinion is the products offered by SWFA, especially their fixed power military scopes.
Do a box test next.
i went from a sightron fixed 10 to minox zp5 5-25 and i never wanna go back, swapping it between tikka t1x and coup de grace. sell your budget stuff/safe queens and buy once cry once.
Love my Arken Unless you’re the type person where money is not an option and can afford to throw around 3-5K I see no point in spending it. Arken is probably one of the best budget options in my opinion. I do own one vortex higher end optic that I bought before I learned about Arken and I really can’t tell much difference. It’s Arken for me from now on.
ALL of my friends know that I am a rabid researcher and KING of the best 'bang for the buck' finds.
This Arken scope seems to be one of those!
But it was obvious that the Vortex glass/reticle was superior in every way over both lower priced scopes
What's the black blob box on top of the scope?
That's right! "What's in the box!?!"
Love my swampfox arrowhead and often find myself choosing it over my credo and kahles. It hits well over its price range. My SLX and GLX, not so much.
Most people can't tell (and have it mean anything) between optical clarity if they aren't looking side by side and in suboptimal conditions.
That being said, id never buy an arken. I'll stick with vortex, athlon, or swampfox for l/mpvo.
Now rings, that's where you really get shafted. I've ran burris, monstrum, utg, etc and compared them to the big names like area419 and adm. There isn't a difference. In fact, I chose to keep my 7075 monstrum pro mount on my March FX scope over an Area419 mount. It's hard to screw up a single piece scope mount in 2024. Everyone can get quality aluminum, hard coat anodizing, and cnc machines, so all that's left is qc and designs, which the designs have been ironed out for years and qc can be cheap and still have non noticeable issues for most people.
I too have a Swampfox Arrowhead 1-6x with the MOA reticle. Bought it for a "beater" LR308 rifle that I built/assembled from a Stag Arms reviever set and Lower parts kit.
Built specifically to shoot M80 Ball and/or equivalent out to 600yds, it has a 16 inch mid-length, medium contour barrel from Bear Creek Arsenal and a Tool Craft BCG. A5 Buffer tube with an Anti-tilt H3 buffer from Heavy Buffers website. Griffin Armament .30 cal Flash-Comp, and Precision Reflex Inc clamp style folding front sight gas block. Magpul MBUIS rear sight and VLTOR medium latch charging handle.
It sits in a co-witness height (1.42inch) ADM-Recon QD mount. I LOVE IT, and I'm seriously looking at their new Warhawk line of optics. When it comes to reticles, Primary Arms is the way to go, but Swampfox gives you better target shooting features, and slightly better glass on average. I will be replacing up to three of my scopes over the next couple of years, and Swampfox is in the top three brands I will be looking at alongside Primary Arms and Sig Sauer.
Swampfox has definitely been a surprise in terms of value added.👍
I'm disabled from a shotgun blast, ( at 5ft 1993) while working and watch my money being on a fixed income. I'm running a Savage 10 FCP in .308, Vortex 5x25x50 moa and a Stealth ba10 with Criterion S.S match MTU barrel in 6.5 creedmoor, Athlon Aries 4.5x27x50. Both rifles have 20 moa base. I breakdown and polish the actions, polish sear and do a cheap mod that leaves the trigger to function as from factory but less pull and breaks like glass. I find most rifles out shoot the shooter especially beginning. My belief is biggest money should be spent on glass in the beginning and build or buy up on rifle. Both my rifles have been to 1000 yards quite often 1200 and 1500 less often. If I do my part these two rifles are extremely accurate with my handloads and a few factory.
My Athlon has been stellar in performance as has the Vortex. Retical size on highest magnication should be compared also when looking at glass. Some with the dot in center are larger than others.
Opinions are like other things and vary this is just my opinions.
Agreed, opinions are often based on preference and prejudice.
Sorry you were injured,
@@irafowlerjr.7492
Thank you for the kindness.
Great video. Clearly the high end optic is better. Now can the budget optic do the same thing? Well you showed it could to an extent. I've owned them budget (still have a couple of arken. Scopes. I've used athlon, vortex, leupold, nightforce. Schmidt and bender pm2. Here is my opinion. I would say for most people they won't notice a difference in different optics unless compared side by side. Now the scope needs to be setup for you and you need time behind it. Not just using it to shoot. Use it to spot, spot impacts, looking at different ranges in different conditions. Then you really start seeing a difference. I noticed this one day when shooting at 1300 yards. I had two different rifles. One with an athkon ares (second to top teir of their line up) and an athlon cronus (Top tier in their scope line up). Through the cronus I could make out the squirrel at 1300 yards. Through the ares I could not. I currently have a nightforce 7-35 atacr on my precision 22lr setup. Hands down the best glass I've owned. It makes spotting 22lr impacts out to 400 yards easy. I can easily see my holes in paper at 100 yards. For me it's worth the money. Now here is another thing about scopes. Just because you buy a 3k or more scope it doesn't make you a better shooter. If your fundamentals suck. Well guess what they will still suck no matter how much money you spend on scopes or rifles. At the end of the day spend the money you want to. It'll probably work fine. There are scopes from each scope manufacture u would or wouldn't buy. Buy once cry once.
In the words of Paul Harrell, "Is there enough difference to make a difference?"
@@tc6818 Yes Sr. It's exist !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!