Arken Optics SH4 Gen2 4-16x50 FFP riflescope MIL VPR reticle, Illuminated

Designed by a former Navy SEAL, the ARKEN tactical scope is quality without the price

Designed from the ground up, the Arken tactical "mid-range" scope performs as well as scopes 2x and 3x the price.  Mike Riley, the designer of the scope and US Navy SEAL sniper team member, took his experience in combat to design a sniper style rifle scope that would be affordable enough for the average shooter.  Mike and his team took that challenge on, and in creating Arken Optics took the best glass available, had it polished like high-end scopes and put the right number of coatings on the lens to make the optical quality very good, while not seeking to spend two or three times as much, and then made the scope affordable.  Coupling this forward-thinking design, the Arken team added a reticle that allows for both dial-in and hold-overs in the form of a modified Christmas tree - the VPR reticle.

Arken Products are designed to combine quality, performance and precision with tremendous value. The SH4 is a FFP (First Focal Plane) optic that features a simple but rugged zero stop mechanism. The Arken SH4 incorporates adjustable elevation and windage turrets with tactile and audible clicks. These turrets offer 8 mils per revolution.

The SH4 Gen2 is Arken's entry level scope, with the EPL4 being the lighter weight offering, often appealing to hunters and the EP5 the top of the line.  As an entry level scope, the SH4 is targeted toward shooters practicing their bench rest and PRS shooting.  In its price class, it leads the competition.

Key Features

• Solid Entry-Level scope that beats the competition
• First Focal Plane
• Large Heavy Duty Turrets
• Zero Stop Turret
• HD glass - high density (similar to low dispersion)
• Illuminated Christmas Tree Style Reticle
• Rugged Construction
• Dial-in Parallax
• Audible Turret Clicks
• 34mm Tube
• 36 Mil of Elevation Travel
• Lifetime Warranty

Why would I buy the SH4 over other Arken optics?

This is really the best question.  Arken offers four models of scopes:

• EP4:  One of the earlier models, the EP4 features a 4x magnification and ED glass from Japan and 50mm objective lens.  The ED glass makes for a slightly better image, but there is no illumination
• EP4L: The EP4 line, now made lighter.  Still 4x magnification with ED glass from Japan.  Now with 30mm tube and illumination.  The lighter scope is sure to be win for lighter weight applications
• SH4:  Tough as nails, and a scope that people look at twice.  34mm tube and 50mm objective lens and using some of the best HD glass from China.  In side by side demonstrations, it is very hard to tell the difference in optical quality between other Arken offerings, but Arken has found ways to cut costs to make this the most affordable high performance scope, and turrets with 8Mils per rotation
• EP5:  Top of the line from Arken, offering 5x magnification, ED Japanese lenses and a 56mm objective lens.  The turrets have a 10mil per rotation, making them easier to compute on the fly.

So, why choose the SH4?  For those looking for longer distance shots, the 34mm tube will be a better choice over the EP4L with a 30mm tube.  The side by side comparison with the EP5 shows the EP5 with a slight edge, but if budget is a concern, the differences between the SH4 and the EP5 are minimal.  You might think of it this way:  The SH4 Gen2 is often compared to the Vortex PST Gen2 and the EP5 is compared to Nightforce scopes.  You are getting a whole lot of performance for an unbelievable price with the SH4 Gen2.

Specifications

VPR Illuminated Reticle