By Joel, Precision Rifle Network
I’ve been using Arken Optics for some years now, and I can tell you they punch way above their weight class for the price. So when the new Arken EP5 Gen 2 7-35×56 showed up, I wanted to get it out of the box and give you my first impressions right away. There are a ton of great features in this scope, and the price is not what you’d expect.
This is an unboxing and first look, not a full review. A separate video is coming where I mount this scope, take it to the range, check whether it tracks, and try to get you some footage through the optic. For now, here’s what you get and what stood out to me in the first few minutes of handling it.
What’s in the Arken EP5 Gen 2 Box
Box lid off, and here’s what’s inside:
- The EP5 Gen 2 7-35×56 scope, first focal plane
- Instructions/manual
- A battery for the lighted reticle
- Rubberized scope caps, which are nice and keep everything in order
- A sunshade
- A cleaning cloth, a sticker, and a few other odds and ends
Personally, I’m not a huge sunshade guy, but if you are, there you go. It’s in the box.
It’s a Chonker
First thing you notice when you lift it out: this thing’s a chonker. I didn’t expect any less from a 7-35x scope with a 56 mm objective, but these scopes do have some weight to them.
Turrets: Improved Over the First Gen
Turret feel is always one of the first things I check, and these actually feel improved over the first gen model. They’re nice and smooth, just stiff enough, but not too difficult to twist. You’ve got everything you’d expect on a tactical-style scope.
The details:
- Tenth mil adjustments, as you’d expect
- First focal plane
- 34 mm main tube. That works out well for me because I think I have an MDT one-piece mount I’ll throw it on.
- Lighted reticle control, which feels good
Downside One: One Stiff Control
Not everything was perfect. One of the controls was a little harder to move than the rest. You could add a lever to help turn it, and that’s an easy fix, but you should know about it going in.
Arken EP5 Gen 2 Glass: Way Better
This is the headline. The glass on the first gen wasn’t awful, but Arken has significantly upgraded the glass in the second gen, and that’s the main difference you’re getting with this model. Everything else is fairly similar to the first gen.
Even just taking a first look through it during the unboxing, the new glass is noticeable, both in clarity and in contrast. I’ll try to show you what that looks like through the scope in the range video.
According to the video description, the EP-5 Gen II uses Japanese Extremely Extra-Low Dispersion glass, which is meant to reduce chromatic aberration and color fringing and to increase clarity and contrast.
The TOR Mil Reticle
At first I thought this one had the VPR mil reticle. I double-checked, and this scope has the TOR mil reticle. It’s pretty nice, actually.
My honest take: I’ve become less interested in all the holdover and wind dots that go way down into the reticle. I’m a dial guy. I don’t really hold over, and I don’t shoot a ton of competitions anymore. If I time out on a stage because I’m dialing, I’m okay giving up those points, because I don’t take it that seriously anymore. I’d rather dial than hold over.
That said, it is helpful to have all that holdover and wind information in the reticle. With my old eyes, it’s just a little cluttered for me.
Is the Arken EP5 Gen 2 Good for PRS and NRL22?
I think the EP5 Gen 2 7-35×56 would be an excellent choice for something like PRS, or maybe NRL22. A big reason is that it parallaxes down to 25 yards, which is probably enough for NRL22-type rimfire matches.
Extra Magnification Helps When Zeroing
I like the extra magnification, especially when zeroing, whether that’s a .22 at 50 yards or a centerfire at 100 yards.
Arken EP5 Gen 2 Value and First Impressions
My initial impression is really good value for the money. You’re talking well under a thousand dollars for an optic that does much the same job as many optics in the $1,000 to $1,500 range, maybe even up to $2,000. These are good options that won’t break the bank, so go check out Arken. The Arken EP5 Gen 2 7-35×56 is definitely worth a look.
Key Takeaways
- The glass is the big upgrade. Gen 2 has noticeably better clarity and contrast than the first gen. Most other things are fairly similar.
- The turrets feel better than the first gen: smooth, just stiff enough, and tenth-mil adjustments.
- It’s heavy. It’s a chonker, and these scopes have some weight to them.
- One control is stiff. You can add a lever to help turn it.
- The TOR mil reticle has a ton of holdover and wind information. That’s great if you hold, but it might feel busy if you’re a dialer like me.
- It’s well suited to PRS and NRL22, with parallax down to 25 yards and extra top-end magnification that helps when zeroing.
- The value is strong. It costs well under $1,000 and competes with optics that cost $1,000 to $2,000.
What’s Next
I’ll put up a full review video where I mount the EP5 Gen 2 on a rifle, take it out to the range, check whether it tracks, and try to get you some views through the glass so you can see the reticle for yourself. Stay tuned.
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For online training videos and coaching, visit precisionriflenetwork.com.
Watch the Full Video
Watch “Arken EP5 Gen2 – 7-35×56 Unboxing – Way Better Glass!” on YouTube