I recently got an Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Illuminated Reticle scope to review. I’d seen this optic mentioned plenty of times on enthusiast forums and shooting sites, and most users had positive things to say. So I figured I’d take one for a spin and see what the hype was about. For shooters getting into NRL22 or upgrading from a more basic optic on a precision rimfire build like my 10/22 KRG Bravo chassis rifle, the Arken EP5 5-25×56 hits a sweet spot by offering a lot of features without costing a small fortune. Let’s take a closer look and see what it’s all about.
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Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope.
Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope Review – Illuminated Reticle, Zero Stop, 34mm Tube
While the name is fairly descriptive, I’m going to break it down, as the target demographic for this optic may include some newer shooters. It’s got a magnification range of 5x to 25x, and a 56mm objective which lets in plenty of light. A first focal plane reticle with illumination offers speed and simplifies holdovers. There’s the Arken Zero Stop system (AZS), and the main tube of the scope body is 34mm. A side-focus knob adjusts parallax from 25 yards to infinity. Eye relief is a reasonable 3.4 inches.
Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope MOA reticle.
Turrets offer 1/10 MIL or 1/4 MOA per click, and the total elevation range is 32 MIL or 110 MOA. For windage, it features 16 MIL or 55 MOA. Arken offers the EP-5 in both MIL and MOA versions. While I have some MIL scopes, I requested their MOA version for this review, because I’ve been using mostly MOA scopes for about 40 years.
Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope MIL reticle.
The Arken 34mm Combo Pack
Along with the scope, Arken sent their Combo Pack for 34mm scopes. This is a comprehensive kit that includes rings or a mount (0 or 20 MOA), as well as accessories. So it’s got a throw lever, bubble level, flip-up caps, and a rear bag. While that’s pretty nice, Arken also includes some extra swag in the form of a T-shirt, hat, a patch, and some stickers.
At first glance, the Combo Pack might seem a little pricey. However, when you consider the included rings or mount, plus the throw lever, bubble level, caps, and rear bag, it starts to look like a fairly complete setup for someone building out a rifle from scratch.
Throw lever and bubble level on the Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope.
Unboxing the Arken EP5 5-25×56
First impressions are pretty positive. This is a solid scope. It’s relatively compact for its range, at 14 inches. And it’s porky at 39.2 ounces. But it certainly doesn’t feel anything other than sturdy. Which is good, as my gear doesn’t get babied. The turrets seem huge, because they are. Highly legible engraving accentuates this, in a good way. Although I’m using this on a competition-style rimfire, it feels like it would be just as at home on a heavy recoiling centerfire rifle as well.
Not gonna lie, I like the combo pack. Rings and their Flip Its caps are super convenient. I’ve spent over $150 just for some 34mm rings. And more than $50 for caps. So the fact that it’s also got a throw lever and bubble level is icing on the cake. My wife will steal the shirt from me, and I’ll sweat through that hat in a month of Utah’s heat. But at least I got to mount the scope the day it arrived. No trips to the local gun shop, hoping that they have the correct height rings in stock.
Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope installed on a custom 10/22.
Mounting the Arken EP5 5-25×56
The first thing I did was grab the rings and mount the EP-5 on my Bergara B-14R. Yet no matter how I installed the throw lever, it seemed to interfere with the bolt handle. Most of my shooting is done at 25x. Making sure it was not in the way at 25x meant it was too far over at lower magnifications. This is certainly a personal preference and not a flaw, so I decided to install it on a custom 10/22 build instead. Once I’ve got a few rounds downrange with it, I may swap it over to the Bergara.
Using the included rings, the bulge on the bottom of the scope, as well as the housing for the erector spring, presented no issues. I had read that this was a cause of concern for some users, but there were no clearance problems for me. A couple of bubble levels and a torque wrench later, and I was nearly set. I threw the included Arken bubble level on too, as I do find them to be handy when setting up either prone or on my portable bench. A quick rough zero with my laser and it was off to the range.
Range Time
After correcting the zero for my range and ammo choice, I shot a few magazines to get a feel for the scope. Adjusting the parallax was easy, with the dial being smooth and well-damped, while not overly stiff. Those super-legible turrets have a solid click and feel great. After running through a few hundred rounds, I did a quick tracking check using the box method, and it returned right to where I started. I’d previously heard great things about the Arken turrets, and was not disappointed.
After I was satisfied that the turrets were tracking properly, I remembered to set the zero stop, which is explained quite simply in the online manual. I’ll probably never own another scope that doesn’t have this feature.
While I appreciated the reticle, I never used the illumination because the bright sun washed it out. Where our targets were set up at known distances, it was fairly easy to use the reticle rather than the turrets to engage the farther targets. On one trip, we had a steel plate out at 200 yards, and I was able to hit that consistently with ease.
Shooting subsonic .22 LR, there’s a fair amount of elevation required to make up for the drop, and then a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and that quiet, but distinct sound of a tiny round bouncing off a steel plate. Whether dialing in some elevation, or just using the reticle, the Arken EP5 made it quick and easy to engage targets at various distances.
Range time with the Arken EP5 5-25×56 FFP Scope.
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About That Glass
Arken mentions Japanese ED glass, but doesn’t mention how many elements use it. Although that information might be nice to know, it’s not critical for me. I had seen some comments about chromatic aberrations, and fringing at the edges of the image. As a photographer, I understand that concern. I’m not expecting a budget-friendly scope to match my Zeiss lenses though.
If I was using this scope for hunting and needed that edge sharpness while scanning for game, I may feel differently. Instead, I’m really only concerned with image quality across the center of the scope’s field of view. If it’s sharp enough that I can see my target clearly, and see those tiny holes I made, I’m happy. Either way, the images through the scope were sharp, and with good contrast. If you’re after a scope that offers edge-to-edge sharpness, you’re probably not going to find it at the same price point.
Conclusion
I’m more of an enthusiast than a competitor or hunter. When I shoot, the most that’s going to be at stake is lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. But I’ve outgrown the basic gear. When I had a $200 rifle and bulk ammo, my $80 scope suited me just fine. Now that I’m shooting match ammo out of a much more expensive rifle, I can appreciate the better glass and turrets.
I’m sure that there are folks out there who will find something to fault with this scope, but they need to keep the price point in mind. My whole review is based on performance for the money, which is where the Arken EP5 excels. If you’re shopping this part of the market and can still find one, it offers a lot for the money.
While the actual name of the scope is the Arken EP-5 5-25×56, I have eliminated the dash in the name for this article as most people searching for it search without the dash. Either way, I’d like to thank Arken for sending out their EP5 for my testing and evaluation. They turn out quality optics backed by a lifetime warranty, and if you’re looking for Arken optics or related accessories, check MidwayUSA here.
*Full specs of the rifle shown:
KIDD two-stage trigger and stainless match barrel