Optic suggestion

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Airgun.Sniper

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Aug 28, 2025
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I’m not new to optics. Just trying to decide what I want. I like the illuminated twitches option. My budget is around $1k maybe $1500.

Leupold M4HD was an option but the reticles suck. If I had $2k I’d buy an MK5HD in tremor 3 really like that reticle once I understood how to use it.

Right now I’m looking hard at a Arken EP4L it’s $300 and tracks well. I can also purchase a gen II sidewinder FFP for $495 but what am I gaining over the epl4?

Last option that I like is the vortex razor lht I can purchase for $1100.

What else should I be looking at? I’m young so my eyes aren’t bad
 
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Airgun.Sniper said:
I’m not new to optics. Just trying to decide what I want. I like the illuminated twitches option. My budget is around $1k maybe $1500.

Leupold M4HD was an option but the reticles suck. If I had $2k I’d buy an MK5HD in tremor 3 really like that reticle once I understood how to use it.

Right now I’m looking hard at a Arken EP4L it’s $300 and tracks well. I can also purchase a gen II sidewinder FFP for $495 but what am I gaining over the epl4?

Last option that I like is the vortex razor lht I can purchase for $1100.

What else should I be looking at? I’m young so my eyes aren’t bad
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I would try the arken ep4l, I have the sh4j.
 
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Look at Sightron, then Burris, Primary Arms, and some higher-end Bushnell models, which are also good. I know this: you can get a great scope for a lot less than $1000. Also, Leupold used to give you the reticle of your choice. For sure I suggest a scope that has AO than can a least focus down to 25 yard,10 is a lot better. Right now, Arken has a sale going on. Great scopes, but some are heavy and have a 34mm tube. I have some nice Nikon scopes . Sleeper scopes are the Discovery scopes. I do not use mine past 50 yards, so I do not know how good they are beyond that range, but they are great for what I use them for.
Also, go online and check out Sniper Hide and other sites, and see what they have to say; they are an excellent resource for info. Sightron then:unsure::LOL:
 
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Airgun.Sniper said:
I’m not new to optics. Just trying to decide what I want. I like the illuminated twitches option. My budget is around $1k maybe $1500.

Leupold M4HD was an option but the reticles suck. If I had $2k I’d buy an MK5HD in tremor 3 really like that reticle once I understood how to use it.

Right now I’m looking hard at a Arken EP4L it’s $300 and tracks well. I can also purchase a gen II sidewinder FFP for $495 but what am I gaining over the epl4?

Last option that I like is the vortex razor lht I can purchase for $1100.

What else should I be looking at? I’m young so my eyes aren’t bad
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My vote is for arken if conventional (I'm looking to sell all my leupolds and vortex stuff to replace with arken now)

If you can abide digital, the formerly arken but now DNT zulus with the laser range finder. It just makes the gun into a death ray.
 
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boscoebrea said:
Look at Sightron, then Burris, Primary Arms, and some higher-end Bushnell models, which are also good. I know this: you can get a great scope for a lot less than $1000. Also, Leupold used to give you the reticle of your choice. For sure I suggest a scope that has AO than can a least focus down to 25 yard,10 is a lot better. Right now, Arken has a sale going on. Great scopes, but some are heavy and have a 34mm tube. I have some nice Nikon scopes . Sleeper scopes are the Discovery scopes. I do not use mine past 50 yards, so I do not know how good they are beyond that range, but they are great for what I use them for.
Also, go online and check out Sniper Hide and other sites, and see what they have to say; they are an excellent resource for info. Sightron then:unsure::LOL:
Click to expand...
they use to but youd have to pay full price
 
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Airgun.Sniper said:
I’m not new to optics. Just trying to decide what I want. I like the illuminated twitches option. My budget is around $1k maybe $1500.

Leupold M4HD was an option but the reticles suck. If I had $2k I’d buy an MK5HD in tremor 3 really like that reticle once I understood how to use it.

Right now I’m looking hard at a Arken EP4L it’s $300 and tracks well. I can also purchase a gen II sidewinder FFP for $495 but what am I gaining over the epl4?

Last option that I like is the vortex razor lht I can purchase for $1100.

What else should I be looking at? I’m young so my eyes aren’t bad
Click to expand...
@Airgun.Sniper It would help to know what your desired application(s) is/are. Are you hunting? competing? If so, which type of competiton? Banging steel at long range? Plinking?
Do you prefer FFP or SPF scopes? Do you have weight, length, FOV preferences?

Specifications help others to help you. The suggestions here are all over the place.
 
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Ezana4CE said:
@Airgun.Sniper It would help to know what your desired application(s) is/are. Are you hunting? competing? If so, which type of competiton? Banging steel at long range? Plinking?
Do you prefer FFP or SPF scopes? Do you have weight, length, FOV preferences?

Specifications help others to help you. The suggestions here are all over the place.
Click to expand...
It’ll be used for hunting and target. I’m wanting an FFP. My goal was to keep weight down. I’ll know more once I have my impact in hand.
 
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I have an EPL4 6-24 Arken on my Caiman X. I really like the scope. The glass is great for the price, the adjustments are also great. The reticle is great for targets at higher magnification. The reticle, because it is so fine and the scope is FFP, is nearly invisible at 6X. I like to hunt at 6X so I don't like that aspect. 8X is usable but the reticle is not real clear until about 10X to my old eyes. Turning on the illumination helps but still does not make 6X usable for me. That is my only reservation with my Arken. FFP and fine reticle do not go so well with hunting. But they do great at targets. I shoot as well with the Arken at 24X as I do with another inexpensive target scope at 32X.

I would also look through Athlon's line of scopes they have FFP and SFP in your price range. Lots of options. I have a Talos 6-24 on my P35-177 and a Argos 10-40 target scope. The Argos glass is about as good as the Arken. The Athlon Heras SPR 6-24 with the APRS7 reticle is highly recommended for FTT. It has 0.2 mil reticle markings which would be busy if you plan to turn the turrets but if you use the reticle most of the time the extra marks may be welcome.
 
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JimD said:
I have an EPL4 6-24 Arken on my Caiman X. I really like the scope. The glass is great for the price, the adjustments are also great. The reticle is great for targets at higher magnification. The reticle, because it is so fine and the scope is FFP, is nearly invisible at 6X. I like to hunt at 6X so I don't like that aspect. 8X is usable but the reticle is not real clear until about 10X to my old eyes. Turning on the illumination helps but still does not make 6X usable for me. That is my only reservation with my Arken. FFP and fine reticle do not go so well with hunting. But they do great at targets. I shoot as well with the Arken at 24X as I do with another inexpensive target scope at 32X.

I would also look through Athlon's line of scopes they have FFP and SFP in your price range. Lots of options. I have a Talos 6-24 on my P35-177 and a Argos 10-40 target scope. The Argos glass is about as good as the Arken. The Athlon Heras SPR 6-24 with the APRS7 reticle is highly recommended for FTT. It has 0.2 mil reticle markings which would be busy if you plan to turn the turrets but if you use the reticle most of the time the extra marks may be welcome.
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Not sure if it’s worth the money. I have a pair of their Cronus binoculars and I’m not impressed. I can purchase the Cronus BTR Gen II 4.5-29x56 for well below cost. I’d like to look through one before I purchased it out right
 
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Airgun.Sniper said:
Not sure if it’s worth the money. I have a pair of their Cronus binoculars and I’m not impressed. I can purchase the Cronus BTR Gen II 4.5-29x56 for well below cost. I’d like to look through one before I purchased it out right
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Without spending 3-6 times the price the only FFP I can think of with better IQ is the Meopta Optika 6. All the other FFP scopes I've looked through in the Cronus G2 price range were similar to it. Heck I compared my friends ATACR and he even agreed with me they looked the same. Probably because the OEM was LOW Japan at the same time frame 4 years ogo.

Gonna have to go to Razor G3, Zeiss LRP, ZCO, TT, Kahles, S&B, ETC, to get high end IQ. Might get away with top of the line Sightron.

Bang for the buck it's hard to beat a Cronus G2 and BTW my Optika 6 is not in the same league in build quality.
 
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Airgun.Sniper said:
I’m not new to optics. Just trying to decide what I want. I like the illuminated twitches option. My budget is around $1k maybe $1500.

Leupold M4HD was an option but the reticles suck. If I had $2k I’d buy an MK5HD in tremor 3 really like that reticle once I understood how to use it.

Right now I’m looking hard at a Arken EP4L it’s $300 and tracks well. I can also purchase a gen II sidewinder FFP for $495 but what am I gaining over the epl4?

Last option that I like is the vortex razor lht I can purchase for $1100.

What else should I be looking at? I’m young so my eyes aren’t bad
Click to expand...
Depends on if you are using holdover or clicks And intended range to target. You don’t necessarily need or want too much magnification? Athlon scopes are solid and have great warranty!
 
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