Arken Optics EP-5 GENII 5-25x56 FFP Rifle Scope

If you're looking at the Arken EP-5 GENII 5-25x56, you're probably trying to put together a precision rifle without spending considerably more on the optic than you did on the rifle.

That's where the EP-5 has always made sense.

The GENII keeps the basic formula—a 5-25x56 first focal plane scope, 34mm tube, exposed turrets, illumination, and a zero stop—but Arken made some meaningful changes to the optical system. It now uses Japanese XED glass, a redesigned optical architecture, and a larger ocular system intended to give you a clearer image and a more forgiving eyebox.

And that last part may matter more than it sounds.

A scope can look great when you're perfectly positioned behind it on a bench. Things get more interesting when you're prone on uneven ground, shooting from a barricade, working off a tripod, or trying to build a position quickly. Having a little more room for head placement makes the scope easier to get behind, and that's something we appreciate more than another impressive number on a specification sheet.

The 5-25x magnification range is also pretty useful. Five power gives you enough field of view that the scope isn't limited to really long shots, while 25x gives you plenty of image scale for small targets, confirming impacts, and more precise work at distance.

The reticle is first focal plane, so your subtensions remain accurate as you move through the magnification range. If you're using the reticle for wind calls, elevation holds, corrections, or ranging, that's important. You don't have to remember which magnification the reticle works at. It just works.

VPR or TOR?

Arken offers the EP-5 GENII with either its VPR or TOR reticle, and we'd choose based on how you actually shoot.

The VPR is the cleaner, more versatile option. If you're mostly dialing elevation, holding wind, shooting at the range, or using the scope on a rifle that may see some hunting duty, we'd lean toward the VPR.

The TOR gives you a denser 16-MIL holdover grid with finer references. That makes more sense for PRS, NRL, precision rimfire, or anyone who regularly holds elevation and wind instead of dialing everything.

More information in the reticle can be useful. It can also be clutter you don't need. Pick the one that supports how you shoot.

The 20-yard-to-infinity side parallax adjustment is another detail we like, especially if this scope is going on a precision rimfire. Being able to properly focus and correct parallax at shorter distances makes the EP-5 GENII a legitimate option for an NRL22 or other precision .22 setup—not just a centerfire long-range rifle.

For dialing, you get 0.1 MIL or 0.25 MOA adjustments, depending on the version, with Arken's AZS zero-stop system. Once you've established your zero, the mechanical stop gives you a simple reference to come back to after dialing.

That's the kind of feature we like: not complicated, not particularly exciting, but useful. Set it up correctly and it's there when you need it.

Here's the Tradeoff

The EP-5 GENII weighs 41.2 ounces.

That's heavy.

We wouldn't try to convince you otherwise.

If you're building a lightweight hunting rifle that you're going to carry ten miles through the mountains, we'd probably look at something else. There are much lighter scopes that will do that job.

But that's not really what the EP-5 GENII is built for.

Put it on a dedicated precision rifle, range rifle, PRS-style setup, or precision rimfire where the rifle spends more time being shot than carried over mountains, and those 41 ounces become a much more reasonable trade.

You're getting a 56mm objective, 34mm tube, substantial adjustment range, exposed turrets, zero stop, illumination, FFP reticle, and an upgraded optical system. All of that takes up some space and weighs something.

The question is whether you need what you're getting in return.

What Do We Think?

The Arken EP-5 GENII 5-25x56 FFP makes the most sense to us as a working precision optic.

It gives you the features needed to learn how to dial, hold, read corrections, and work at distance without immediately jumping into much more expensive glass. The GENII optical and eyebox improvements address things that can actually affect your experience behind the rifle rather than simply adding features for the sake of having more features.

It's probably more scope than you need for a lightweight deer rifle that gets fired a few times a year.

For a precision centerfire or rimfire rifle that you're going to spend time behind—learning the rifle, collecting data, practicing from different positions, and figuring out what you and the rifle can actually do—the EP-5 GENII makes considerably more sense.

Specifications

Magnification: 5-25x
Objective: 56mm
Focal Plane: First Focal Plane (FFP)
Tube Diameter: 34mm
Glass: Japanese XED
Eye Relief: 3.5 in.
Field of View: 24.02-4.71 ft. @ 100 yd.
Reticles: VPR-MIL / VPR-MOA / TOR-MIL
Turret Adjustment: 0.1 MIL / 0.25 MOA
Adjustment Per Revolution: 10 MIL / 25 MOA
Elevation Adjustment: 28 MIL / 100 MOA
Windage Adjustment: 12 MIL / 48 MOA
Parallax: 20 yd. to infinity
Zero Stop: Arken AZS Zero Stop
Zero Reset: Yes
Illumination: Red
Length: 15.6 in.
Weight: 41.2 oz.
Finish: Matte Black
Battery: CR2032
Sunshade: Included