Arken Optics EPL-4 6-24x50 FFP Rifle Scope

The Arken EPL-4 6-24x50 FFP makes sense for a rifle that needs to cover some ground.

You get a 6-24x magnification range, first focal plane reticle, exposed elevation turret, zero stop, side parallax adjustment, illumination, and a 50mm objective—but in a package that's noticeably lighter than Arken's larger EP-series precision scopes.

That combination makes the EPL-4 interesting for a hunting rifle that also spends time shooting steel, a general-purpose long-range rifle, or a precision setup where you still care about how much weight you're carrying.

In other words, it's not trying to give you the most of everything.

And that's probably a good thing.

Is 6-24x Enough?

For a lot of shooting, it's more than enough. For many hunting situations, it's too much.

At 6x, you've still got a useful lower end for most open-country hunting and general field shooting. Turn it up to 24x, and there's plenty of magnification available for smaller targets, load development, checking groups, and more deliberate shooting at distance.

Would 25x, 30x, or 35x give you more?

Sure.

Whether you'd actually accomplish anything with that additional magnification is another question.

Higher magnification can help when you're trying to resolve a small target or refine an aiming point. It also narrows your field of view, makes mirage more apparent, and can make it harder to find and stay oriented on a target.

We'd rather have a useful magnification range than simply chase the biggest number available.

For a rifle that's expected to move between the field and the range, 6-24x is a pretty sensible place to be.

First Focal Plane Makes the Reticle Useful

The EPL-4 uses a first focal plane (FFP) reticle, so the reticle subtensions remain accurate throughout the magnification range.

That matters if you're actually using the reticle.

If you've got an elevation or wind hold, you don't have to stop and make sure the scope is set to a particular magnification before using it. Your references remain valid whether you're at 10x, 16x, or 24x.

That gives you some flexibility in the field.

Set the magnification according to the shot and the position you're working from—not according to what the reticle requires.

Dial Elevation. Protect the Windage.

One of the things we like about the EPL-4 is the basic turret arrangement.

You get an exposed elevation turret with Arken's AZS Zero Stop and a capped windage turret.

For a rifle that's actually going to be carried, that makes sense.

If the shot requires it, you can dial your elevation and then use the mechanical zero stop to return to your established zero. Meanwhile, the windage turret stays protected from getting inadvertently moved while the rifle is being carried, pulled from a case, riding in a pack, or moving through brush.

Most of the time we'd rather hold wind anyway.

It's a simple arrangement, and simple is good when you've already got enough other things to pay attention to.

Choose the Reticle You'll Actually Learn

Depending on configuration, the EPL-4 gives you MIL or MOA reticle and adjustment options.

Our advice here is pretty straightforward:

Pick one system and learn it.

There's nothing inherently more capable about MIL than MOA or vice versa. Either system works just fine when the reticle, turrets, ballistic data, and shooter are all speaking the same language.

The more important part is spending enough time behind the rifle that using those references becomes familiar.

Knowing that you need a 1.2 MIL wind hold is useful.

Knowing exactly what 1.2 MIL looks like in your reticle without having to figure it out while an animal is standing there is considerably more useful.

Where the EPL-4 Starts to Make Sense

A big part of the EPL-4 story is what it doesn't weigh.

There's nothing wrong with a 40-plus-ounce precision scope when the rifle's job justifies it. On a dedicated range or competition rifle, we may happily accept that weight for the capability it provides.

But rifles that get carried have a different set of priorities.

A lighter optic means less weight sitting high on the rifle, less total weight on your shoulder, and a rifle that can be a little easier to live with over a long day.

Those differences may not matter much walking from the truck to a shooting bench.

They can matter considerably more several miles into a hunt.

That's why we'd look at the EPL-4 6-24x50 for a rifle that needs legitimate precision capability without becoming unnecessarily heavy.

What Do We Think?

The Arken Optics EPL-4 6-24x50 FFP strikes a useful middle ground.

There's enough magnification for serious work at distance, but you aren't carrying a 7-35x56 just because bigger numbers looked better when you were shopping.

You've got a first focal plane reticle for holds, an exposed elevation turret when dialing makes sense, protected windage, zero stop, illumination, and adjustable parallax.

More importantly, those features give you room to develop capability with the rifle.

Get your mounting and eye relief right. Establish a zero you trust. Learn the reticle. Confirm your ballistic data at actual distances rather than assuming the calculator got everything right. Shoot from field positions. Pay attention to where your first round goes.

Do that, and the scope becomes what it should be:

One less thing to think about when it's time to make the shot.

Specifications

Magnification: 6-24x
Objective Lens: 50mm
Focal Plane: First Focal Plane (FFP)
Main Tube: 30mm
Turrets: Exposed elevation / capped windage
Zero Stop: Arken AZS Zero Stop
Parallax: Side adjustable
Illumination: Red
Adjustment Systems: MIL or MOA, depending on configuration
Finish: Matte Black