This question is prompted by the amazing number of videos and other Internet posts raving about the quality of the made-in-China Arken Optics line of scope sights. Formal reviews usually mention “for the price” someplace in the comments, but even after that caveat I almost never find any complaints about any aspect of the sights. I also frequently see them being used in YouTube videos even if it’s not a review.

So, here’s the question: Assuming that they are as good as they are widely claimed to be and they would be good enough for the type of shooting you’d do with one, would you buy one considering how competitively priced they are?

And to help avoid comments that jump to false conclusions about the reason for my question, I’m not considering anything from the line myself. I won’t list the brands of scopes I’ve purchased in recent years, but none was made or assembled in China (as far as I know).

Question:
Would you buy one if it fit your needs?

Choices:
Yes.
No.

 

I own several Holosun products, so I’d be a hypocrite to say no.

However, the use determines what I buy. Firearms I consider using in a self defense situation I do not. Those have aimpoint or similarly heralded brand.

A 100% yes based of your, “type of shooting statement specifically”. With the caveat that if there was a similarly priced American brand with the exact same reputation I would buy elsewhere first.

Since I use Vortex (China, Philippines, Japan) I voted yes. But I dont want to. I would love to see reasonably priced, good quality optics that are US made.
Rant: Am I the only person who thinks that optics pricing borders on insanity? 4K+ scopes? On a $1200 rifle. Nope!

No. The only chicom optic I have is the Primary Arms 1x SLx Prism "scope", and that's only because I didn't know it was chicom made at the time.

Have a few PA scopes and like them.

Never looked at Arken specifically so I'm not sure exactly what "Competitively priced" is exactly.

In comparing what I have on hand, the glass quality on my Accupowers are considerably better that that of the PA. At a cost 3+× the PA.

Now PA does have higher lines of scopes that are equal in price and quality to Trijicon. I have no experience with those.

I own exactly one scope. A Leupold VXII 3-9x40. I have never owned a bolt gun and it turns out I really love the irons on my M1A. The scope is currently on my Beeman R9. If I ever get a bolt gun I’ll most likely get a Leupold EFR for the air rifle and put the VXII on the bolt action. Even if I did upgrade for a bolt, I can’t see how anything Leupold makes wouldn’t cover my needs. I can be a part time hypocrite, and still smile knowing some American can feed his kids for the day. I can’t claim I buy American only but it still makes me feel good when I do.

I own one Chinese commie scope. It's Vortex LPV -- I bought it for price and it works fine. Glass is fairly bright, there's a little distortion at the edges, controls are a bit mushy. I didn't realize it was made in China at the time. I doubt I will make such mistake again.

I get that we all have budgets. I get that it can be challenging to purchase only products that aren't made in China, or made by Chinese owned companies. But we're gun owners here, and likely of a conservative frame of mind. We have a choice in what we buy.

I won't buy a Chinese scope.

Well like Otto sig said I kind of already have. Holosun, Primary Arms. I hate doing it but it’s a solid product at a good price point.

In today’s market, in a lot of cases you really don’t have much of a choice. For the features I need for my applications ( first focal plane, zero stop, appropriate reticle for my purposes adequate clarity, repeatable adjustments) I went with vortex (strike eagle) and to get a scope with similar features in a Japanese European or A Erica’s made scope would cost me a minimum of 6 times the cost.
My vortex with military discount was $550, for an equivalent scope from the states or Europe you would have to spend right around 3 grand. Simply a financial bridge too far.

I have and I would again. I know, communists and all that. But at the end of the day, I have optics on rifles and I otherwise wouldn’t. Holosun, Primary Arms, and now a Sig LPVO sit atop my most used rifles, and they give me the capabilities I need from them. If I spent ten times on the Sig scope for instance, it would get me a Nightforce, and I’m sure it’s a great scope and I’d never say the Sig is just as good, but for my needs, it is good enough.

The following is not a statement about this thread or the discussion so far, but a general observation: A lot of this debate in the gun community is from people trying to conflate “good enough” with “just as good,” and I see it on both sides of the debate. I think it’s generally best if one is being realistic and honest with themselves.

I buy and use what fits my needs and expectations.
It would be nice to be able to afford mid to top of the line optics, but that doesn't always work out unless you dump it on a credit card, which is something I don't like to do unless I already have the money to put it back.

I have an Arken, for less than $400 you could do a lot worse in that price range.
I think I paid $420 with the combo pack. Mount, caps, throw lever, level and a rear bag.

But it is heavy, 3 lbs with an MWI mount.

Now a few of the China made scopes are using better quality Japanese or German glass.
Arken has a couple with Japanese glass.
Vector is using German optics with a fiber dot reticle like the Primary Arms Nova reticle.

And while the Arken is a decent scope and a good value for the money it is not just as good as my lower end NF NXS but it does meet my needs and exceeds my expectations.

I've been saving up for a NF NX8 1-8 to replace the PA 1-8.
The PA works but the NX8 has everything I am looking for in a 1-8, which costs a bit more but they have what I want.
In the meantime the PA will be good enough.

One aspect of this "problem" could be that folks have so many rifles, and they feel like each one needs some glass on it. You can only shoot one at a time; maybe consider investing in one or two quality optics of other-than-Chinese origin, and put them where they're needed at the time.

I am the guy who's willing to make feature compromises for the sake of not buying Chinese, so take my comments with a grain of salt.

Not knowingly, not that some can't have some redeeming value but just don't want to support them.
You also have to be careful too when a "good" line adds a cheaper/alternative lineup.

The latest purchases have been Steiner.

Absolutely not

Absolutely not. If not buying a high-end scope, I try to find ones made in Japan.

I might, but I prefer not to. When researching different LPVO's it seemed like most were made in China with others from Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and Europe. I chose a Trijicon Credo which was manufactured in Japan.

No, out of principle. I'll pay more for something not made in China.

Nope.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
I own several Holosun products, so I’d be a hypocrite

The holosun is the perfect example. I own both a a trijicon rmr and holosun. I would never buy a trijicon again. Double the money for less features.

At first trijicon was the tits as far as the rmr went and durability. However they really screwed the pooch with the battery location and need for additional mounting plate. Holosun not only made a better design but also matched them in durability.

I am willing to pay for quality. However, I am not a brand loyalist. Like others, I have purchased Chinese optics and I am in the market for a thermal scope. The Chinese scopes are feature rich with good durability and customer service. Makes it hard to justify the 1.5x to 3X premium for a US made scope with less features and relatively poor customer service.