Got the SH4 mounted up, zeroed it and put 50rds downrange with it today... So far I'm really digging it, it's a huge upgrade over the Diamondback Tactical.
My thoughts thus far are: everything checks out and works as it should, probably better than it should for $400 (or maybe scope companies have been ripping guys off for a while lol).
It's glass is really really good, I shot at my usual range with perfect conditions and looking at the same targets I'm used to at 100, and the same steel plates I'm used to at 400 the upgrade in clarity was really easy to notice. I set up a target with 2 of the small KRG targets that come with their chassis at the top (these are like 5" x 7" with 1" squares) and 1 large shoot-n-see type target with 5-1" diamonds below that. I'm very used to looking at these targets, on the same range, at the same distance (100yrds), but I don't ever remember being able to read the small print on them, or reading much of anything besides "KRG" on the littler ones, but I could today. With the steel at 400, which again I'm very used to looking at, I could make out the chips in the paint, not just the impact marks, I mean the different layers of the chips and multiple coats of paint, I couldn't see that level of detail before.
The one thing, which I've also heard about the EP4, is that the reticle lines are kind of fine/thin... Personally, I like it, the whole FOV seems uncluttered and the whole reticle feels more precise than I'm used to, but the middle of the reticle with the dot and "crosshair" is a bit thicker, which is nice because that's what we use most... Everyone's eyes are different, and mine aren't perfect by any means, but with my 24/7 wear contacts the reticle was totally good and usable, but I don't know if someone with poor eyesight would like the fine/thin reticle as much. For guys who complain about being too fine/thin, my retort might be something like: maybe it's time to see the optometrist and get a contact upgrade hahahaha..? Honestly though, I bet this will be the biggest complaint they get, I wouldn't be surprised if they made the reticle a tad thicker for the "Gen III". That said, as far as I'm concerned it's cool the way it is, I think I might appreciate it shooting at 700-1000+ yards and I think this scope is plenty capable of those distances. IMHO, some of these reticles out there are a little bananas, just too much, the VPR reticle they went with has all the info too, but just seems a lot less busy and less-fatiguing to look through than other ones I've looked through ... I like the reticle and it just might not be as cool any thicker, so maybe keeping the reticle mostly fine/thin except for the center was a great idea, I think I'll like it more as I get used to it.
Anyways, so far so good, zeroing and setting the zero stop was a piece of cake, also had missed it earlier but noticed today that the witness lines for counting revs are more extensive than I thought, there's even rev witness lines on the windage turret... I might not use them much (6mm Creedmoor is good out to 1000 with 8 mils which is 1 full rev), but it's pretty badass that Arken stepped up to that level of detail at the price point (and rimfire dudes will be psyched)... everything about the turrets just screams top quality.
