Long range and precision riflescopes
Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 FFP Riflescope, Illuminated VPR MIL Reticle lists at $299.99. Published figures: magnification 4-16x, objective lens 50 mm, focal plane First. It suits maximum internal elevation travel per dollar.
Direct-to-consumer pricing on a 34 mm tube with a locking zero stop, which is where the internal elevation that long range shooting actually consumes comes from.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
On this page
Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 specifications
The Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 publishes magnification 4-16x, objective lens 50 mm, focal plane First, at a listed price of $299.99.
Sourced figure
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 4-16x |
| Objective lens | 50 mm |
| Focal plane | First |
| Reticle | VPR MIL |
| Illuminated reticle | Yes |
| Zero stop | Yes |
Specifications above are the manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing. Figures the maker does not publish, such as total elevation travel or exact eye relief, are omitted here rather than estimated.
What the manufacturer says about it
The manufacturer own listing bullets, quoted rather than paraphrased so you can judge the claims yourself. These are marketing copy, not independent measurement.
Arken Optics lists 5 headline points for the SH4 GEN2 4-16x50, quoted here verbatim.
| Manufacturer listing point |
|---|
| Precision Tracking ：Engineered with Arken's Precision Tracking System, the SH4 GEN2 delivers repeatable adjustments and reliable return-to-zero performance, helping shooters maintain confidence from the range to the field. |
| First Focal Plane Reticle：The illuminated reticle remains proportional throughout the magnification range, enabling accurate holdovers, ranging, and wind corrections at any power setting. |
| 4-16X Magnification Range：From close-range target acquisition to extended-distance precision, the 4-16x50 configuration provides an ideal balance of field of view and magnification for multiple competition applications. |
| AZS Zero Stop System：Quickly return to your established zero after dialing elevation adjustments. The AZS Zero Stop System improves efficiency and consistency during target engagement. |
| Built For Real-World Conditions：Featuring a durable 34mm tube, HD glass, waterproof and fog-resistant construction, the SH4 GEN2 is designed to perform in demanding outdoor environments year-round. |
What this optic suits
Best for: maximum internal elevation travel per dollar.
Category: long range and precision riflescopes. The honest test for any optic is whether its numbers match your rifle and the distances you actually shoot rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what ring height you need, what exit pupil the magnification gives you and how much elevation the distance demands, using the calculators on this site, then check this model against those answers.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Athlon Argos BTR GEN3 6-24x50 Riflescope, APRS11 FFP IR MIL Reticle
$379.99 Full specificationsAn illuminated first focal plane mil reticle with a zero stop at a price where those three features almost never appear together, and Athlon transfers its warranty the way Vortex does.
Best for: a mil-reticle precision build on a budget
Check price on Amazon
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 First Focal Plane Riflescope, EBR-2C MOA
$399.00 Full specificationsThe cheapest first focal plane scope worth owning, and the one that makes the case for the whole category: the reticle holds its subtension at every magnification, so a hold is a hold rather than a calculation.
Best for: a first precision rifle scope, or a hunting rifle that will be dialled
Check price on Amazon
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 First Focal Plane Riflescope
$425.99 Full specificationsTwenty four power and a 50 mm objective for under five hundred dollars. Note that the exit pupil at 24x is only about 2 mm, so the top of the range is a bright-day setting rather than a low light one.
Best for: known distance range work and steel at long range
Check price on Amazon
Vortex Venom 5-25x56 First Focal Plane Riflescope, EBR-7C MOA
$499.00 Full specificationsA 56 mm objective at 25x still gives a 2.24 mm exit pupil, which is what lets a high magnification scope stay usable as the light goes rather than becoming a dark tunnel.
Best for: long range shooting into dusk
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Magnification | Objective lens | Focal plane | Reticle | Tube diameter | Illuminated reticle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 FFP Riflescope, Illuminated VPR MIL Reticle | $299.99 | 4-16x | 50 mm | First | VPR MIL | - | Yes |
| Athlon Argos BTR GEN3 6-24x50 Riflescope, APRS11 FFP IR MIL Reticle | $379.99 | 6-24x | 50 mm | First | APRS11 MIL | 30 mm | Yes |
| Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 First Focal Plane Riflescope, EBR-2C MOA | $399.00 | 4-16x | 44 mm | First | EBR-2C MOA | 30 mm | - |
| Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 First Focal Plane Riflescope | $425.99 | 6-24x | 50 mm | First | - | 30 mm | - |
A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We leave it blank rather than estimating it.
How we chose
We did not test these optics in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets, published optical and ballistic formulas, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real objective diameter, a real tube size, a real ring height or a real exit pupil rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a figure is shooter convention rather than a sourced number we label it, and where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating it.
Sources
- Arken Optics published specifications for the SH4 GEN2 4-16x50
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 cost?
It was listed at $299.99 when this page was last compiled. Optics pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before committing to a purchase or budgeting a whole setup around it.
Is the Arken Optics SH4 GEN2 4-16x50 right for my rifle?
Maximum internal elevation travel per dollar. Beyond that, the honest test is whether it physically fits and whether its numbers match the distances you shoot. Check the ring height its objective needs and the exit pupil its magnification gives before deciding.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others.
Will this fit my rifle and my rings?
Check three things in this order. The tube diameter has to match the rings exactly, because a 30 mm ring will not hold a 34 mm tube. The objective bell has to clear the barrel at the ring height you own. And the rail or base pattern on the receiver has to match the mount. Those three account for most returns in this category.
Is it worth buying this rather than the cheaper alternative?
Only if the thing it does better is something you actually need. The alternatives listed above each trade something specific, and on a first setup the money almost always does more good spent on a solid mount, a torque driver and a level than on upgrading the glass by one model.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, published optical and ballistic formulas, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are shooter convention rather than sourced numbers, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Ballistic figures come from a point mass model using the ballistic coefficient the maker publishes, so treat them as a starting point and confirm them on paper at a measured distance. Confirm your firearm is unloaded with the action open before you mount, level, torque or bore sight anything. Verify a zero only on a supervised range or a safe, legal backstop, know what lies beyond your target, and follow the law where you hunt and shoot, including rules on land access and permitted cartridges.