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Rifle Scopes Debating on making the switch to USO

DeadNoise

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Minuteman
Apr 25, 2008
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Ive got a NightForce 5.5-22x50 on my 6.5CM now and am having a lot of issues with parallax and focus, so I'm debating on selling it and moving to a US Optics. Only problem is nobody around here has one I can look threw so Im not sure if it will be worth the extra cash to make the switch or not.
 
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Which reticle did you have in your NF? Do you wear corrective lenses?
 
reticle is a MOAR, and yes I can't recall the numbers on my eyes but its not bad by any means i don't wear them all the time mostly just as safety glasses at work but I have tried them with and without trying to get a good setup on the NF to work.
 
I've used the 3-17 for years and just added a 5-25 to the stable and will make these broad generalizations:
The 3-17 is "adequate" to a grand.
20x is "ideal"
25x is a "luxury"
YMMV
 
Before dropping money on a new scope, I highly recommend that you rule out any eye problems. An undiagnosed/uncorrected astigmatism will play hell with your ability to properly utilize just about any sighting system, and magnification is likely to only make matters worse.
 
I have had a couple Nightforces and have struggled with the reticle in every one so far. USO mil-Gap reticles are the sharpest going, in my opinion.
 
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I have had a couple Nightforces and have struggled with the reticle in every one so far. USO mil-Gap reticles are the sharpest going, in my opinion.
I have a NF NXS 8-32X56 with the MOAR reticle and wear astigmatism glasses. I have not had a problem with either focus or parallax adjustments.
 
I like USO, so I would say go for it! However, I would contact Nightforce about the issue and possibly send it in for an inspection before cracking open your wallet.
 
Before dropping money on a new scope, I highly recommend that you rule out any eye problems. An undiagnosed/uncorrected astigmatism will play hell with your ability to properly utilize just about any sighting system, and magnification is likely to only make matters worse.

Great advice. I always knew that vision acuity degrades as you get older but astigmatism is constant. Evidently, I was wrong. I would get checked out as it is quick and FAR cheaper than a new optics set-up.

This being said, I have a USO SN-3 and an SN-4. Each are about 10-12 years old. They are built in the US and are super rugged. Unparalleled customer service.
May not be uber glass as compared to other rigs discussed on the hide but way beyond any of my feeble capabilities.

BR,
 
Hey Deadnoise,

Do you ever make it out to Salt Lake City? If so, we do have a sponsored shooter in the area who we could set you up with to view some scopes!

-Wes
 
I don't make it that way very often, i think I'm gonna take the plunge and give it a try though.
 
USOs are definitely rugged scopes, but I have found the many times I have been able to shoot them, my friends USOs are much darker with less color accuracy than any other scopes I have shot at the same time under varing conditions. You should try to do a side by side comparison if possibleto avoid any buyers remorse. Just saying!
 
For every person that says they are dark. There is another that says they are nice and bright.

Having had, and or currently owning, 4 USO's, 3 SB 4-16's, and 2 premiers 5-15's. My USO's have always had great glass, that matched, and stood right up with the others. Mine are always bright and clear, and clear out to the edge. To my eyes, the current run of 3.2 to 17 LR-17 glass is extremely good! I just wish USO still made them with a 34mm tube.
 
Before dropping money on a new scope, I highly recommend that you rule out any eye problems. An undiagnosed/uncorrected astigmatism will play hell with your ability to properly utilize just about any sighting system, and magnification is likely to only make matters worse.

As Nik H said, this is great advice. I have astigmatism, wear glasses/contacts every waking hour, and it does play heck with what scopes are good for me.
 
For every person that says they are dark. There is another that says they are nice and bright.

This is the truest statement ever. I have owned NF's and they are a good scope but USO's are better by my old eyes. Not sure why USO has not made it more widely known but they had an independent company measure clarity, light transmission, trueness of power ranges (true 1x in the 1-8 is a true 1x unlike competitors) and they came out top of the list. In the final analysis to each his own.
 
For every person that says they are dark. There is another that says they are nice and bright.

Having had, and or currently owning, 4 USO's, 3 SB 4-16's, and 2 premiers 5-15's. My USO's have always had great glass, that matched, and stood right up with the others. Mine are always bright and clear, and clear out to the edge. To my eyes, the current run of 3.2 to 17 LR-17 glass is extremely good! I just wish USO still made them with a 34mm tube.

I wish I had a place to check out the other manufacturers products as compared to my USOs. I never had that opportunity. I think the image out of either my SN-3 or SN-4 is awesome but when I read things here, I have to defer to people that have been fortunate enough to compare USO glass to the others.

One thing though is ruggedness. They are built like Fort Knox. True they are heavy but ruggedness was the oct important consideration when I bought them. I had the fortune to meet John himself in 1998. He was the epitome of a gentleman. He literally spent 3 hours showing me the factory and talking to me specifically about what I was looking for in optics. Being an engineer, I was amazed. Treated me like royalty. That is customer service.

BR,