• The Shot You’ll Never Forget Giveaway - Enter To Win A Barrel From Rifle Barrel Blanks!

    Tell us about the best or most memorable shot you’ve ever taken. Contest ends June 13th and remember: subscribe for a better chance of winning!

    Join contest Subscribe

Rifle Scopes Buying a US optic need info

holy cow

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
  • Apr 22, 2010
    2,447
    226
    60
    Tennessee
    OK you past and present US optic owners. I am going to purchase a scope from them after the first of the year when Uncle Sam is done with me so i have a little bit of time to think on it. And Diggler, thanks again for the snagg if you read this. Well things i know for sure it will be the Ergo model with the 22 or the 16,17 or 18 ( forgot already ) max power model. It will have the Erik, luminated, mil-mil and so forth. So question 1: What benefit would i be gaining going to a 34mm or 35mm tube over the 30mm. Question 2: Besides price, a little longer in length and just a tad heavier should i just opt to go with the 22 max power scope? Question 3: I have used a scope with a lit reticul in red before and they offer it in green also. I am guessing it is pretty much a user preference and since it is highly unlikely i am going to be able to compare them side by side i am going to have to stick with what i feel safe with, the red. I would like to here some feed back on the green from the people who have them. Question 4: The Horus reticul? Did not see a picture of what it looks like on the web site. Can anyone here guide me to a picture of it. Buy the extra 400.00 price tag, what makes it worth that much? The rifle it will go on is 1 being built by Mike Bush. The componets are as follows, MannersT2A stock, jewell trigger, Bat repeater with lug and pic rail as part of the action, his bottom metal, bartlin barrel, Bat rings,Todd Jackson paint job in a 6.5x47 Lapua. I hope to hear some suggestions and comments from you guys. Thanks......DAN.....
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    Just 1 last thing on the rifle, it will also have a AAC break on the end so i can get a suppressor for it. That will be another topic for discussion for me in the future since it will be a first for me getting 1.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    Don't get a Horus, not worth the pain in the ass, or the price tag.

    35mm or 30mm your choice, but the only thing you gain from the 35 is internal elevation (travel) which you don't really need with a 6.5x47.

    3.2-17x is my favorite, and plenty for that caliber. The 22x is unnecessary. I can see my his to 1k just fine with 17x. All the higher mag does is bring in shitty resolution and more mirage.

    Enjoy a fine scope from a quality company...
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    3.2-17 is my favorite also. I find myself shooting distance often on less than 17x due to mirage. You need to keep a watch on the Hide classifieds. You will find a nice used one for several hundred less than new and without the wait. USO customer service comes with it new or used. The Horus is too busy for me even though some love it. I would recommend the GAP mil reticle. All of mine are 30mm.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    3.2-17x is great. However if it's a competition rifle you may be better off with the 3.8-22x. The only thing I don't like about my SN-3 is the tunneling from 3.2x to around 4x, but it's not a big deal. I don't know if the 3.8-22x exhibits the same tunneling.

    I chose Red illumination on mine because I have always used Red light at night and not had an issue. Something about green just bugs me.

    I went with the 30mm because it still has plenty of elevation for my .308. YOU DO NOT GAIN ANY LIGHT TRANSMISSION WITH A LARGER TUBE.

    I wouldn't pay the asking price for the Horus. I like the GAP reticle in my SN-3. The only addition I would like to see is a "Christmas tree" like on the Vortex Razor ERB-2 reticle.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    The 3.2-17 is a great scope, I run the GAP reticle on all my USO scopes and in my USO spotter. The RDP in Mil scale reticle does have a finer reticle at the center but that part or the reticle is not illuminated. If your application is for all around utility then go GAP. If you want to shoot some F Class with it as well then you might consider the RDP in Mil Scale. I do have one SN3 in 3.8-22 ERGO and its a great scope. Its on my 26 inch 308 that is only a target rifle. I would say go with the 17x model.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    So far you guys have been a big help. I bought a certificate off of Diggler for 20% off and i want to get the most out of it and not wish that i did not go ahead and spring for the extra options. I have spent a lot of money on builds over the years but have been 1 big tight ass on glass. It is time to break the cycle and take the plunge. Well so far it will be the 3.2x17 with the 30mm. tube for sure. I like LoneWolf, for some reason the green just does not sit right with me, so red it is. What about the option for extended eye relief? Does it help or not really needed? I will start going to Tom Sarvers place when the builds are done from Mike Bush. I got a lot of learnin ahead of me up their and had talked to Tom awhile back and i know i will be in great hands with the fellows that go up their. I know some people on hear that i have read place their knobs differently than standard. What would be user friendly or a good change from standard that seems to work better? ( I hope i was clear on that ) Once again thanks guys for all the help so far, i am all ears.....DAN......
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    +1 on Horus being neat... but not worth the price.

    I think the high price is due to the huge amount of work to create them (huge amount of etching)... and they probably have to license them from Horus.

    I had one briefly, but it was on an MOA/MOA scope that I resold quickly here on the hide. Again, high in cool factor, and it likely works very well. But to me, not worth the price. Just my $0.02.

    Don't discount the T-Pal. I run T-Pals and am really happy with them. There are definitely Ergo Fans and T-Pal fans. Each has advantages and disadvantages. And an EREK elevation knob is worth the expense. For windage knob, one that will take a dust cover isn't a bad thing (ie US #1).

    Unless you are shooting a mile or more, a 30mm tube is fine and gives you more options for rings.

    And the trend is definitely towards Mil/Mil. If you ever resell, it appears the Mil/Mil scopes do better than the MOA versions. But that's totally a user preference as far as shooting them, so get what you WANT!

    You can't go wrong w. USO... and don't be afraid to ask JNW or Doc for advice. They are fantastic to help you design your scope to tailor it to your needs... not just trends.

    Cheers,

    Sirhr
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dan Tucker</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> What about the option for extended eye relief? Does it help or not really needed? </div></div>

    NO!

    Talk about tunneling....
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    I have the 3.2-17 with the mpr reticle. I went with the 34mm tube size just in case I wanted to try a ph or s&b later on. I went with the 58mm objective size. I have the green lit reticle and I actually like it. Knob wise I went with the ergo and us#1 both in mil of course. If you want when I get Internet hopefully sometime this week I can get a pic up for you if you would like to see it.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    I am going to go mil mil for sure. I have always been very good at math and numbers so hopefully that will help. I am like a baby on training wheels to these mil mil scopes so hopefully that will make me easier to teach. The older fellows at the range i go to that shoot NRA matches and stuff tell me the 1s that don't know anything are easier teached than 1s that have bad habits, they can be hard to break. It always made sence to me.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    sounds good<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rdgshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have the 3.2-17 with the mpr reticle. I went with the 34mm tube size just in case I wanted to try a ph or s&b later on. I went with the 58mm objective size. I have the green lit reticle and I actually like it. Knob wise I went with the ergo and us#1 both in mil of course. If you want when I get Internet hopefully sometime this week I can get a pic up for you if you would like to see it. </div></div>
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    @ Dan T,

    The thing about extended eye relief is that unless you have a Really Heavy Recoiling stick, ER is a waste of "engineering compromises".

    The biggest thing *Far_Too_Many* people just do not realize is, Proper Stock Length of Pull & Fit, is the most critical thing for proper scope usage. You hear folks say Cheek Weld over and over, but rarely ever hear anyone actually say Stock Fit!

    With a 6.5x47 Lapua, what recoil...? Honestly, you could get by with 3" - 3.5" of eye relief with that setup. Shorter ER tends to help with FOV, and Eye Box amongst other things. There are other factors, and I think John could answer far better than I.

    The only times Long ER really comes in handy is:
    A) - if you do not have an adjustable stock and other shooters may well need to use the weapon
    B) - if the weapon in question has seriously heavy recoil
    -- If B, then you may well want to have a proper fitting stock, as well as Long ER. It just depends.

    Good Shooting,
    Gary
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    They also offer the internal level option now. I was shooting with it today and forgot it was there. Haven't had a lot of time behind the rifle with it yet but I like how you have to look for it in the field of view and its not a distraction. As for ERGO and TPAL - I have both and would have to say the rifles application would make that choice for me.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    +1 to everything that has been said. To sum up, from my personal builds:

    USO #1
    3.8-22x
    30mm tube, 44mm objective
    ERGO - front parallax adjust
    EREK elevation in mil
    US# 1 M40 windage in mil
    Red illumination
    Mil GAP reticule

    USO #2
    3.2-17x
    35mm tube, 44mm objective
    T-Pal - side parallax adjust
    EREK 11mil per rev. Milestone in mil
    US# 1 windage in mil (I wanted the option of cap, but I also got an additional M40 knob just for the heck of it. :)).
    Red illumination
    Mil GAP reticule


    Stick with red illumination, don't drink the green illumination coolaid.
    smile.gif


    In hind sight I should have gone with 58mm for the front objective, but I wanted low profile instead of the hubble. Since I shoot pretty much only during daylight, in California, the extra light-gathering capability of the big 58mm wasn't that critical to me, YMMV.
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SoCalPete</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
    In hind sight I should have gone with 58mm for the front objective, but I wanted low profile instead of the hubble. Since I shoot pretty much only during daylight, in California, the extra light-gathering capability of the big 58mm wasn't that critical to me, YMMV. </div></div>

    58 is the way....
    grin.gif



    FOV
     
    Re: Buying a US optic need info

    There has been quite a few posts regarding green or red illumination, check them out and decide for yourself which you would prefer.

    I looked through both on USO scopes, in almost pitch dark room. I let my eyes adjust to where I could pick out some shapes in the room and then looked through the red, then look at the room, then repeat with the green and look at the room. Not scientific at all I know, but my eyes were not adversely affected by the red illumination as much as the green, meaning my eyes adjusted to where I could pick up shapes in the dark room quicker after looking through the red illum.

    This is my ignorant way of testing this for myself, and again by no means scientific, but it is a personal choice to use red or green and everyone is built different so decide for yourself...