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Rifle Scopes NightForce or USO?

DP425

DP425

I’d rather be sleeping
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 28, 2009
3,221
65
MI
#1
So I've been contemplating for several months what scope to get for my 20" barreled OBR (when it's built)... Started out setting a price limit of $1000, now I'm looking at scopes over $2000. I'm looking to change over to MIL/MIL, I like FFP, but it's not a requirement, the scope is for tactical use and I'll be running illumination (a given with NF, option with USO). Anyhow, the prices are so close when optioned out the way I'd get them, it's absolutely neck and neck.

USO 3.2-17 TPAL
OR
NK 3.5-15x50 NXS FFP?

And a second scope I'm looking to get in place of getting an ACOG:
USO SN-4S 1-4x
OR
USO SN-12R 4x
OR 1-4x24NXS?
(the SN-4S is about $400 over the other two)


Well guys, what's your thoughts?!? I'd look at S&B, but they are near $3000, and $2000 respectively. THAT is for sure too much.
 
#3
Re: NightForce or USO?

Flip a coin, they're both great scopes. Some like one more than the other.

Like most will tell you, find some people that have them and try them out if you can.

I have a USO, but wouldn't turn people away from a NightForce.
 
#4
Re: NightForce or USO?

Dagsta... yeah I know there are a bunch of NF fanatics here. I'm actually sort of looking for some specific opinions; people that have used/owned both... the ups and downs for each brand.

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that owns either one. I've had a little time behind S&B and a lot of time behind leupold... one's too expensive and one is rather unimpressive.
 
#5
Re: NightForce or USO?

I’ve owned both...... sold the NFs, kept the USOs, and plan on sticking with them. I like consistency..... i'd pick one maker and use them on everything you have.
 
#6
Re: NightForce or USO?

Choice is easy, if you need to have it right now and you are ok with a mil-dot or MLR reticle, then go with NF

If you want custom options (knobs, reticle, tube diameter, color, illumination color to name a few) and dont mind the wait, go with a USO.

The former was not for me, so I went with the later.
 
#7
Re: NightForce or USO?

I don't have USO, but I have 3 NXS's. I've looked through both quite a bit. USO is a fine optic, I'm completely happy with my NXS, didn't have to order and didn't have to wait, just got it when the urge came over me, mounted and shot em.
 
#8
Re: NightForce or USO?

Can't go wrong with either.

At that level it comes down to the nitty gritty and buying the scope YOU want. They are both fantastic.

Does the whole ocular moving when adjusting magnification on the NF bother you?
Are you willing to wait for a USO?
Can you deal with no external illumination adjustment of the NF?
Are you willing to pay a little more for a USO?


Its really a personal preference deal. Both are fantastic.
 
#9
Re: NightForce or USO?

brand692 has touched on the most talked about subjects, very helpful break down on the down sides of the two, and again, only down sides if you are not a big fan, personal choice, like brand692 said, they "both are fantastic".
 
#10
Re: NightForce or USO?

Yeah, I am a little apprehensive about the ocular movement.

What was the wait for you guys when ordering your USO's?

I e-mailed them yesterday about price quotes with their military discounts... awaiting a response... soon hopefully!
 
#11
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yeah, I am a little apprehensive about the ocular movement.

</div></div>

It's a non issue once you use it.
 
#15
Re: NightForce or USO?

I was looking into a USO also. Just be aware depending what USO you like, the parallax might be on the objective - hence when you adjust parallax you turn your flip-up cap. Like the NF only on the other end!

I was quoted a 16 week wait for the build I was looking into. In the end, I just didn't want to wait that long and also I managed to find a good deal on a different scope.
 
#17
Re: NightForce or USO?

My last USO was 14-15 weeks, but it was an ST10, not an SN3.

As many said, decide what you want and move forward-neither will disappoint, unless you were expecting something other than what they are........
 
#18
Re: NightForce or USO?

On the 6920 I kicking around an ACOG or the USO SN-12. The SN-12 really is interesting. Designed for the USMC originally. I wonder why they didn't go with it? Seems like it really surpasses a compareable ACOG in many ways. What don't I know? The 1-4 in theory might better option all around, but being honest with myself I wouldn't use anything other than 4x most of the time. If I was going to invest the extra for the SN4s I'd go the extra mile for the SN4. More money, but more customizable. Way over kill though for what I intended for the 6920 to be for me. I'm going to order something in the very near future. I seen the reference to the SN-12 and it is a contender for me. Interested in feedback on it.
 
#19
Re: NightForce or USO?

Nightforce is a great scope, and BTW a great company to work with, I had a couple of great laughs with the guys during the SHOT Show this year. You really can't go wrong with either scope, just pick the one that suits your needs the best.

Just a hint, companies like MIDWAY USA have our scopes in stock in many of the most popular configurations, 0 wait time.
Have fun with either one you pick!!!
John III
 
#20
Re: NightForce or USO?

Just got my F1, so far really happy with it but its too early to be saying too much about it.

I go through a lot of gear as do many here as we try shit out to see what we like and what we dont. Having said all that my USO ST-10 is one of the few items that I wont sell or trade. Its been my fall back scope for three rifles and has never failed. Take that for what its worth USO you cant go wrong with but I know its nice to explore options along the way.

BTW if they (USO) would make a version of the SSDS with mil knobs I would be running that as my primary variable power (John thats a hint
smile.gif
)
 
#22
Re: NightForce or USO?

John, I assume you work for USO? If you know, what is the lead time on scopes these days (aprox)?
 
#27
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JBW#3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nightforce is a great scope, and BTW a great company to work with, I had a couple of great laughs with the guys during the SHOT Show this year. You really can't go wrong with either scope, just pick the one that suits your needs the best.

Just a hint, companies like MIDWAY USA have our scopes in stock in many of the most popular configurations, 0 wait time.
Have fun with either one you pick!!!
John III </div></div>

Hi John, i just went to Midway USA and they do not have any USO scopes, maybe you could clear this up or post a URL where i can find them. i have a $5,000.00 scope budget right now and want to buy at least three GOOD scopes 14" or less, i like this one:
opplanet-usoptics-sn3-18-10x37.png
 
#28
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Piston Pete</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JBW#3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nightforce is a great scope, and BTW a great company to work with, I had a couple of great laughs with the guys during the SHOT Show this year. You really can't go wrong with either scope, just pick the one that suits your needs the best.

Just a hint, companies like MIDWAY USA have our scopes in stock in many of the most popular configurations, 0 wait time.
Have fun with either one you pick!!!
John III </div></div>

Hi John, i just went to Midway USA and they do not have any USO scopes, maybe you could clear this up or post a URL where i can find them. i have a $5,000.00 scope budget right now and want to buy at least three GOOD scopes 14" or less, i like this one:
opplanet-usoptics-sn3-18-10x37.png
</div></div>

Jeez Pete....what do you do for a living? Is there a spare job going?

Or are you spending a department budget?

Only last week in your "Nightforce made in China?" thread you posted this:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Piston Pete</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 467</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This thread is killing me.......roflmao...
Keep these worthless,goofy ass,none knowing,unbelieaveable threads coming pp you defiantly a optics god......


On second thought........DON'T!!!!!!!Just keep posting on your c.s.line of scopes and let the rest of us who appreciate good optics worry about there place of manufacture......ok ENOUGH SAID........ </div></div>

well.., would you consider this Schmidt Bender scope by the "Optics God" good enough for you ?? i am ordering it first thing Monday morning when i verify my dividend check has been deposited.., oooh BTW, do you have anything comparable on your Hesse AR-15 ??

PM3-12x50Military.jpg

</div></div>

A Schmidt <span style="text-decoration: underline">and</span> three USO's in a week?

Lucky guy!!
 
#30
Re: NightForce or USO?

Pete... midway does have USO's (search "US Optics")... and can you not contaminate my thread with off topic clutter?

Thanks
 
#31
Re: NightForce or USO?

With the SN-4 you might consider getting the 1.5-6. The extra power comes in handy and as you said you would probably run on 4X anyway just as well have 6X. Really like mine!
 
#33
Re: NightForce or USO?

Alright... Here's the plan... or my situation, a little more indepth...

Rifle #1 is a S&W M&P15 w/a barrel cut to 14.5" w/vortex flash hider, Daniel defense free floated rail system, and JP adjustable gas block... just a really reliable, accurate carbine. For this, I need more of a combat optic, which is why I was considering the 1-4x or 4x. I also want to keep the optic on the smaller end of things

Rifle #2 is a larue OBR 20" (when they finally deliver anyway). I'll be using this as a precision shooter to keep my skills behind the trigger sharp when I can't get as much range time on my M110 as I'd like... also perhaps for my "day job". 1000m and in, tactical type use. I'm not into the whole MASSIVE optic trend; I feel 1.5x the distance is all the bigger you need. So 15x is my ballpark power. Also not into HUGE objective lenses that are just harder to hide. This is where the 3.2-17x44 TPAL comes into play (and that's actually a BIT bigger than I'd prefer- 3-15x40 would be my "ideal").

Rifle #3 will hopefully be a Larue OBR-Lite, 18" barrel (supposedly going to start taking orders early summer). This will be for 700m and less, otherwise similar uses as the OBR. Looking at the SN3S for this set-up with 1.8-10x37... it's smaller size will look less "tacticool" which is what I prefer; a 15-20x scope on a tactical AR-15 makes me think it's on there just to say "HEY, LOOK AT ME!"

Anyway, for rifle #1, I want a BDC reticle, which is not offered on the SN-4. Plus, the SN-4 is 11" (1.4lbs), the SN-4S is 8.5" (1.3lbs) and the SN-12R is 7.5" (0.8lbs). This optic is to be a replacement for what would otherwise be an ACOG. I can fairly easily put metal to meat at 600m with a 4x ACOG. The only reason I'm considering the SN-4S and not just looking at the SN-12R is the 1x power factor for CQB... which is much preferred over 4x, or having a 4x sight and attaching a mini red dot to it. BUT, for comparison purposes, the SN-4S is the best match against the NF.

I'm almost as good as sold on the USO scopes... just need to figure out what the military pricing is and most importantly, what kind of lead time we're looking at. I CAN NOT wait 5-6 months for the first two scopes; I've got 2-3 months tops on #1, 3-4 tops on #2 (assuming Larue doesn't drag their feet on getting my 20" to me)

So we will see... gotta get some answers to my e-mail before I can do anything!


(edit- I have shooting schools to attend this summer and I'm going to need those two optics... yeah I know, should have bought them earlier...)
 
#34
Re: NightForce or USO?

I have 3 SN3's and couldn't be happier. I would like to try an F1, but as of now I've never owned one, only NXS's.

I think we as consumers are lucky to have so many good options. Let us know what you decide!
 
#35
Re: NightForce or USO?

DP, You cant go wrong with USO, and John III is a real class act, the man stands behind his products unlike any other. He will (and does) bend over backwards for his customers. You couldnt give your money to a better company.
 
#36
Re: NightForce or USO?

Yeah I'm strongly leaning toward USO... seems there's a LOT of respect for them on this board.
 
#37
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EventHorizon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into a USO also. Just be aware depending what USO you like, the parallax might be on the objective - hence when you adjust parallax you turn your flip-up cap. Like the NF only on the other end!

I was quoted a 16 week wait for the build I was looking into. In the end, I just didn't want to wait that long and also I managed to find a good deal on a different scope. </div></div>

BTW, all 3 of mine have ERGO objectives. I prefer them over the TPal and you can adjust from below 100y to infinity without the cap hitting the barrel either way.
 
#39
Re: NightForce or USO?

I have 2 NXS scopes but that is only because i can't afford the USO or the S&B, but the day is comming. With regards to my NF scopes, i like em, great glass, and work well for me.
 
#40
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425 to JBW#3</div><div class="ubbcode-body">John, I assume you work for USO? </div></div>

I love that line
wink.gif


I really like USO as a product, a company and people. There are scopes of comparable quality and function, but they have treated me great (and make a heeluva scope to boot!).

It really is great the options we have available compared to a few years ago (now if I only still had the income I did a few years ago.......)
 
#41
Re: NightForce or USO?

Eventhorizon and JRose bring up a good point with parallax adjustment, Anyone else have opinions on the T-Pal vs ERGO? I've always had turret adjustable parallax, so I'm a bit uneasy about going ERGO... Would like some additional input on this one.

Plus, I'd like to keep all of my scopes the same brand/layout. With the planned scope for the planned OBR-L (SN-3S), T-PAL isn't an option. So I'd end up with one of my scopes ERGO and the rest, T-PAL (for the OBR, and a year or two down the road, a bolt action .300 or .338). Not sure if I like the idea of one gun being outfitted with lens adjust parallax and two with turret adjust parallax.
 
#42
Re: NightForce or USO?

You can buy 2 NF for one USO.. USO very over rated. I have shot both. Not hardly any difference. If you wanna drive nails with one, buy a USO. If you wanna see clearly and hold a zero well at a very decent price, buy a NF and use the remainder to purchase powder!!!!!
 
#43
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flybrandon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can buy 2 NF for one USO.. USO very over rated. I have shot both. Not hardly any difference. If you wanna drive nails with one, buy a USO. If you wanna see clearly and hold a zero well at a very decent price, buy a NF and use the remainder to purchase powder!!!!!</div></div>


USO not over rated. But would agree that two scopes is better than one! NF is one hell of a scope.
 
#44
Re: NightForce or USO?

I think some of you guys are missing the point with USO. Lets say you buy the new .338 laupa $2000ish Savage ..... It would prob be a great gun to shoot. Would it shoot as well as a HS or GAP????? Prob NOT! GAP is to rifles as USO is to scopes. Your paying a Premium price for a Premium product. Just as with a custom built rifle you can choose tube dia., objective size, type of knobs, reticle, and power....
I'm a Manufacturing Toolmaker and have a few slips of paper from a few Schools/Government that I collected over the years(I know a little bit about Manufacturing). The point I'm trying to make is when John(USO) designs a scope he uses a lot of higher end materials like brass, stainless steel, tungsten & T6. When you add in the extra cost of more exotic materials, extra/special machining and manufacturing time..... I think the fact you can add many bells and whistles to a USO scope makes it a good value for the $!

Just my 2cents though!
 
#45
Re: NightForce or USO?

Flybrandon... I have NO IDEA where you're getting the idea that you can buy two NF for one USO... Seems like you've not priced out the two very well.

The Nightforce NXS1550DIZSMR sells for about $2350. This is a 3.5-15x50 first focal w/zero stops, illuminated reticle and Mil-Mil (drop about $160 w/o zero stop)

The USO SN-3 3.8-17x44 sells for about $2105. This is first focal, illuminated reticle and Mil-Mil. T-Pal option puts it up to about $2305.


Nightforce 1-4x24 w/ zero stops, illuminated reticle and mil-mil runs for about $1350

USO SN-4S 1-4x22 w/ illuminated BDC reticle, Mil-Mil goes for about the $1350


SO, I fail to see where USO is more expensive than NF.


SO, how is a NF so much cheaper? I guess if you want to compare a second focal NF... sure... it's about $500-$600 less
 
#47
Re: NightForce or USO?

Pete... I put in two quote requests today, mentioning my timeline; Hopefully I get back a good price, and a good timeline!
 
#49
Re: NightForce or USO?

USMCj, what did you order?

I want to see what their brown anodizing looks like; I wish their picture page were working
 
#50
Re: NightForce or USO?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Eventhorizon and JRose bring up a good point with parallax adjustment, Anyone else have opinions on the T-Pal vs ERGO? I've always had turret adjustable parallax, so I'm a bit uneasy about going ERGO... Would like some additional input on this one.
</div></div>

The ERGO is supposed to be more forgiving and maybe a *touch* better image as the Tpal adds another lens inside the scope. So if you don't mind the adjustment being out at the front of your scope, it's the obvious choice.

I personally can't stand having it out there. I've had scopes (not USOs) with parallax on the objective before, and I hate having to reach way out there while in the prone to adjust. While realistically it's only 6 more inches or so to reach, that small amount feels like a lot (to me) while in the prone. Just waaaay less convenient than reaching up and adjusting the side parallax.

So, my USOs were / are both Tpal (still have a 5-25, recently sold my 3.2-17). I never once regretted having them that way, and if I were to order another it would be Tpal again. If you don't mind reaching out front, then get the ERGO.
 
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