Re: Sun shade, too "mall ninja?"
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bm11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Eh, I like how they look, maybe I'll give one a try. If they don't take anything away from the image, and can help in sunny situations, I really don't see the drawback, other than I have to cut the foam in my case. </div></div>
If your main criteria for getting a Sun Shade or an ARD is because they look cool, as others have said that is rather "Mall Ninja". However, the choice is up to you. Personally, I prefer the "look" of my scopes without ARDs' and would prefer not to use one, but they do serve useful purposes, so I use them on some scopes.
I've used USO ARDs' on several scopes including USO SN-3 3.2-17X 44mm ERGO, SN-3 3.2-17X 44mm TPAL, Premier Heritage 5-25X (56mm), and two PMII 5-25X (56mm) scopes. From what I've seen, the build-quality and performance the honeycomb-design in the USO ARD unit is better than the Tenabraex ARDs'.
Although I only shoot on a one-way range, my USO ARDs' serve two purposes for me:
(1) Helps keep dirt, rain, and other crap off of the objective lens. This minimizes the chance of having to clean the lens, which reduces the necessity of lens cleaning, which reduces the chance of scratching an (expensive) lens.
(2) The ARD actually helps sharpen the target image because off-axis light is prevented from entering the scope (off-axis light reduces image quality). This effect is noticible whether I am shooting from a covered firing line or in full sun.
I've found the USO ARD is so efficient that I just leave it on. On the rare occasions that I have used the scope at night the ARD has never reduced the image clarity to the point that I needed to remove it, although your eyes and the particular scope in use play a part as well.
Not only are the USO ARDs' very efficient - they are also very well made. The USO ARDs' consist of three (3) components:
(1) A threaded, Type III hard anodized aluminum housing, (which by itself is the USO Sunshade), (2) a high-efficiency anti-reflective <span style="font-style: italic">"honeycomb"</span> insert that is expoxied into the aluminum housing, and (3) an aluminum "Stop ring" that limits the depth of the honeycomb insert within the housing.
The housing / Sunshade is threaded on both ends - the rear has male threads and screws into the objective end of the scope, while the front has a female thread that accepts additional accessories. The <span style="font-style: italic">actual</span>, OAL of each Sunshade or ARD is .25" longer than the <span style="font-style: italic">installed length</span> (male .25" threads into scope). Therefore, the OAL of a 2" USO Sunshade or ARD is actually 2.25".
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">USO 2" ARD for 56mm Schmidt Bender:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Tac Ops X-Ray 51 w/metalworkwork in Tac Ops OD Green-T & Black-T w/PMII 5-25X 56mm & USO 2" S & B 56mm ARD:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">USO 2" ARD for 56mm Premier:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Full-custom SS MOA 10/22 w/Premier 5-25X 56mm & USO 2" Premier 56mm ARD:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">USO 2" ARD for 44mm USO:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">USO 4" ARD for 44mm USO:</span></span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">FNH A3 G w/SN-3 3.2-17X 44mm ERGO & USO 4" ARD:</span></span>
Keith