Re: Got my new USO... *UPDATE - Got Replacement*
I got out to the range a couple days ago with the new USO. I was able to spend several hours and 100 rounds with the new scope. It was a beautiful day, about 80 degrees with minimal wind. On top of all that, we had the range to ourselves the majority of the day... hard to beat a day like that!
The first task was to zero the scope. On the "QC Procedures" checklist that is supplied with the scope, one of the checks is "Elevation Set @ 100yds on 20MOA Down Base". This was marked with a handwritten "set". As I wanted a 100 yard zero, and am using a 20 MOA base, I was hopeful that the scope would already be close and require little work to get it zeroed. I put one target at 50 yards initially to ensure I was "on the paper". I fired one round and was nearly dead on, so I shifted to the 100 yard target. I fired three rounds and had a nice group about half an inch high and two inches to the right. I dialed .5" down and 2" left into the scope, and fired three more rounds, which were dead on. I then zeroed out the caps... and DONE!
I was slightly worried about the EREK zero procedure going into the range session. The night before I watched the video that has been posted here, and also read the supplied instruction sheet several times. The extremely painless zero on the 3.2-17 was a nice surprise. If you're going to zero at 100, and are using a 20 MOA base, the pre-set elevation before it leaves USO is a nice bonus.
After the scope was zeroed, I did some shooting at 100 and 200 (the farthest this range goes to
). I really, really, really like the MDMOA reticle. I have the illuminated version, which is a touch "thicker" at the center crosshair if my understanding is correct. If you were going to be using a scope mainly for shooting groups on paper, I think some may find this reticle too thick. For field use I really like it just how it is. For reference, I recently sold a Nightforce 3-15 with the NPR1 reticle, which I found too fine, or "thin". I also played around a bit with ranging with the reticle. I personally like the IPHY system, which is one of the reasons I went with USO. Again, I really like this MDMOA reticle, and much prefer it to the PCMOA that is in my 5-25. The MDMOA just looks a little "cleaner" and not so busy. I still like the PCMOA, just not as much.
Due to the 200 yard range, I didn't really get to crank on the EREK much. I will say that the clicks are extremely positive, and feel great. The windage knob is equally as positive. Neither knob has any "mush" in between the clicks.
I also found the glass to be extremely clear and bright. I have never used a S&B or Premier, so I can't comment on how the USO stacks up optically, but I don't know how either could get much better than this! My buddy that was with me has one of the old Springfield Armory scopes on his SPS tactical.
After putting a few rounds through his stick, I was very appreciative of having nice glass. He also had his 700P with a Leupy Mk4 on it. I have always thought Leupold is decent glass, but the USO is just on another level to my eye. The only other glass I've had that I remember being on the same level was Nightforce. I didn't have one at the range to do a side by side comparison though. To summarize, the USO glass is beautiful, and I love it!
I hope to get out in the next few weeks and get some more time on the USO. Hopefully at a spot with much more range and stretch the legs a little. A couple pics from the range session:
During this same session I was also zeroing the 5-25 SN3 that is on my Barrett. I have had that scope since late last year, but just didn't zero it yet. As the M99's rail is parallel to the bore, the pre-set 20 MOA elevation was not as ideal. I got the scope zeroed, but did feel a little fuzzy about the whole process. At this point the EREK on the 5-25 has more "down" adjustment than I want. I need to re-watch the video, get a better feel for the process, and re-zero the .50. I am equally as impressed with the 5-25 USO. The quality on both scopes is top notch. A pic of my buddy on the .50 after getting it zeroed:
It's a SN3 3.2-17 Tpal, and was supposed to have a MDMOA, but instead came with a PCMOA. The SN matched the paperwork, which did specify MDMOA, so it looks like someone just goofed and put the wrong one in on assembly I guess. 
