Leupold Mk4 40x spotter VS. USO Spotter

[Six Feet Under]

All,
I was just wondering how the USO and the Leupold compaired? Glass quality, light trans, etc. They are both 40x max magnification and both have a FFP reticle (which would be a must for me). I have never looked through or been around either of them. Any input would be help. I see they go used for about the same price range. I know leupold makes the 60x mk4 but I was looking at the 40x. Thanks all
SFU

 

[Okie Gordon]

I have no experience with the USO but every Leupold I have utilized to watch trace and impact on steel just plain sucks.
The two that I utilized on a regular basis were sold at the Snipers Hide PX section and I got a nice Kowa.

The story I have pretty much made my mind up for me.
We were laying down one time shooting steel at various yardages and practicing shooter/spotter interaction.
I was the shooter.
My rifle has a Nightforce scope on it.
Spotter gave me windage and elevation.
I took the shot and saw right where the bullet splattered on the steel (735 yards as best I remember)
Spotter says "Unobserved, repeat the shot" so I put another quick shot using the same hold on the target.
Shot went right on top of the first shot
Spotter says "Unobserved".
I call a halt and we discuss it.
He sees nothing and I see both impact splatters real clear with the Nightforce on 22x.
We switch out, me as the spotter & him as the shooter.
Take a few shots, same problem.
I see nothing, he sees the splatter impact real clear.
We go down range to verify the accuracy of what we are seeing.

A few days later the Leupold went up for sale and we learned how to get by without the mil reticle in the spotter.

Like I said, no idea about the USO but I will never spend another $ on a Leupold spotter.

 

[mjh30]

Six feet under, I was pleasantly surprised with the MK4 I got this year(tmr reticle) glass was quite good, does what its supposed to do.

 

[Papa Zero Three]

I like my Leupold MK 4 12-40x60 with mildot , its a pretty commonly used and liked spotter. I can't say I've heard many complaints about the Mk 4 to be honest. I can't comment on any of the other Leupold models.

The USO is a tank ,very well built like all USO products. The only complaint I've heard about the USO spotter scopes is the eye relief on them. Some people find the eye relief is such that if you aren't perfectly situated behind it, it can be hard to look through for long periods of time.

If you have a choice between the two, I'd say go with the Mk 4.

 

[DT1]

My MK4 has worked beautifully over the past three years. I'm not a HSLD operator but I've banged the scope around a good bit in matches and training and nary a problem. Glass is great for spotting hits of all calibers out to 400-500yds given good conditions and the reticle (mine's a TMR) is excellent for calling corrections and spotting trace.

I have never owned a USO spotter but have looked through a couple. The reticle selections are very nice but the glass on both looked almost like opening your eyes underwater with no mask or goggles. Have owned several USO scopes over the years and all have had very clear glass and have performed great. Never understood why USO missed the mark with their spotter. YMMV!

 

[Six Feet Under]

I am surprised there are not more conpanys out there that make a spotter with reticles in them. I email Vortex for the hell of it and told them to make a Razor spotter with a FFP EBR-2B and 1B reticle in them.. I thought that would be pretty bad ass.. They just told me they would pass it along. I don't like the idea of shitty glass.

 

[SNIPERS4DUMMIES]

Bushnell also released a unit housing the Horus reticle.

The USO seems to be the most affordable and less loved, you could grab them on the second hand market for a song. There's a unit listed now under optics for sale.

 

[Driftwood]

I was issued a Leupold MK4 12-40x60 spotting scope with a Mildot reticle and I loved it. I would like to buy one for my personal use, but would opt for the TMR reticle instead. I found the glass to be very clear. I never found the quality lacking on my Leopoldo spotting scope, but I have shot with a few people that were not the most experienced spotters and I know it can be very frustrating. Many times spotting trace has more to do with the skill of the spotter and the position of the scope, than the quality of the glass.

 

[cramey74]

I love my Leupold Mark 4 spotter. It has the mil-dot ret and has proven itself a nice unit. I can't think of anything in that price range that compares. The USO looks like a nice piece but I have looked through one and it is not on par with their rifle scopes.

 

[MontanaMarine]

There are no flies on the Leupold 12-40x60. It's one of the few with good glass, good eye relief, and a 5mm exit pupil at lowest power.

Regardless of what spotter you use, you will have better results if you dial down your power towards the low end, and orient the target in the lower part of your FOV.

I have no experience with the USO but every Leupold I have utilized to watch trace and impact on steel just plain sucks.
The two that I utilized on a regular basis were sold at the Snipers Hide PX section and I got a nice Kowa.

The story I have pretty much made my mind up for me.
We were laying down one time shooting steel at various yardages and practicing shooter/spotter interaction.
I was the shooter.
My rifle has a Nightforce scope on it.
Spotter gave me windage and elevation.
I took the shot and saw right where the bullet splattered on the steel (735 yards as best I remember)
Spotter says "Unobserved, repeat the shot" so I put another quick shot using the same hold on the target.
Shot went right on top of the first shot
Spotter says "Unobserved".
I call a halt and we discuss it.
He sees nothing and I see both impact splatters real clear with the Nightforce on 22x.
We switch out, me as the spotter & him as the shooter.
Take a few shots, same problem.
I see nothing, he sees the splatter impact real clear.
We go down range to verify the accuracy of what we are seeing.

A few days later the Leupold went up for sale and we learned how to get by without the mil reticle in the spotter.

Like I said, no idea about the USO but I will never spend another $ on a Leupold spotter.

 

[Big Dog Steel]

I have a mk4 with a TMR reticle in it. I have absolutely no problem seeing impacts with it. IMO its the best all around package out there for a spotting scope with a good reticle. Glass is plenty clear and with a TMR reticle you can accurately call impact corrections with ease. FWIW - I have (3) custom USO 3.8-22 Ergo's that I wouldn't trade for anything else on the market. USO makes an awesome scope, but leupy has them beat for a total package spotting scope.

 

[plunker20]

im with ya on that luepold ive got one and we see trace and impacts all the way out to 1800. fantastic spotter for a good price. mount it on a manfrotto and youll be happy

 

[Big Dog Steel]

Yep, mine has a 322rc2 head too.

 

[19Scout77]

The USO spotter is so tough you can use it to hammer tent stakes...which is an appropriate use for it. Leupold is w/o question a far superior option.

 

[Six Feet Under]

I have the manfrotto head, just need a badass spotter.lol Right now I have a bushnell tac excursion. It's nice for the money but I know there is way better glass out there... Everything in this field is expensive and now would like to just get a nicer spotter. I agree with Driftwood on the TMR reticle. I like that reticle. A friend of mine has the newer Leupold Mk4 60x spotter, and I think it is damn nice.. Of course you are limited to what power you can go up to with mirage, light etc. I called and talked to a tech guy at Leupold the other day. He told me that their gold rings and Mk4 model spotters are the same except the ffp reticle in the mk4- meaning they have the same lenses in them. He just said that their gold ring HD models are a little step up. He was also telling me that if I found a killer deal on a gold ring, that they can install a ffp reticle in it (for a price$$) Looks like I will probalby get drunk one night, get online and end up buying a mk4 spotter. That's how I end up with most of my shit anyway. lol

 

[Dogtown]

You can't really compare the two favorably, I think, for the simple fact that the USO is basically a rifle scope.

 

[Ronin47]

Another thumbs up for the Leupold MK4 w/TMR reticle. Absolutely no problems seeing trace or spotting shots on steel out to a grand!

As mentioned above, mount it on a Manfrotto 055PROB tripod w/ pistol grip head and ROCK ON!

 

[Pester]

I looked for a long time and ended up with the Leupy after looking at a lot of them at a sports show where I could to a somewhat reasonable comparison. Plus I have heard that they have a great warranty.

 

[psmith]

You can't go wrong with a MK 4. I had a Bushy excursion with the mildot and upgraded to a Leupy with the Horus and it was a major step up. Have even compared it side by side with a Spotter 45/60 (which was better) but it held its own. For the price I can't think of a better option.