Rifle Scopes US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

[vtb]

Hello sh.

Since 1-8x Leupold is high-dollar bentley and i don't like S&B short-dot i decided to go with other route for my lightweight Rem 700 build in .308

Rifle will be used as competition rifle at 0-600 meters distance, at day conditions. When i say 0 - i mean ISPC sized target at 7 meters, when i say 600 - i mean 1MOA paper target at 600 meters.

Now i have Trijicon TR24 1-4x Red triangle scope.
it's good but it's tricky to shoot with holdover and the elevation turret is not suitable to quickly dial-in the dopes.

The choices i've been narrowed to:
1. USO ST-10 + MicroAimpoint T1 combo
or
2. USO SN4 1.5-6x with Dual Focal Plane reticle.

Since USO web-site is 'for look only' i've got a questions regarding both variants:

<span style="font-weight: bold">ST-10</span>
1. Is it possible to locate windage turret on the left side of the scope? Will i loose reticle lighting in that case?
2. EREK turret - except it's flat and allow to use all of scope range after setting zero - what are the other advantages over usial open-type turret.
3. Is ERGO upgrade worth the money? is it comfortable to use it quickly? What's the closest parralax distance with ERGO?
4. 44mm bell vs. 37mm bell... Does the difference in weight justify going with 44mm over 37mm? What's the weight difference?

<span style="font-weight: bold">SN4 1.5-6x DFP</span>
1. Will it allow at 1.5x use it as aimpoint? Or if to be honest it's not to be shot with two eyes open?
2. Is it forgiving at 1.5x for head position?

So basically it's like a poll - "ST-10+Aimpoint T1" vs. "SN4" with some areas which are not clear for me at the moment.
I'd say if there was 1-6x DFP from USO - it'll be the solution, but it isn't.

Thank you for help.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

And the additional question regarding these two scopes - how clear the glass is?

I had a NF compact 2.5-10x32 and sold it because it was dark for my eyes... so - will these scopes gather more light than NF compacts?

 

[kombar]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

I can answer at least some of your questions, having owned a couple of ST-10s.

1. Yes. I'm pretty sure if you do left side windage they can just put the illumination on the other side.

2. It's physically larger, the click spacing is probably better than the #3 style knobs, and you get more adjustment per revolution than the #1s. It can be set up to give you a zero stop. If you choose 1/10 mrad adjustments, it's also the only knob listed on the website that will give you an even number of mils per revolution.

3. The first scope I bought I got ERGO. I didn't on the second. The parallax is very forgiving, and I ended up just using the ERGO set at 200 yards most of the time. For the second scope, I just went with fixed parallax set at 200 and saved some money. It might be worth it to you, it might not; it's pretty much going to be personal preference.

As far as comfort goes, I primarily shot from sling supported positions, so I had to break position in order to adjust it. However, like I said before, it was very forgiving and didn't really need to be adjusted much, if ever.

If you remove the stop screw, I think it can focus down to 10 or 15 yards or so, but I can't remember. With the stop screw in place, I think it's around 50 yards.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

Kombar - thank you for your answer.

The question for left-side windage was because on the right side i want to mount Aimpoint T1 as low as possible - and if i remove the windage knob - it will not obscure the view.
So do i get it right - if i abandon the reticle lighting - i will be able to get rid off all knobs on the right side of the scope (considering the windage knob moved to the left side)?

 

[jbailey]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

Victor Tango Bravo-

Why not the SN3 1.8-10? I have one on my long range precision AR and the scope is a beast. I have run it in several carbine matches w/o problems (which had many targets at 10-20yds) and had it out at 1000yd. Get it with a good reticle and illumination and it rocks at both ends of the mag range.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

BillPrudden - thank you for your answer.

1. I've used build-in reticle lighting on high-power scope only once. The time I used it I wished I've got a red-dot. This said at my current level of shooting education I use retcle to compensate the wind - not dial-in... So I will use windage knob one time - during setting zero. And wish st-10 has a Horus - but I think I will stick with GAP.
2. So basically you're saying the ERGO upgrade is good to have.
3. What laws do you want to know about?

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

BillPrudden - thank you for explaining details.

3. Laws - we can own anything except if
A) it's officially adopted by military (there's a list)
B) caliber is currently adopted by military (5.45x39 is not)
C) grooves in the bore the same pattern as military weapons (svd has to be rebarreled)
D) it's overal length is smaller than 800 mm when it can make a shot (so it should have a trigger block at folded condition)
E) barrel length (if barrel is detachable) is shorter than 500mm or barrel+receiver length shorter than 500mm (if barrel is not swappable)
F) it can go full-auto.

Anything more powerful than 7 joules - you should have licience.
Smoothbore shotgun - you obtain the licience and buy it
Rifled weapons - you should own smoothbore for 5 years.
Calibers from .17hmr to I think .408ct

So basically semi-auto AR-10 in .308 with 18.5" bbl and overall length 805 mm is good to go,

 

[shootist~]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

vtb,

Another "possible" on keeping the windage on the right side is to go with a Zeroing Knob instead of a turret. The 1.5-6 DFP I have on order will be set-up that way. It will initially be mounted on a my heavy 3-Gun rifle - a FAL. FALs don't like a turret hanging over the ejection port due to the robust ejection. It's listed on the invoice as: Knob -Windage US#1 1/10 MIL Zeroing.

The EREK upgrade is a relatively inexpensive upgrade and will gain you more distance per single revolution. It's also a zero stop. (This is my first USO so you might want to bare that in mind.)

I agree with your choice on the dual focal plane option for the close stuff. I would "think" using a bolt gun would offset the time lost in not having 1x on the low end, (but I could be wrong). We shoot from near zero to about 400 meters, although our 400 meter targets are partially obscured 10" steel plates (about 2 MOA).

You should also know that the current FFP Mil reticle on the 1.5-6 is in full 1 Mil increments.

I cannot advise you on using a 1.5-6 like an Aimpoint - I am weak eye dominate and forced to squint on anything > 1x.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

2 shootist - thank you for guidance.
But there is no info on Zeroing knob on us optics web site.

Can someone provide picture of scope with zeroing windage knob?

 

[997/2man]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

The SN-4 would be great for your closer shooting, will 6X be enough magnification? Look at the SN-3 or 3s. 1.8-10X with either 44mm or 37mm objective.

EREK is a good upgrade.

The JNG reticle with red illumination is hard to beat.

Good luck.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

Thank you guys for info (both here and in e-mail)
Looks like majority of users prefer 1.8-10x to fixed 10x.

Does it justify the price difference between sn-3s and ST-10 if
A) I will put red-dot over it
B) if I'll shoot past 100 meters I will use 10x anyway.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

Visited local dealer who stocks USO...

looked thru SN3 1.8-10x37 T-pal EREK 1/10 MIL, MIL-Scale GAP.
seems to be a good scope. EREK knob is the best thing that this scope has.
Unfortunately there was no ST-10 at the moment to compare it with Sn-3.
So honestly i don't know - will i be dissapointed with fixed scope over variable, or not - after 5.5-22x56 NF SFP these both scopes looks like low-power

Local price is (the scopes are at the shelf):
-$3020 for Sn-3 1.8-10x37 t-pal, erek, red illumination
-$2020 for ST-10x44 ergo, slimline knobs, red illumination

So the main question - does additional features cost additional $1000? i'd say if ST-10 was with EREK - the difference was $800 - and i think i agree with guys who said sn3 is better than st-10.

PS
But i also looked side-by-side into Nightforce F1 FFP 3.5-15x50 priced at $2480 - i haven't found huge difference in clarity of glass between it and USO... and NF also made in US. i liked tha HS ZR knob of NF alot, but EREK knob is the thing that moves my thoughts to USO.

So the inital question transformed to
Sn3 1.8-10x37 tpal, 1/10 MIL EREK, Mil-Scale GAP, red illumination for $3020
vs.
NF 3.5-15x50, 1/10MIL HS ZS, MLR2, red illumination for $2490

And honestly at this point i've lost.

 

[vtb]

Re: US Optics ST-10 vs. SN4 1.5-6x ordering questions.

sh, hello again.
Reality based decision was to buy mid-range scope with good clicks and ability to shoot at low-end without red-dot.

So i went to local dealer and bought:


will post range report after i'll mount it.
It will replace my Trijicon TR24 red triangle.

Nightforce 3.5-15 will stay in place as long-range optics untill i'll test ability to hit targets using USO (or i leave NF as a secondary scope)

Thanks to everyone who helped.

UPDATE.
The scope has "dust" on the reticle plane (inside the scope) which can be clearly seen at night.
1.5x


6x


So for me that's not the quality I expected from $2300 (price at official dealer at my country) low-power scope.

Will post update after the talk with the dealer. But the scope was brand new opened from the box.