USO's "new" swivel level, is it level?

bm11

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 18, 2010
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Maine
I have had USO swivel levels in the past, and my experience is that they are not in fact level to the same plane as the pic rail they are mounted to. This is with the older thumb wheel style however, and I am told that the new model which has a spring loaded detent does not share this issue.

I am looking to verify this. If you are uncomfortable openly posting about your USO's "lack of level" level, please feel to PM me. I am weighing out options for my new mount setup. I usually go with a Spuhr mount but I don't need cant for this application so I am contemplating rings plus a level. I am happy with the Spuhr level, I am not satisfied with the performance of the Accuracy First levels I have tried.

No, Spuhrs rings won't work, they aren't offered in a 1.46" high configuration.

Thanks,

-Bob
 
Bob,
I have had no problems with mine at all.. Everything is tight on it. I checked it the other day by taking my scope off and mouthing a level on my base.. It's still dead nutz.. I know a few other guys that have the newer model and have had no problems at all.. Maybe that's just our luck though.. I have a few buddies using the vortex level.. They are nice for the money.
SFU
 
Mine is not level with the top of the rail at all. If my rail is level, then the bubble is on the right side of the window, about 1/2 a bubble off. It's not a deal breaker for me, I just leveled the rail, and marked where the left edge of the bubble should be with a silver sharpie. Even with this I still like this model over anything else, it folds back under the scope nicely and doesn't poke me in the back when carrying it on the sling.
 
My swivel type was also about 1/2 bubble off. I got a piece of mylar about .005" thick I think and put it between the mount and picatinny rail on the low side. That leveled it up. You can experiment with different thicknesses but I would not use a paper product.
 
I just bought two Flatline Ops "fixed" levels for about $77 each from Midway (item 754603). The "foldout" version is almost $90 more. Also, I really liked the Accuracy 1st DG levels, but when I got them I discovered they don't work for lefthanded shooters since they are not "see through".
 
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I just bought two Flatline Ops "fixed" levels for about $77 each from Midway (item 754603). The "foldout" version is almost $90 more. Also, I really liked the Accuracy 1st DG levels, but when I got them I discovered they don't work for lefthanded shooters since they are not "see through".
Give them a call, they're nice folks- perhaps they have or can fab a lefty solution for you.
 
I have the rail mounted swivel detent level and I found that there is vertical play when it is extended. I can wiggle it up and down when it is in the extended position. Not exactly the best thing to happen on a $100 level. Perhaps mine was defective? Oh well, live and learn.
 
That flatline level looks to be the ticket. Especially if it is adjustable. Killshot, I'd love to kill two birds with one stone, but unfortunately my application requires a 34mm solution.
 
That flatline level looks to be the ticket. Especially if it is adjustable. Killshot, I'd love to kill two birds with one stone, but unfortunately my application requires a 34mm solution.

The model you need is the Covert 34mm, which is what I'll be mounting to my ATACR that arrives today. The Covert is pricey at $169 but you're able to fine-tune it; unlike their newer, fixed models.
 
I can certainly understand that someone might not be happy about paying $100 for an anti-cant device and it's not perfectly level when mounted on the rail. However, as wchartz mentioned above, it takes but a few minutes to shim it so that it is level. I simply use a small piece of aluminum foil on top of the rail (underneath one end of the level) folded as many times as necessary to achieve the proper thickness. It's really a simple process. I have the flip-out USO level on every one of my rifles and they do the job very well. I like the flip-out feature and I can place it on the rail where I can actually see it without breaking my cheekweld. For those of you considering one of these ACDs, having to shim it during the mounting process really shouldn't be a deal-breaker, it's extremely simple.
 
The problem with mounting a level to the pic rail is if it (the rail) isn't perfectly square, the level will never give an true reading. Some shooters have even mentioned the USO level not being level after they've secured it tightly to the rail as a result of the torque. That is why a scope mounted level, such as the Flatline Ops, is the better solution.
 
Bob, I have a Vortex that you can check out. Remind me and Ill bring it Sunday. I too have beent thinking about the Flat Line for some time. After quite a bit of looking I think that they may be the best option, however the Vortex is retarded inexpensive and more responsive than my Accuracy 1ST by far.