Rifle Scopes What's up with US Optics?

Subwrx300

Subwrx300

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Minuteman
Jan 15, 2014
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#1
I've always been curious about their scopes. But it doesn't seem like they've changed much over the last 3-4 years. I could be wrong about this; if anything, it looks like they've reduced their product line (getting rid of the SR, MR, LR and ER lines replacing them with the B series over last 2 years.

I own a few NFs (4-16x and 7-35x ATACRs) so that is my reference point. I initially ruled USO products out mainly due to reticles (IPHY instead of true MOA). I'm considering switching a scope or two out for Mil variants and USO is still a product I'm interested learning more about.

Are they worth looking at over other optics in similar price range? Seems like a lot of good options in 2500-3000 range with good features (Kahles, S&B, Another NF, *almost* used TT, Etc). Any thoughts?

Edited to clarify question/post
 
Last edited:
#2
US Optics makes great scopes. I have quite a few of them. They are very durable and track true. I like there reticle choices too.

You can’t go wrong with a USO. I feel they have the best turrets in the business and the scopes will not fail you. Now does it have the best glass.... I would say no. It’s not Theta, Mark 8, or Schmidt glass, but it is in the top five maybe six depending on your eyes.

As far as the models, I think they are just trying to streamline their models. And remember the B series is only 2 years old.

I do have to say the new SVS 1-6 has amazing glass. I’m really hoping it makes its way to the other models.

I would choose the USO over the others purely based on the turrets. That is what is most important to me.
 
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#3
Subwrx300 said:
I've always been curious about their scopes. But it doesn't seem like they've changed much over the last 3-4 years. I could be wrong about this; if anything, it looks like they've reduced their product line (getting rid of the SR, MR, LR and ER lines replacing them with the B series over last 2 years.

I own a few NFs (4-16x and 7-35x ATACRs)but decided against most the USO products mainly due to reticles (IPHY instead of true MOA). I'm considering switching a scope or two out for Mil variants.

Are they worth looking at over other optics in similar price range? Seems like a lot of good options in 2500-3000 range with good features (Kahles, S&B, Another NF, *almost* used TT, Etc). Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I would only buy a USO on the used marked currently. For whatever reason, the resale has plummeted. B25 are in the PX for +/- 2k
 
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#4
Poorboyr said:
US Optics makes great scopes. I have quite a few of them. They are very durable and track true. I like there reticle choices too.

You can’t go wrong with a USO. I feel they have the best turrets in the business and the scopes will not fail you. Now does it have the best glass.... I would say no. It’s not Theta, Mark 8, or Schmidt glass, but it is in the top five maybe six depending on your eyes.

As far as the models, I think they are just trying to streamline their models. And remember the B series is only 2 years old.

I do have to say the new SVS 1-6 has amazing glass. I’m really hoping it makes its way to the other models.

I would choose the USO over the others purely based on the turrets. That is what is most important to me.
Click to expand...
Good info. Have you played with any NF ATACR turrets? The old Gen 1 ATACR 5-25 turrets were really good and positive. The newer ones are still very good but have a different feel.

Curious if you can compare the two. Unfortunately, I don't have any USO dealers nearby (West Michigan) that stock. I'd be interested in finding one though for comparison sake.
 
#5
I had every Nightforce series except the Beast, so I can give you my opinion. On a side note, I've really tried to like Nightforce but my eyes just don't agree with the scopes.

I think the turrets on the Nightforce are right behind the USO. My biggest complaint with the Nightforce turrets is the numbering. I like to keep everything simple, so I like multiples of 10. It's just easier for me. Call me picky, but to me it matters. That is my biggest complaint with the European scopes.

I wrote a pretty in depth review of the glass between the ATACR and B25 a while ago, so I'll try to summarize it for you. I think both scopes have great glass, but to me there is a distinct difference between the two. The Nightforce glass is bright. To me its a fake bright, not bad just not truly what it looks like outside. The USO is more of a true color. By that I mean, it looks real to me. If it's a gloomy day the picture will be true. Not look like it is enhanced. Hopefully you can understand my thought.
 
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#7
IanHusaberg said:
I going to say USO is behind because of the Reticle choices. I'll preface that with I'm a Moa shooter.

Is this a Nightforce thread or a USO thread?
Click to expand...
Lol... Both I guess. I started it just because I've never had the pleasure of finger poking a USO but own a few NFs and simply was curious about experiences with USO as they relate to other high end optics. I don't see much about them.
 
#8
One thing I wish is that the ol' ST-10 would come back. I sent the Hide USO rep a message about a rumor regarding that scope, but they never replied.

USO is supposed to have very accurate and repeatable tracking, but much like TT, the current reticle choices leave me a little hesitant.

Been some smokin' deals on USOs in PX here last few months.
 
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#9
Agree w above. They track true period. Glass is very good, it's just below Kahles k624 and above Vortex Rzr Gen2 in my opinion and a couple of guys who looked at them with me, We also had a TT but that was another league altogether. USO customer service is really really good. Screwed up a cam while "adjusting" the zero stop so that I had to send the scope, they fixed it and sent it back to me in 3 weeks. No questions asked.

I would buy with no hesitation. If you can wait they're usually on sale on Eurooptic or pick one up on the PX for a discount.
 
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#10
OP: ..Have you called/e-mailed U.S. Optics and asked for a true MOA Reticle (1.047 @ 100 yards) reticle scope? U.S.O did it for me, when I ordered my field spotter(not a scope) many years ago when they were in Brea, Ca. So, when I eventually place my order for the B-25 w/IGR reticle I'll request it be made with a true MOA again. Granted, circumstances/company policies or whatever could have / can change. But you don't know unless you ask them directly. And no, I don't work for them.
 
#11
I have two uso scopes(lr17 and er25), and have had a few other higher end scopes as well. I've played with all but a tangent theta.

The uso doesnt get the love they deserve for some reason. Their glass is good but not the best. Turret are good, both track perfect every time, and have held up to two seasons great so far. I have the mpr reticle and I like it. I'm not a xmas tree guy though.

Bottom line, I'm not going to say they are the best at anything, but I think they are pretty good at everything. Definitely buy used though.
 
#12
I Spot 4U - "Eagle Eyes" said:
OP: ..Have you called/e-mailed U.S. Optics and asked for a true MOA Reticle (1.047 @ 100 yards) reticle scope? U.S.O did it for me, when I ordered my field spotter(not a scope) many years ago when they were in Brea, Ca. So, when I eventually place my order for the B-25 w/IGR reticle I'll request it be made with a true MOA again. Granted, circumstances/company policies or whatever could have / can change. But you don't know unless you ask them directly. And no, I don't work for them.
Click to expand...
Haven't called them about that. Went through the scope builder a few times on the old website but didn't really get the warm fuzzy "I gotta get one" feeling.

Competition is pretty damn good in 2000+ price point so it's hard not to be picky. Especially if looking at used scopes. No hurry on my end and just curious about their products; never really hear much about them.
 
#13
Subwrx300 said:
Haven't called them about that. Went through the scope builder a few times on the old website but didn't really get the warm fuzzy "I gotta get one" feeling.

Competition is pretty damn good in 2000+ price point so it's hard not to be picky. Especially if looking at used scopes. No hurry on my end and just curious about their products; never really hear much about them.
Click to expand...

That's because they aren't in movies......... LOL
 
#14
I have two. A sn3 3.3-17 and an st10. The st10 i havent mounted or shot yet. I really like the sn3, but picked it up because i couldnt find an st 10 at the tim, and i havent had the time or inclination to pull the sn3 off.

I dont shoot competition, i just shoot for me. I’ve been happy with everything they do, the only two things i wish were that the reticle would reduce brightness a bit more for lowlight, and that the scope gathered a smidge more light, but for the objective size, i can’t complain. They have done what i need them to do.
 
#15
OP I have an old SN4 1.5-6 and am eyeing a B-25 for my SRS. My best friend who I shoot with the most has a NF ATACR 5-25, and I honestly personally prefer the USO over it. I saw you said you are in West Michigan, my LGS in Howell has the USOs in stock. I was lucky to get to compare them side by side in the store. Now it's just saving up to get the B-25.
 
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#16
DarkDiablo38258 said:
OP I have an old SN4 1.5-6 and am eyeing a B-25 for my SRS. My best friend who I shoot with the most has a NF ATACR 5-25, and I honestly personally prefer the USO over it. I saw you said you are in West Michigan, my LGS in Howell has the USOs in stock. I was lucky to get to compare them side by side in the store. Now it's just saving up to get the B-25.
Click to expand...

I sometimes get over to the Howell area (mainly on way to/from matches in Ohio). What store is stocking them?
 
#18
issue with USO is that the industry caught up and passed them in the last 5 years or so.
they always had great options as well as build quality, now every OEM has just as many if not more options with same or better quality.
local hardware store meets Home Depot.
 
#19
Subwrx300 said:
I've always been curious about their scopes. But it doesn't seem like they've changed much over the last 3-4 years. I could be wrong about this; if anything, it looks like they've reduced their product line (getting rid of the SR, MR, LR and ER lines replacing them with the B series over last 2 years.

I own a few NFs (4-16x and 7-35x ATACRs) so that is my reference point. I initially ruled USO products out mainly due to reticles (IPHY instead of true MOA). I'm considering switching a scope or two out for Mil variants and USO is still a product I'm interested learning more about.

Are they worth looking at over other optics in similar price range? Seems like a lot of good options in 2500-3000 range with good features (Kahles, S&B, Another NF, *almost* used TT, Etc). Any thoughts?

Edited to clarify question/post
Click to expand...
The True awsner?

Stay away. They were barley relevant 15 years ago and are all but obsolete now. There was a time when they were the of the top 3 (S&B, USO & Premier). They were pretty customizable and had more reticle offerings than anyone else. Hell you could design your own reticle for a price.

Their horrible aesthetics and blocky engineering never changed. They rested on their laurels (along with Leupold still raking in MK4 contract money) while the market passed them by. They have had more than a few episodes of shitty quality control resulting in unhappy customers.

With the offerings today, there is zero reason to even consider them. I look at them like IOR. Some cool designs (and they were the first with an actual usable 1-8L PV) but the quality and value is not there. When you can choose from Vortex, NF, Minox, Kahles, March, Steiner Ect they really don't have a place. At the $2-3K mark, literally everything out there is better. And then you get into the resale issue, where no one even wants the pieces of shit.

Do they make decent optics? Yea. Would anyone with 2 brain cells together buy one today? Nope

The owner used to be a regular poster here way back in the day. He got ran off when everyone was bitching about his products and I haven't seen him since.
 
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#21
They didn't evolve fast enough/figure out what to do to expand market share as other manufacturers entered the market and some existing manufacturers surpassed them.

Their scopes are solid, but they're basically a boutique brand at this point.
 
#24
I liked the B25 I had for awhile. Thought it was well laid out, good glass and liked the zero stop, etc.
Only two things I didn't care for (although not a deal breaker) was
1. For MY eyes I felt the xrGen2 was alittle to thick for my taste..... and
2. The scope is about 3 feet long????.
Overall I liked it....... sold it to continue my quest to play with another expensive optic.
 
#26
As mentioned above, uso has been left behind by many other manufacturers. But they are
Good solid scopes that work. My last one developed some specs inside the optic, they offered to fix it but suggested that I get a thick phone book and hit it with my scope and I quote “ with both hands”. Not only did it work but my scope was still zeroed when I remounted it.

FYI to anyone buying used, the countless different reticles offered has a down side.
No one including uso knows what reticle some of their scopes have. Do some research before hand to make sure you are getting what you want
 
#27
You can’t give me a uso.

I used to help run a store and USO was one of our optic lines. We had multiple LR-25’s that would have an extremely distorted FOV when the E/W adjustments strayed too far from center.

Then there was the whole clusterfuck when (against my suggestion) we ordered b17’s for our local swat snipers. One scope went back to ca 4 times. There were multiple issues but when we got it back the 2nd or 3rd time the objective lens of the optic decided it should just come loose and wiggle around. The packaging of the optic was perfect, the scope had yet to be mounted, and the obj glass was wobbling around like a fuckin googly eye.

Probably should’ve went with the 416ATACR like I suggested originally.

Check out the USO’s in the PX. Then check out the MSRP. It’s a very telling story.

No idea how they’re even in business anymore.
 
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