US Optics TS-12 Review

[yenniedn]

So I called a reputable online retailer (who will remain un-named) with the intent of purchasing this USO scope today. When I told the rep that I'd already owned both the Discovery and Vector versions of this scope and was skeptical as to whether the glass on this scope was significantly better so as to justify the 2x-3x price difference. I was shocked and very, very pleasantly surprised when the rep told me, if that was the case, that I should not get my hopes up too high for this scope. He said that the TS line is USO's imported line and has the same glass as the other versions of this scope. 

He basically said that this USO scope does not justify the price difference! How rare is that to see such honesty from a seller? And, no, he wasn't trying to upsell me to any other brand/model - he just flat out told me that I would not see any noticeable difference from my Vector. So for the $200-$300 price difference, it comes down to different turrets, reticle and warranty support.

very nice to hear honest sales people actually exists. However he probably doesn’t want to deal with your return also.

You're probably right . . . tell the truth and save me the disappointment and them the cost & hassle of having to take it back as a return. Makes perfect sense to me!

 

[Odoyle]

There's a real flip side to the cost savings too because the Discovery and Vector versions only carry 3 and 5 year warranties.

That how you save the money since US Optics likely throws away the defective WARRANTY exchanges into their dumpster when they swap you out like other brands such as Bushnell and Athlon does that's why initial cost of admission are so high to cover warranty throwaways and still make a very good profit.

 

[Odoyle]

And NOBODY believed me many months back when I stated they are the same scope.

I say go with the lifetime warranty scope if you can afford it.

I no longer like to push any scope that doesn't have a NO BS Lifetime Warranty unless they are ridiculously cheap like the Barras from EBay (when making lower offers that get accepted) for example where they are so cheap for the amount of unbelievable greatness you get for the price paid you can afford to toss them into the trash and just buy another new one if they ever break. Buy several Barras at a time for spares that's your warranty RIGHT THERE.

 

[steve123]

There's a real flip side to the cost savings too because the Discovery and Vector versions only carry 3 and 5 year warranties.

That how you save the money since US Optics likely throws away the defective WARRANTY exchanges into their dumpster when they swap you out like other brands such as Bushnell and Athlon does that's why initial cost of admission are so high to cover warranty throwaways and still make a very good profit.

Well actually Athlon tries to repair their scopes but if the repair is unsatisfactory to the original spec then they will replace it, sometimes with the next generation of scope. 

Buying cheap scopes without a good lifetime transferable warranty reminds me of renting vs owning, that money is forever gone when the scope breaks and it ends up in the trash. 

 

[bambuino]

NOW I KNOW WHY MY FAVORITE DOUGHNUT GUY WAS DIGGING ME FOR DIRT ON MY USO TS-12 SCOPE OTHER DAY ON THE PHONE.

I have a TS-12X FFP MHR atop my 25 cal TalonP. Got it last August 2020, lapped it in November. My purchase of this scope was purely driven by Joe's YT review, and I cannot thank him enough. I'm thinkin' a fifth of Maker's kine gratitude. I am glad to see this review is still sparking discussion.

This scope has served me very well. I shoot in brush, overgrown orchards, with partial overtopping canopy, shiffting light, dawn to dusk, at ranges from 5-40 yards, on small pest and juvenile pigs. Perfect kind situations to lose a reticle. At first I lost the reticle a couple times when up close, low power, but now that is no longer an issue.

Couple days before I ordered the scope, emailed USO for the reticle subtensions, and received the pdf file next day. Box ticked.

 

[B]

TS-12 is on my radar to , I don't care to much for Discovery and Vector ,prefer to deal with USO if anything.

B

 

[JungleShooter]

Emailed USO for the reticle subtensions, and received the pdf file next day. Box ticked.

Would you share the PDF with us?



Matthias

 

[bambuino]

Of course.

View attachment TS-12 MHR with subtensions info.1612420593.pdf

 

[bambuino]

I been considering getting a Tac Vector Veyron 3-12x44 (don't really know why), but for while something been bothering me about its reticle, below. Is this really the reticle in the scope? Any owners wanna weigh in? Maybe just me, but is something off about it?

 

[ctshooter]

I've owned the Tac Vector, the Discovery and the TS-12 at the same time and I will tell you that they are the same exact glass. All three side by side and they look the same to my eyes. TS-12 is the nicer of the reticles, but unusably fine at 3x with no illumination. The TS-12 does has nicer external cosmetics. 

Personally my take is that there are better scopes out there for $400 and if you want a 3-12 compact just get one of the $200 versions.

 

[steve123]

I been considering getting a Tac Vector Veyron 3-12x44 (don't really know why), but for while something been bothering me about its reticle, below. Is this really the reticle in the scope? Any owners wanna weigh in? Maybe just me, but is something off about it?

I'm assuming they made a mistake on the line width, it should be .025cm, which is really thin for a 3-12???

The milliradian subtensions are at 100M instead of 100Y, that may be why it seems weird to you, but it's just an ordinary mil reticle. At 100Y each click is .36" but at 100M each click is 1cm.

I like the simplicity of this reticle and that there aren't mil line numbers just off the vertical crosshair which can obscure holdovers. 

 

[bambuino]

I'm assuming they made a mistake on the line width, it should be .025cm, which is really thin for a 3-12???

The milliradian subtensions are at 100M instead of 100Y, that may be why it seems weird to you, but it's just an ordinary mil reticle. At 100Y each click is .36" but at 100M each click is 1cm.

I like the simplicity of this reticle and that there aren't mil line numbers just off the vertical crosshair which can obscure holdovers.

I caught the line width one. But, right there are no line numbers, maybe because they trying pack "20 MIL" hold, actually 17, onto that reticle. That's a dizzying amount of hold to deal with, and would drive me nuts at low magnification. What bugs me also is the 1 mil crosshair box, surrounded by arrays of hashes in groups of four hashes for holds. Fours?

A real world application...I have a 6-yard shot calling for a 10 MIL hold (AF TalonP 2.95" scope over bore) well, the MHR reticle has a poorman's german post down there. Where would the Veyron's 10 MIL hash be at 4x, and could you even find it when drawing down on an animal? That would be the 1 MIL crosshair + two groups of four 1 MIL hashes + 1 more MIL hash to make ten. That is a rather specific application (comparison), but one that I now practice for, since having taken that shot in the past.

 

[qball]

And NOBODY believed me many months back when I stated they are the same scope.

I say go with the lifetime warranty scope if you can afford it.

I no longer like to push any scope that doesn't have a NO BS Lifetime Warranty unless they are ridiculously cheap like the Barras from EBay (when making lower offers that get accepted) for example where they are so cheap for the amount of unbelievable greatness you get for the price paid you can afford to toss them into the trash and just buy another new one if they ever break. Buy several Barras at a time for spares that's your warranty RIGHT THERE.

Funny you say that, this is my own no BS lifetime warranty, department. 

No need to call, get a RMA number, ship it back and then wait for replacement, Instantaneous customer service! Haven’t had to call customer service and use the warrant yet.....

 

[bambuino]

I been considering getting a Tac Vector Veyron 3-12x44 (don't really know why), but for while something been bothering me about its reticle, below. Is this really the reticle in the scope? Any owners wanna weigh in? Maybe just me, but is something off about it?

Now I remember...

Hello -- 

New member here, first post.

Just dropped a USO TS-12X MHR onto my AF Talon P .25. I really like. ... yada yada...

All the best -- Mark

You should try the Vector Veyron SFP $132 and do a side by side comparison with the TS12.

WELCOME!

What with the confusion I get with that MPR-4 reticle, I am glad didn't take up that guy Yo's suggestion. Weird don't see that guy posting much, he was pretty entertaining, but seemed kinda like a "scope nazi".

Mark

 

[JungleShooter]

Have you met Odoyle?

He is just as entertaining and helpful as Yo was!!



The day we lost Yo, we gained a new member, Odoyle. Sure glad we did.



Matthias

 

[bambuino]

Have you met Odoyle?

He is just as entertaining and helpful as Yo was!!



The day we lost Yo, we gained a new member, Odoyle. Sure glad we did.

Matthias

hehehe...My favorite doughnut guy.

 

[Odoyle]

At least the EXPENSIVE USO TS12X Cadillac version of the Chevy Veyron have theirs NUMBERED so you don't lose your count on the markings.

I like this one that shows the NUMBERS like THIS ONE.

 

[Odoyle]

And NOBODY believed me many months back when I stated they are the same scope.

I say go with the lifetime warranty scope if you can afford it.

I no longer like to push any scope that doesn't have a NO BS Lifetime Warranty unless they are ridiculously cheap like the Barras from EBay (when making lower offers that get accepted) for example where they are so cheap for the amount of unbelievable greatness you get for the price paid you can afford to toss them into the trash and just buy another new one if they ever break. Buy several Barras at a time for spares that's your warranty RIGHT THERE.

Funny you say that, this is my own no BS lifetime warranty, department. 

No need to call, get a RMA number, ship it back and then wait for replacement, Instantaneous customer service! Haven’t had to call customer service and use the warrant yet.....

Hahahaaa...

The Chinese H30s have similar looking glass as the Japan SWFA SS.

 

[JungleShooter]

I like [the reticles] that show the numbers [...] so you don't lose your count on the markings.

I'm right there with you, Odoyle!

Here's my fav: Thick outside posts (bec. it's an FFP), half-mil hash lines, sparingly used numbers, IR.

Matthias

 

[qball]

Funny you say that, this is my own no BS lifetime warranty, department

No need to call, get a RMA number, ship it back and then wait for replacement, Instantaneous customer service! Haven’t had to call customer service and use the warrant yet.....

Hahahaaa...

The Chinese H30s have similar looking glass as the Japan SWFA SS.

the crimson trace Japanese scopes are showing up later today so will see how it compares to the Japanese barra h50 scopes at less than half the cost of crimson even after crimson’s 50% off sale(granted one can’t get those prices anymore). I would be very upset if I can not tell the difference! According to online sources they are made in the same Japan factory. Hahaha