Burris Scopes: Ballistic or conventional, you choose

The American company Burris Company, Inc (based in Greeley, Colorado) not only manufactures scopes but also produces binoculars, rangefinders, telescopes, thermal devices, and red dot sights, as well as mounts and accessories which we will not cover because this article will focus only on their most advanced zoom scopes.

This scope only measured distance. It is the original LaserScope from 2006, which inspired Burris to develop their first Ballistic LaserScope (The Eliminator from 2010).

Especially the ballistic models distributed in Spain, designed so that hunters only have to worry about aiming and shooting, as the scope electronically compensates for factors that can divert the bullet from its target, such as shooting angle, distance, altitude, and wind force.

But we will also dedicate some lines to the most modern conventional scopes that the brand distributes in Spain and, of course, to its history because, as we will see below, Burris has played a very important role in the development and improvement of hunting scopes.

Original 2007 version of the FastFire red dot reflex sight with its accessories and period packaging. It was so successful that, although improved, it is still manufactured.

Burris Company Inc

The company was founded in 1971 by Don Burris, an engineer with extensive experience in scope design, as he had previously worked for 12 years at Redfield, another American optics company based in Denver (Colorado), which had become famous largely thanks to many of its designs, including three significant advances:

• The first reticles that do not increase in size and remain constantly centered in zoom scopes, thus not changing the point of impact when changing magnification, a problem that Don Burris solved. In other words, he invented the second focal plane reticles used by most scopes today.
• The first 4-12x and 6-18x scopes.
• And the Redfield Accu-Range rangefinding scope.

Don Burris founded his company because he believed he could make better scopes than those available at the time, and he was right: to summarize, starting in 1975, he launched the Fullfield series of variable magnification scopes, considered the best in their class in the U.S., outperforming Redfield. In 1980, the first American scopes with multi-coated lenses that optimized light transmission were released, and a year later, the Zee rings for Weaver bases that allowed for more reliable scope mounting.

The founder died in 1987, but his company continued his legacy. Thus, a year later, it marketed the first Scout scope, a type of scope designed to be mounted in a more forward position than usual; in 1993, the patented Posi-Lock adjustment system, which consists of a screw-assisted mechanism that securely locks the inversion group; in 2000, the Ballistic Plex reticle, designed to compensate for trajectory, along with the first titanium scope: the Burris Black Diamond Titanium.

In 2010, Burris introduced the first ballistic scope, called the Eliminator. In addition to calculating the distance to the target, it displayed how to aim in the reticle, making it very successful. As remote controls had not yet been developed, it was supplied with a remote control cable.

Beretta introduces Burris in Europe

In 2002, Burris Company, Inc was acquired by the Beretta Group, and its products began to be distributed and better known in Europe and particularly in Spain, with Beretta Benelli Ibérica (BBI) handling distribution.

Thus, among many other products, in 2006, Spaniards had the opportunity to enjoy the Burris LaserScope 4-12x42, which had a built-in rangefinder that instantly provided the distance to the target. In 2007, the small FastFire red dot sights, designed for use on all types of long and short guns, and in 2010, the Eliminator model (known in Europe as Ballistic LaserScope or just Ballistic), which was an improved version of the first LaserScope because, in addition to calculating the distance to the target, it showed the point of impact. It was supplied with a remote control cable.

Testing a Ballistic LaserScope III 4-16x50 mounted on a Sako Carbon Wolf. This model led to the development of the current Ballistic V version. The scope comes with a sunshade, an accessory provided with all Ballistic models.

Point and shoot

Since the introduction of the Eliminator, Burris scope production has been divided into two very different types: conventional scopes and those designed so that the hunter only has to aim and shoot with the guarantee that if they aim accurately, they will hit the target.

Indeed, the first Eliminator was so successful that Burris has not stopped perfecting it, creating new more powerful and accurate versions, such as the Ballistic LaserScope III, marketed in 3-12x42 and 4-16x50 versions, with a rangefinder with a greater range (1,097 meters, instead of the 700 m that the first models reached), an inclinometer, highly precise adjustment controls that correct 1/8 MOA, and a ballistic calculator that, taking into account the ballistic tables of most commercially available rifle ammunition, could measure the distance to the target, calculate the projectile drop, and indicate how to aim using an illuminated dot that appeared on the vertical post of the reticle with the push of a button (ambidextrous, located on both sides of the objective bell).

In 2020, Burris launched the Ballistic IV 4-16x50 with a range greater than the III version, as its rangefinder provides measurements up to 2,000 yards (about 1,829 meters).

Current versions

In 2022 and 2023, the series was completed with two versions capable of measuring up to 2,000 yards, but much more advanced than the IV: the Ballistic V and VI, respectively, which are the most powerful and highest-performing scopes marketed to date and are currently distributed in Spain by BBI.

The main hunting application for both (and generally for any other Ballistic scope) is long-distance hunting. They work like any other modern Ballistic LaserScope: by pressing a button, they calculate the distance and the point of impact, taking into account all factors that can influence the projectile's trajectory, but they are more powerful, more precise, and have very different designs.

Ballistic V 5-20x50 with its accessories. It functions similarly to the III version with which it shares a reticle but is more powerful and has more range (1,829 meters compared to 1,096 m).

Ballistic V

The Ballistic V can be considered a more powerful version of the previous ones because it is a 5-20x50, but its external design and operation are similar to the previous Ballistic models. The measurement button is located on both sides of the objective bell. It is programmed by determining the bullet's drop number and ballistic coefficient, entering the data if unknown, in the ballistic tables of Burris Ballistic Services (burrisoptics.com/ballistic/eliminator).

Eyepiece and objective of the Ballistic V. Note the non-slip controls and that the objective, on which the measurement button is visible, has a wheel to eliminate parallax error (between 30 yards and infinity).

Its controls also correct the point of impact by 1/8 MOA (3.5 mm at 100 meters) per click. It has the same reticle as previous versions (X96), which has reference points on the left and right of the lower part that help the hunter estimate the drift displacement of the point of impact caused by a 10 mph (16 km/h) crosswind, as many other reticles designed for long-distance shooting do. It is equipped with integrated Weaver-Picatinny mounts in the base (no mounting rings needed) and Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses, providing proven optical quality similar to that offered by high-end scopes.

Detail of the Weaver-Picatinny mounting rail integrated into the base, present in all Ballistic versions up to V. They are not mounted with rings.

It also features a parallax adjustment knob on the objective, improved to allow the scope to be free of this error between 30 m and infinity (the older versions range from 50 m to infinity). It has an improved ballistic calculator and comes with a remote control (via Bluetooth to activate the laser). It weighs 816 grams (28.8 oz) and measures approximately 393 mm (15.5”).

Its recommended retail price is 2,350 euros.

Like versions III and IV, the V is equipped with the X96 reticle with points to correct for wind drift.

Ballistic VI

This is the most modern and advanced LaserScope version. It is a 4-20x52 (also available in 4-20x56) that features an exterior design very similar to a conventional scope and is mounted on the weapon with 34 mm rings. Most importantly, it is compatible with the Burris Connect app, allowing it to be programmed to calculate the point of impact considering distance, angle, wind, height (air density), and the specific ballistic data of the user's personal loads as well as all commercial centerfire, rimfire, and even muzzleloader loads.

The Ballistic VI is the most modern and advanced LaserScope version. It is compatible with the Burris Connect app, allowing it to be programmed to calculate the point of impact considering all factors affecting the bullet's trajectory, even with the user's personal loads. All this with an external design very similar to a conventional scope for mounting with rings.

The measurement button is centrally located and is equipped with a new reticle with more windage points and more comprehensive, called X177. It has a top screen (above the reticle), called HUD, divided into 10 zones that provide the hunter with everything they need to know before shooting: distance, bullet energy at impact, velocity at shooting distance, weapon tilt, etc. It even provides the amount of wind points to compensate for. It features low-dispersion ED lenses that provide high optical quality, and like the previous model, its adjustment knobs correct 1/8 MOA and come with a remote control, but in the case of the Ballistic VI, it is used to activate the Burris Connect app.

It weighs 850 grams, measures approximately 371 mm, and has a recommended retail price of 2,790 euros for the 4-20x50 version.

The screen and the X177 reticle of the Ballistic VI scope are more comprehensive and provide more data than the X96.

Veracity PH

This is another modern scope designed for aiming and shooting that is even more original and easier to use than the Ballistic VI.

Indeed, it is also programmed with the Burris Connect app but features an electronic height turret (called PEK) that, after the user measures the distance with the scope's rangefinder, automatically adjusts to zero with click precision equivalent to 1/10 MOA, considering all parameters influencing the shot's ballistics (distance, shooting angle, etc.), so the hunter always aims with the center of the reticle. Additionally, it features a customizable HUD that provides, among other data, the distance in yards or meters, wind value, and whether the rifle (the reticle) is tilted or not, preventing misses due to this factor.

A Veracity PH 4-20x50 with its accessories. It is also available in 2.5-12x42 and 3-15x44 sizes.

Therefore, in other words, if a Veracity PH is correctly programmed and the hunter’s pulse remains steady, the shot will hit the target safely and exactly where it is aimed.

It is worth noting that it is offered with 30 mm tubes for mounting with rings and with a side knob to correct the parallax error between 25 yards (about 23 m) and infinity.

The photo shows the non-slip and ergonomic design of the eyepiece zoom ring.

It was marketed by Burris in 2023 and is available in Spain in three sizes with 5x zoom:

• 4-20x50. It weighs 825 grams, measures 380 mm, and is available with an RC-MOA reticle. RRP: 1,555 euros.
• 2.5-12x42. It weighs 797 grams, measures 317 mm, and comes with a 3PW-MOA reticle. RRP: 1,575 euros.
• 3-15x44. It weighs 774 grams, measures 330 mm, and comes with an RC-MOA reticle.

The Veracity PH scopes are the most advanced Burris ballistic scopes. They feature an electronic height turret, called PEK, which automatically adjusts to zero with click precision equivalent to 1/10 MOA, considering all parameters influencing the shot's ballistics, so the hunter always aims with the center of the reticle.

Conventional Burris

Although Burris has not stopped improving its ballistic scopes since 2010, it has never stopped manufacturing conventional scope series for all types of budgets and applications (hunting, shooting, and tactical) to suit both American and European customers after becoming part of the Beretta Group. This is the case with the Four Xe and Six Xe series distributed in Spain by BBI.

Burris Four Xe 6-24x50 with zero-resettable turrets. Also available in 1-4x24; 2.5-10x50, and 6-24x56 formats with low-profile controls, all with 4x zoom.

Four Xe Series

This series is aimed at the more classic and economical European customer. It consists of five scopes with a 4x zoom ratio and is designed to meet the demand of many people who do not need to use more powerful zoom scopes but do need a modern, robust, clear, and reliable scope.

And the Four Xe series meets these demands abundantly because they have illuminated day-night reticles in the second plane, low-profile zero-resettable controls that correct 1 cm at 100 meters (except for the 6-24x50 model), shockproof and heavy recoil construction, and high-performance glass lenses that provide brightness, clarity, and durability.

Detail of the controls of the Four Xe 6-24x50 version. They have parallax and illumination controls and, like the other scopes in the series, the Four Xe correct height and windage 1 cm at 100 m.

Specifically, the series consists of the following Four Xe scopes: 1-4x24; 2.5-10x50; 3-12x56; 6-24x50; and 6-24x56. The first three are available with 4i reticles, and the 6-24x models come with SCR-Mil and E3 reticles, respectively. Their prices range from 585 euros (1-4x24) to 795 euros (6-24x50). The 6-24x50 model has a side knob to correct parallax and oversized adjustment knobs (turrets).

Burris Six Xe 3-18x56. Also available in 1-6x24 format. They basically differ from the Four Xe because their zoom ratio is 6x.

Burris Six Xe Series

Also designed for the European market, the Six Xe basically differ because their zoom ratio is 6x.

They are available in two formats: 1-6x24 with illuminated 3P4 reticle and 3-18x56 with illuminated E3, SCR, or 3P4 reticles, to choose from. The recommended retail price of the 1-6x24 is 815 euros and that of the 3-18x56 scopes ranges from 985 to 1,050 euros, depending on the type of reticle. Models with SCR reticles are equipped with turrets.

The Six Xe 3-18x56 with SCR reticle are equipped with zero-resettable turrets that, like the other models in the series, correct 1 cm at 100 m.

It should be noted that BBI also distributes Burris tactical scopes (such as the XTR II series) and also for shooting, which we do not cover here, although some models can be perfectly used for hunting with some reticles. This is the case, for example, of the RT6 1-6x24 shooting scope shown in the images, which could perfectly be used for driven hunts.

RT6 1-6x24 scope. It is a clear example of a Burris shooting scope that can also be used for driven hunts, especially if chosen with the 4Ai reticle.

It dates from 2018 and is available with 4A-i reticle and with Ballistic Ari, the latter designed for use at close or long range, as it allows for trajectory compensation. It has a field of view of about 32.5 meters at 100 and is not expensive: 595 euros with both reticles.

Text and photos: Juan Francisco París

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