Burris RT-25 5-25x56 Long Range Riflescope Review

Long range shooting is growing in popularity, but the cost of entry can be quite high. Premium long-range optics can set you back several thousand dollars, and that precludes some shooters from enjoying the sport. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to get a great optic, though, and the Burris RT-25 5-25X56 proves it.

The RT-25 is a first focal plane scope that offers mRad adjustments (1/10^th mRad per click). Both the windage and elevation turrets lock, and there’s a zero stop built into the elevation turret to prevent over-rotation when returning to zero. To adjust the elevation or windage, you simply pull out on the turret, turn it to the desired adjustment number and then press the turret back into place to lock it. RT-25 5-25x56 scopes offer 65 MOA or windage and elevation adjustments.

In addition to the windage and elevation turrets, there is a parallax adjustment knob on the left side of the main tube and a reticle focus on the rear of the eyepiece. The magnification ring comes with a .6-inch tall adjustable throw lever. Loosening the screw inside the throw lever allows you to remove it, and since it fits into a dovetail on the magnification ring, it is extremely durable and rugged. Plus, the throw lever’s concave shape ensures it won’t block your view of the turrets when you’re in a shooting position.

The RT-25 comes with a 30mm aluminum body tube that is nitrogen-filled, waterproof and fogproof. Like all Burris optics, the RT-25 comes with precision ground lenses that are coated for improved optical performance and enhanced durability. Turret adjustments are clean and crisp, and both are removable. The windage adjustment turret can be removed by screwing the center portion of the turret using a coin or cartridge case rim while the elevation turret can be removed by loosening the three screws that hold it in place. From there, the turret can be removed and by removing three more internal screws you can reset the scope’s zero point before reassembling. It’s a rugged, reliable system that utilizes well-constructed parts—just don’t lose that wrench.

RT-25 5-25x56 scopes come with the SCR 2 MIL reticle that Burris debuted last year. It features a tree design that Burris engineers designed in conjunction with the nation’s top long-range shooters. The benefits of the SCR 2 reticle are many. First, it offers a rapid wind and elevation compensation. Second, the design makes accurate range estimation simple so that the shooter can quickly make point-of-impact corrections. And since the RT-25 is a front focal plane scope, the reticle also serves as a range estimation tool on the range. Reticle subtensions are listed in MILs in the RT-25 user guide.

At 14.3 inches long and just 24.8 ounces, the RT-25 5-25x56 is one of the lightest scopes in this class, and since it offers features commonly found on scopes costing between $1,000 and $2,000, you’d expect that the RT-25 costs well over a grand. In truth, it carries an MSRP of just $839, which makes it one of the best values in the tactical scope market. But how does it shoot?

At the Range

I mounted the RT-25 5-25x56 on one of my favorite long-range rifles, my E.R. Shaw Mark X 6mm Creedmoor. Once mounted, I bore sighted the optic, made my final adjustments, and headed to the range.

When shooting on paper I found that my point of impact needed to be lowered beyond the limit of the current zero stop. That’s not an issue with the RT-25, and using the wrench I could remove the turret and adjust zero as needed until my rifle was properly zeroed. Once the rifle was shooting where I wanted, I began making adjustments and tracking the scope’s movement at 100 yards. Each click of the turret adjusts POI 1/10^th of a mRad (or .36 inches for those who prefer the imperial system). Knowing this, I decided to increase elevation ½ mRad, or five clicks of the scope. That should, in theory, adjust the rifle’s point of impact up about 1.8 inches. When I fired, the bullet struck almost exactly two inches high. Perfect. I tested it again, drawing up to a full mil and firing the E.R. Shaw again. The bullet rose to 3.4 inches above initial POI, almost exactly one mil. I tested the windage turret and found that it tracked well, too. I brought both back to zero and moved on to 200 yards and 300 yards, using the holdover and windage data in the SCR 2 reticle and adjusting point of impact with the scope.

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The Burris proved to track accurately, and that’s important. Why so much emphasis on how this scope tracks? Because a target scope that doesn’t track properly is, in effect, worthless. Long range shooting is a demanding sport and the only way that shooters can hit targets consistently at a half-mile or more is by having the right skills and equipment for the job. A scope that doesn’t track consistently makes it all but impossible to make adjustments at a distance because you don’t know if the optic is adjusting as advertised. What happens is that the shooter ends up chasing the last shot with each subsequent shot. That makes for a disappointing day at the range – believe me, I’ve been there.

Serious shooters will appreciate how easy the RT-25 is to operate. You can quickly adjust reticle focus and position the throw lever in the right position for your shooting style. The side parallax is easy to reach and use, and the windage and elevation turrets are durable and provide positive feedback when making adjustments. The SCR 2 reticle offers a tremendous amount of versatility when you don’t have time to dial and the layout is easy to follow and allows the shooter to make rapid adjustments on target as needed. What’s more, the RT-25’s superb lenses performed well in light conditions from full midday sun to grey, overcast conditions.

The final word? The RT-25 5-25x56 is an affordable scope that punches way above its price. And it’s not just for those on a budget, either. After experiencing all that this optic has to offer, you may find yourself asking if you really need to spend more on a long-range optic at all.

For more information on the RT-25 or any of Burris’s other products visit www.burrisoptics.com.

Specifications: Burris RT-25 5-25x56

Magnification: 5x to 25x

Focal Plane: Front

Reticle: Burris SCR 2 MIL

Parallax Adjustment: 25 yards to infinity

Color: Matte Black

Clear Objective Lens Diameter: 56mm

Ocular Lens Diameter: 46 mm

Main Tube Size: 30mm

Field of View: 22.5 to 4.5 feet at 100 yards

Eye Relief: 3.3 to 3.6 inches

Exit Pupil: 8 to 2.2 mm

Click Value: 1 mRad

Elevation Adjustment Capability (Total): 65 MOA

Windage Adjustment Capability: 65 MOA

Length: 14.3 inches

Weight: 24.8 ounces

MSRP: $839

Contact: Burris Optics, burrisoptics.com, (888) 440-0244.