50 Years of the Burris Fullfield: The Full Line Reviewed

Fifty years ago, Burris unveiled the Fullfield line of riflescopes, which became known for presenting an exceptionally wide field of view. In the years since, Fullfield scopes featured increased light transmission while keeping the price palatable to most working-­class riflemen. These principles have always guided the Fullfield line, but the newest generation of these scopes brings unprecedented performance at a price that remains within reach.

Field of view continues to be one of the areas where the Fullfield shines. While Burris no longer dominates in this area, these inexpensive scopes have fields of view that are just as wide as scopes that cost seven or eight times as much. All these models have second focal plane (SFP) reticles and are best suited to hunting or casual plinking at ranges up to and within 1,200 yards. Holding off for wind requires some additional effort unless the scope is at its maximum magnification, but that’s why I’d recommend these scopes for recreational pursuits versus hardcore competitive use.

Each of these scopes has an intended purpose, so a quick look at each model shows how much thought and great design went into ensuring these scopes meet the diverse needs of today’s rifleman.

2-­8x35mm 

This little number is a short 9 3/4 inches long and weighs a scant 13 1/2 ounces. If ever there were a scope well suited to a Ruger American or Savage Axis, this is it! The 2-8X has a 1-­inch tube, which is one of the reasons it weighs so little.

This scope is best used for hunting where shots on game are inside 200 yards. It is small and light, but it is also only available with a capped elevation turret and fixed parallax. This means there is no dialing for distance, only holding over with one of the ballistic reticles. The parallax comes set at 100 yards, so as the target distance increases beyond 200 yards parallax begins to introduce some aiming error. The capped elevation turret and fixed parallax are why the 2-8X Fullfield is one of the most economical scopes available.

2.5-­10x42mm 

The 2.5-10X is best suited for a similar hunting scenario as previously described. It has an excellent field of view and is only three-quarters of an inch longer and 2 ounces heavier. Like the 2-­8X, it has a relatively large objective lens that gives it an equally large exit pupil. No scope “gathers light,” but this one does sling a bunch of it back to the shooter’s eye. The exit pupil is the circle in which the shooter’s eye must reside to see a full field of view through the scope. A larger exit pupil makes it easier to get a full field of view and, in cases where the shooter’s pupil can dilate to match the size of the exit pupil, results in a well-­lit image. All Fullfield scopes have large exit pupils.

3-­12x42mm 

The 3-12X model is the first Fullfield scope I would recommend for hunting beyond 200 yards. There are three versions of this scope available, but one has the new exposed advanced elevation turret, which is also available with a side-focus knob. The exposed elevation turret allows the shooter to dial one complete revolution of 25 minutes of angle (MOA). For reference, 25 MOA would allow most 6.5 Creedmoor rifles with 24-­inch barrels to dial for targets out to about 1,000 yards at near sea level.

The side-focus knob allows shooters to focus the image at distances as close as 25 yards — Hey, rimfire shooters! — or out to “infinity.” The ability to focus the image coming into the scope is an important step in removing parallax and the error that comes with it. Most of the time, parallax error isn’t significant enough to matter when hunting inside 400 yards, but if the targets get small or the distances get long, the shooter has to eliminate parallax. The side-focus knob makes that possible.

3-­12x56mm 

The unique features on the 3-12X are the 30mm maintube (instead of 1 inch) and the massive 56mm objective lens for a scope in this magnification range. The 30mm maintube provides an additional 23 minutes of internal adjustment compared to the 3-­12X with the 1-­inch maintube. However, the elevation turret still has a single 25-­MOA revolution, limiting how much of that travel is usable after zeroing. That additional internal travel is useful for rifles that require a lot of adjustment to zero due to less-­than-­optimal manufacturing. Where it might not be possible to zero the scope with a 1-­inch tube on a questionable rifle, the 30mm and its additional internal adjustment could get the job done.

The 56mm objective lens is going to have the largest exit pupil of any Fullfield scope. This means it will be easy to get behind to get a full field of view, and it has a forgiving eye box. Should the possibility exist of needing the scope set at maximum magnification in very low light, this model would provide the best performance.

4-­16x50mm 

If I were going to pick a single Fullfield scope for all my hunting needs, the 4-16X would be it. Thanks to the 1-­inch maintube, it weighs only 18 ounces. The SFP reticle allows me to walk around on a hunt with the magnification set at 4X, giving me a great view of both the reticle and any animals that appear at close range. It has illuminated reticle options that are helpful at twilight, and this model is available with all of Burris’ new turret systems.

These new scopes, depending on the model, are available with one of four turret systems. The capped elevation turret is what most are used to with a hunting scope. Remove the cap to zero the scope and then put it back on and leave it alone. The next option is the capped advanced knob with a removable cap. Underneath is what appears to be an exposed elevation turret. The size of the internal turret and the engraving on it make it apparent that it’s meant to be dialed for distance.  

Next is the exposed elevation turret with 25 MOA of adjustment, and the final option is a custom-­engraved turret that uses the shooter’s rifle information and expected hunting conditions to create a turret that dials to however many yards to the target. No mils or MOA to calculate; just spin the dial to “4.2” to hit a target at 420 yards.

6-­24x50mm $600

The 6-24X model is for all the magnification hogs who want to see all the details downrange. Its wide field of view makes this a great economical choice for those who love magnification. This scope is only available with the exposed elevation turret system.

The Burris Fullfield line is comprehensive with a wide variety of magnification ranges, reticles, and turrets. All Fullfield scopes are IPX-­7 rated, meaning they can be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes with no moisture penetration of the optic. Best of all, Fullfields still carry Burris’ Forever Warranty. 

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