Burris Fullfield Rifle Scope Lineup: Full Review

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Burris Optics has launched a newly redesigned fifth generation of their iconic Fullfield scope line. In this, Burris is going back to its roots and paying homage to the scope that started it all for the company.

Many projects in the firearms world that we’ve come to know and love began when a passionate hobbyist said, “I bet I can make a better [X]...” and set out to do just that. This is exactly what happened 50 years ago with Don Burris.

A design engineer for Redfield scopes, Burris set out on his own in 1971. With a solid history of industry firsts under his belt - such as the first 4-12x and 6-18x scopes, the first constantly centered non-magnifying reticle in variable power scopes, and the first trajectory compensating dual reticle - Burris spent the next four years refining his previous work into a new design.

In 1975, Don debuted the Fullfield line of scopes. The purpose of the Fullfield line was to exceed the performance of the wildly popular Redfield Wideview scope, which was actually something that he helped Redfield bring to market during his 12-year tenure there. The Fullfield line was a smash success and has remained popular for half a century.

Refusing to rest on the laurels of success, Burris Optics has made improvements to the Fullfield line four separate times over the years. This time, however, they’ve reimagined the Fullfield line from the ground up. The new Fullfield riflescopes preserve the wide viewing field and exceptional optical clarity that made previous generations a staple among hunters, but they’ve taken advantage of a half-century of advancement in scope design to make one of the best things even better. This latest iteration delivers a modern design, enhanced features, and advanced technologies like the new Burris Knob Synergy System, equipping hunters and shooters to tackle today’s most demanding challenges.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the new Fullfields, let’s acknowledge some things that each and every one of them has in common. They’re all nitrogen filled, waterproof, shockproof, fogproof, and backed by Burris’ Forever Warranty: no warranty card needed, no repair or replacement fees, no questions asked, and automatically transferable to all future owners. That’s fantastic because there’s no way I can keep track of all the warranty cards I’ve got from different purchases over the years, and not to mention scopes that came on used guns that I’ve bought and obviously never had the card to begin with.

One of the big areas of focus for this new fifth generation of Fullfield scopes was on making them shorter and lighter without sacrificing any aspect of quality. True to form, they did just that, partially by utilizing a new proprietary 4x zoom system. As an example, the new 2.5-10x42mm Fullfield scope is 1.1” shorter and 1.4 ounces lighter than the previous version. While that may not sound like much, it means a great deal to hunters on the move operating under the “ounces equal pounds, pounds equal pain” mantra.

Across the range of models, the scopes are all quite compact and light in each of their classes. The smallest 2-8x35mm scope is 9.8” long and weighs 13.5 ounces, while the largest 6-24x50mm scope is 14.4” long and weighs 18.9 ounces.

As a practical and personal comparison example, I replaced a 4-12x40mm scope that I had on one of my rifles with the 3-12x42mm Fullfield scope. By doing so, I’m gaining a wider range of zoom and a larger objective bell all while cutting 0.9” in length. That’s a win, no matter how you look at it.

Fashion has changed a lot in the last 50 years, and the Fullfield line isn’t stuck in the past. The new models have a more contemporary look and improved ergonomics, following the “industrial design” concept introduced in 2024 across the entire Burris Optics line. High-relief knurling along the power ring and adjustment knobs ensure a positive grip and quick operation for dialing in the shot while the crisp, precision profile reflects the fine-tolerance engineering built into each riflescope.

I found all of this to be true. The power ring is easy to get a good grip on and spins with just enough resistance that it isn’t a bear to change but also moves freely enough to enable quick zoom changes on the fly. Windage and elevation changes, which are measured four clicks to one MOA, are both tactile and audible. While purely aesthetic, I also like that the capped knobs, when uncovered on models that have covers, are Burris red in color and match the ring at the rear of the scope.

Optical clarity and maximum light transmission are essential qualities for any serious optic, and the new Fullfield delivers. Multi-coated lenses combine with high-performance glass to minimize glare and boost low-light visibility through the one-inch tube body. This allows a best-in-class clean, crisp downrange view with exceptional contrast and color fidelity, which is critical for identifying targets in murky light environments that are present during first and last light shooting opportunities.

I took the 2.5-10x42 scope with an illuminated reticle to the range at the end of the day as light was fading. The scope picture was still bright enough and clear enough that I wouldn’t be concerned about a last-light hunting scenario. Plus, with the illuminated dot in the reticle, there was a really nice aiming point in the center.

Burris engineers selected the one-inch tube diameter to provide the more compact dimensions and reduction in weight mentioned earlier. As with all things, there are trade-offs and concessions that must be made. Given the riflescope’s improved glass quality and performance, this was an elegantly balanced compromise between image quality, light transmission, and minimal bulk and weight.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just because the Fullfield has been completely redesigned doesn’t mean that they’ve done away with aspects of the line that made it so successful in the first place. As with prior Fullfield iterations, the new generation Fullfield utilizes a rear focal plane for quick reticle acquisition at near distances while offering a precise aiming solution for longer-range targets.

Today’s shooting situations are just as varied as the shooters themselves, and Burris knows that there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all in the scope world. As a result, the new Fullfield scopes are offered in multiple reticle configurations to better match the shooter’s style, ballistic requirements, and typical shooting environment.

In all, ten different reticles are available across the various Fullfield models. These include everything from the essential Plex-style duplex crosshairs to illuminated reticles all the way up to the more advanced wind and drift compensating reticles. Each of these reticles is represented in the BurrisConnect App, providing Fullfield users expanded capabilities with this powerful reticle mapping tool. You can even use the app to develop custom DOPE cards for rifles that have been paired with the new Fullfield scope of your choosing. Models that have illuminated reticles are powered by one CR2032 battery that is included in the box.

Last but certainly not least, the new Fullfield riflescopes are the first Burris optics to host the equally new Burris Knob Synergy system. Knob Synergy is a universal knob system that allows the user to choose and swap between capped and exposed elevation adjustment knobs as well as to install custom-exposed ballistic knobs.

The Knob Synergy system is compatible with all new Fullfield riflescopes and will be included on all future non-tech-enabled Burris riflescopes. Four knob configurations make up the adaptive Knob Synergy system: Standard Knob, a zero click stop Capped Advanced Knob, an Exposed Advanced Knob, and lastly the Custom Burris Lasered Knob.

The Custom Lasered Knob is pretty cool. You provide Burris with the scope model, height above bore, zero distance, ammo type, muzzle velocity, elevation, and temperature and they’ll make a custom knob for your specific setup. Custom dials allow you to adjust elevation for a specific distance based on yardage. This eliminates the need to estimate hold over or dial using MIL or MOA calculations. Just spin your custom elevation turret to the distance you’re shooting and squeeze the trigger.

This new fifth-generation of Fullfield riflescopes launches with six optical ranges in 15 distinct models. The broad range of model configurations is intended to ensure magnification and reticle diversity to meet both domestic and global market demands. Reticle options include Plex, Heavy Plex, 4Ai, Ballistic E3, Ballistic E3 Illuminated, and Wind MOA Illuminated. The debut Fullfield models include 2-8x35mm, 2.5-10x42mm, 3-12x42mm, 3-12x56mm, 4-16x50mm, and 6-24x50mm.

One thing that shooters have come to appreciate about the Burris Fullfield is that it offers a wide variety of features at a price point that doesn’t cause sticker shock. The MSRP for the various models ranges from $192 to $600. Street prices will obviously be a bit lower than that.

Fifty years after they were first introduced, these new versions of the Fullfield scopes are proof positive that Burris Optics isn’t a company that is stuck in the past. They acknowledge their past and their heritage and are using it as a light to guide the company’s way into the future. I’m not exactly sure how they’ll manage to do it, but in another decade I have no doubt that we’ll be looking at an even more advanced version of the Fullfield scope. I don’t want to wish time away, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with.