Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Experience/Opinions: Burris Fullfield II or Vortex Diamondback?

I have used the Burris 3x9 and 4x12 on rifles from a 243 to a 300 RUM and on a Tikka T-3 lite 338 Win. I have never had a problem, these are some tuff scopes. Never used a vortex so no way to compare. I currently have 8 FFll scopes on rifles.

If those were my only two options, I'd take the Burris all day long and twice on Sunday! But personally, I'd spend a little more and get a Leupold.

I have a couple of FFIIs. I've had each of them for several years, done a fair bit of hunting with them, and I think they are great scopes for the money, very good value.

For the guys with FFII that don't like the rotating ocular - look at the E1. It has a power adjustment ring, etched glass, and much better turrets than the FFII. I find them almost identical in clarity and brightness to my VX-3s. They appear to be the real deal. They are a bit more $ than the FFII but not much, especially if you find a deal.

Cabela's routinely has them on sale for $150, especially the 30 mm. I wish they had a "normal" reticle.

Sportsmans Warehouse is running an E1 3-9x40 with regular duplex for $150 right now.

I would have loved to have tried the E 1 after having good luck with the FF II but the reticle is just to fine for this area where it can be pretty dark during legal shooting light. If they made an illuminated version with just a simple red dot I would be all over that.

Maybe I should clarify a bit - all the E1s I own have the standard Burris Plex. I hate the E1 Ballistic Plex.................

Cabelas sells the standard Plex for $299 every day, Fleabay has them for ~ $180 and refurbs for ~ $160.

There is a normal duplex E1 (I own one), part #200321. There was one on samplelist.com not too long ago. Cabelas has them on sale for $150 right now.
Link to Cabelas

These are great scopes for the money. Mine is mounted on a .243 that doesn't get shot much, so can't comment on durability, but I've owned a number of Burris scopes over the years and they have held up for me.

For those that bitch about Burris CS - not sure what to say other than I've had great experiences with them. I had a Signature years ago that had some specs inside, sent it back and they cleaned it up and even gave the exterior and lenses a makeover. Took about a month. A couple years ago I dropped a signature select 4-16 at the range and it messed up the ocular lens. They replaced it no questions asked with a Veracity. Hard to complain about that upgrade.

Dang, I wish Burris would show their E1 being available with the Plex reticle on their website. Because they don't I figured what made the E1 model was the Ballistic Plex E1 reticle in its various forms. Thanks for the heads-ups.

I didn't know they offered it with the standard duplex, on the website it shows only the one reticle. If they made it with the regular Ballistic Plex that would be even better.

That's a great deal on a neat scope.

Between those two scopes I would choose the Burris.

I had that burris, and the diamondback in 4-12.
its been a while since I had both So I cant tell you which one is better side by side. but I'd look at the E1
I do like my other burris I have left as well as the vortex viper I have left..
buy once, cry once.
I now own nikon monarchs and leupolds vx2,3.

Another vote for a good look at the Bushy 3500's. Hunted some of the most miserable weather AK has to offer with one in 4-12 and it was flawless each time. Should of stayed ignet:) and never bought upper tier.

Sounds like between Vortex and Burris, Burris is the way to go. Around the same price point, sounds like there is also solid support behind the Bushnell Elite 3500.

This is really a question about ballistic holdover reticles and scope features: Regarding the Burris scopes, FFII ballistic plex vs E1 with standard plex (not the E1 ballistic plex), which would do you prefer? I like the idea of the ballistic plex on the FFII for shooting gongs at the range, but how well does it work in practice (6.5 CM)? Regarding the E1 with standard plex, is the upgraded magnification adjustment ring and turrets worth forgoing the FFII ballistic plex?

Thanks,
Expat

That would be great!

All Ballistic type plex's will work if the end user is willing to put in the range time to confirm what is happening where the rubber meets the road.

Burris has a online ballistics program that will allow you to enter your bullet B.C., velocity, and shooting conditions and will show you your yardage for each mark on their BDC reticle. You can adjust your sight in yardage and the magnification power. This will give you a good ballpark dea of what to expect, but as mentioned above, would need field validation to get the most accuracy.

I think these last two posts answer my question. I shoot at a range with 10” gongs out over 500 yards. The ballistic reticle is the way for me to go. It will be fun!