Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Burris FullField II or Leupold VX-Freedom

I'm looking to add a scope to the top of my new AR15 platform .223 that I'm building for the purpose of hunting coyotes on my hunt lease.

I do have spots on my lease where I can reach out 600yds if I had to, but my comfort zone is more in the < 200 yds shot.

Would love some feedback on what y'all think might be the better option!

I just cant trust a burris full field after sending a few back while I was working at a rifle tuning shop. Broken crosshairs mostly on even lighter stuff like a 708. This was 15 years ago though. My buddy has put two of the freedoms on his ARs and so far so good. I have one in the rimfire version. They look great on a tactical platform but the new design ruins a nice blued/wood gun.

Thanks @killerv !!!

Agreed re the looks of the new design Freedoms on a blued/walnut rifle. Probably a good move on Leupold's part though, other than CZs don't see too many new blued/walnut rifles any more.

I ended up buying the Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40 1In Matte Tri-MOA for $218 from Amazon. I'm pumped. Truth be told I'm a Leupold guy at heart (wanted one when I got my first rifle as a kid and couldn't afford it). Fast-forward 20 years, and the first scope I bought with my own $ was a Leupold Rifleman 3-9x40 (strapped to my Winchester Model 70 30-06 right now). I was just trying to be open to other options. But, I asked on this forum and 1 other and both responses I got said go Leupold. So, I went with what I know, and bought the Leupold.

killerv,

The Ballistic Plex reticle on Fullfield II's (the most practical reticle of their choices, in my experience) is etched, not wire. Have never seen one break while using a BUNCH of FFII's a lot, on various rifles chambered up to .300 Weatherby Magnum.

While I don't know the mechanics of a etched reticle scope, we did have one of the ballistic plex reticles that would actually turn clockwise when the gun was fired...so I am assuming it was the glass turning? It was sent back, it was if you were turning the actual body of the scope the way the reticle would turn....but the scope wasn't moving.....only the reticle. Only time I had ever seen that.

I would choose the FullField II.

I have used a FFII for a few years working up loads for some hard kickers and it never lost zero. The most frequent was on a .375 Ruger.

The scope fared a lot better than I did!!

LC

I've had two FFIIs that lost zero. It's a borderline scope with decent glass. Being that's the only two Burris scopes I've purchased....

I do like their reflex sights though, I'm 3 for 4 with them.

I'd do the Fullfield over the Freedom.

killverv,

That would have to be what happened!

Reloader7RM,

Very interesting!

Odds work, well, oddly. I've been using Burris scopes since the late 1980's, and a lot of other brands. I tend to do more shooting than average, and have now had 19 brands (not individual scopes) fail, either right out of the box or after a while. Only two have been Burrises, one right out of the box in 1988, and a Fullfield II after over a decade of use on various rifles.

I'd take the FF-II over anything else under $400.

Last VX3 was over $400. Love it but the $159 Burris I bought before season has compared very well to it. Last FF2 is now my oldest scope. Every time I look at swapping it..I look through it and change my mind. Never a hint of trouble

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


This

I've had a couple of the Burris Fullfields, an original and a FFII no issues so far. Very clear and tracking was good and held up. Have had several Leopold's but not the Freedom. Between the two I would go FFII. Both have the warranty.

FFII , no question for me

Same here FF2...Had three and 0 problems..Just got a new one with the dot and love it...Had 3 Leupolds go to hell...Had 'em fixed and they did it again....Everything from .22 up to .300Win..

Luck of the draw I suppose. I don’t doubt you fellas have had outstanding luck with them. I bought those at the same time maybe 10-15 years ago. I’ve had a pile of other brands go tits up as well. Seems Leupold gets trashed on here quite often, but I’ve only had one(VX3) that failed out of quite a few over the years. Even have 4 cheap VX1s w/o issues. Maybe it’s coming with those as well.

I will say this about Burris: their customer service is top notch.