Tested: Burris Fullfield IV Scopes Feature-Packed with Upgrades

The Burris Fullfield riflescope series has been a key ingredient to freezer-filling missions for many years. Trusted by hunters around the globe for their durability, clarity and ease-of-use, one may ponder how the Fullfield could get any better.

Enter the Fullfield IV Series.

Still a meat-and-potatoes scope, the 2020 Fullfield IV Series gives rifle and slug-gun goers five different scope sizes and eight different reticle options to choose from. More to come on this. Burris knows serious hunters demand a just-right-for-them scope, and these new options promise a perfect rifle partner will be found via a little research.

For 2020, Burris engineers developed scopes with an improved 4x optical system, premium multi-coated lenses that guarantee edge-to-edge clarity and the type of low-light performance that allows precision bullet placement at those times when game animals move most.

Adding icing to this already sweet cake are the newly designed turret knobs. Both horizontal and vertical knobs feature ergonomic covers that, due to precise machining, have been fitted with raised ribs that allow for precise control. With the covers removed, shooters get Up and Right labeled arrows to ensure precise point of impact control. Each click offers a ¼-inch MOA, and the audible click will be appreciated. There is no guessing when you make a click with this scope, and there is zero slop to Burris’ turret system.

When it comes to options, shooters can choose between a 2.5-10x42, 3-12x42, 3-12x56, 4-16x50 and a 6-24x50. It’s important to note not all eight reticle options are available with each design, but each design, minus the 3-12x56, are available with multiple reticle options.

The IV optic that arrived on my doorstep was the Fullfield IV 3-12x56 with illuminated E3 MOA reticle. A do-all reticle design that boasts a rear focal plane calibrated for traditional, magnum and varmint loads, the E3 sports hash marks on the lower vertical crosshair that are calibrated for point-of-impact ranges from 100 to 400 yards. A number of cascading dots will also help the shooter adjust for a 10 mile-per-hour crosswind, while a pair of MOA hash marks on the horizontal crosshair further increase shooting-in-the-wind accuracy. Another hat-tipper are the 11 different brightness settings that illuminate the middle crosshair via an easy-to-turn dial located on the scopes left-hand side.

Mounting the scope with a set of Burris 30mm Signature Zee Rings was a breeze. I appreciated – for a scope with such a large light-gathering objective lens – the weight that didn’t feel like my rifle was topped with a bowling ball. The scope weighs 24 ounces and measures 14.5 inches long. Those that opt for the 3-12x56mm will want to go with high-ring mounts. The objective lens has a diameter of 63.5mm, and low or medium ring mounts will create barrel-to-objective clearance issues.

Another feature that jumped out at me while bore-sighting was the simple twist-and-turn nature of the 3-12x magnification. The dial features the same raised ribs as the turret covers. In addition, the integrated eyepiece design has a zero-slip feel and makes reticle focus quick and easy. I love a scope that provides options that serve a purpose.

Sight-in was a simple process, and those that take full advantage of the E3 will surely give this reticle design a nod of approval. The scope provides exceptional edge-to-edge clarity when set at the appropriate distance from the shooter’s eye, and brightness, after three days of testing in various lighting conditions, was never a concern. I do applaud the various illumination settings, which made drive-a-tack accuracy all the easier during periods of low light. Being able to adjust light brightness is a feature not commonly found in scopes that come in under the $400 mark.

Tested from 100 to 400 yards on a Savage M-25 .223 spitting 75-grain Hornady A-Max bullets downrange, the scope held a solid zero, even after taking a four-mile mule ride in a scabbard. I also found Burris’ waterproof claim to be true. While on the mule ride, the heavens opened, and rain fell in sheets. No issues. The scope is branded as waterproof, fogproof and shockproof, and all claims seem to be supported.

I did manage to send plenty of lead in crosswinds between 10- and 14-miles-per-hour. I discovered at a distance of 200 yards, the dots (right and left) adjacent the vertical 200-yard crosshair, put my rounds easily into the kill zone. The more I shot, the more I appreciate the windage dots, and the more I learned about my wind holds. Notes were taken for future use.

Another to-be-cheered point of the IV Series is that each scope is branded with Burris’ Forever Warranty. One of the best warranty programs in the optic world, Burris will repair or replace your Burris IV if the device becomes damaged or defective. Best of all, perhaps, is that the warranty is transferred from owner to owner. This means no worry, no replacement charge, no warranty card, no receipt and no questions asked.

Again, I love products that serve a purpose and don’t require ibuprofen and anti-anxiety meds to put to use. The 3-12x56mm is a solid option for those looking to bang distant steel, put varmint pelts on the wall or put atop a trusted big-game shooter. The price point is right, the technology is sound, and the warranty means you can hunt hard. Get after it.

Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x56mm Specs:

Length: 14.5 inches

Weight: 24 ounces

Magnification: 3-12x

Objective Lens: 63.5mm

Finish: Matte Black

MSRP: $359

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