I have looked at every scope on the market below a ZCO. Currently, I've settled on the Burris XTR3 5.5-30x56 with SCR Mil Reticle.
I have three of these, they all have excellent glass. Compared side x side with three different 3.3-18x50 SCR Mil versions, the 5.5-30's have a "nicer picture" with more clear glass at all mag levels. At least that is the way it was with my 6 Burris XTR3 scopes.
I recently purchased a Zeiss LRP 3.6-18x50 and compared it with my two Leupold Mark 5 HD 3.6-18x50 PR-1 Mil scopes. The after hours of adjustment, the Zeiss was "barely" nicer in resolution, contrast and color were identical.
I had two of my 5.5-30 XTR 3 scopes that weren't mounted, so I compared those both to the Zeiss. My XTR3's were better in every way.
I sold the Zeiss.
I just got a great deal on a Burris XTR Pro with SCR 1/4 Mil. Just arrived today from Sportoptics. I spent a good portion of today, off and on comparing it directly on a tripod from ranges of 70 yards to 1200 yards from the front of my house to the mountainside in my neighborhood.
I know that my examples of the Standard XTR3 5.5-30 have OUTSTANDING glass, i've tuned the eye piece perfectly for optimum resolution for my eyes. They must be "good ones" because they are incredible.
The Pro initially "didn't look as good". I played with the eye piece "reticle focus" some more and tuned it to where things started to come together. I also realized that the parallax on the Pro is more "finicky" than the standard XTR3. You have to fine tune it more than the regular XTR3 to get the parallax out and resolution perfect.
After spending a good portion of today looking through these, and fucking with adjustments on the pro.
Here is the conclusion.
XTR Pro
Parallax adjustment is more finicky, more critical to "tune". 1200 yards parallax was "out" with setting just past 750 yard mark on dial. Closer to 750 than infinity mark. When set to infinity, parallax was present and clarity suffered at 1200 yards. I'm assuming this may be good set at infinity at ranges closer to a mile.
Colors.......Deeper Green, Darker Browns(notably "different" than the XTR3)
Resolution.......Excellent, BARELY better than my standard XTR3, (depending on what I looked at)
Contrast.........Excellent, notably better than my standard XTR3 (still very close optically)
Brightness.........Both, bright as hell
XTR3
Parallax adjustment very forgiving......set to infinity, 700 to 1200 yds objects seemed focused well.
Colors......a little lighter looking, one might think "brighter", but not really, just not as deep color
Resolution......Excellent, slightly less than XTR Pro
Contrast.........Excellent, slightly less than XTR Pro
Brightness..........colors seem lighter, greens are a lighter green, browns are a lighter brown.
I think I have 3 excellent 5.5-30x56 standard XTR3's. The one that currently isn't mounted, is probably the "best" of the bunch.
It is the only one that isn't mounted, so It's the only one I compared the pro to.
In my examples................they are fucking close.
They are both fucking awesome.
As far as the pro, the illumination choice of Red, or Green is awesome. (it's not daylight bright), which is fine for me.
The SCR 1/4 Mil reticle is AWESOME!!
The elevation Turret is AWESOME.
P.S...................
I've compared this standard 5.5-30x56 XTR3 to my Vortex Razor Gen 3 6-36 and on 25x and 30x the Vortex was slightly better.
So, without having the Vortex available to put on the tripod, it didn't get a direct comparison to the pro. I know from experience though, that the Vortex will be slightly "nicer" than the pro.
Conclusion...........
The $1100 Camerland deal on the Burris XTR3 5.5-30x56 (If you can live with the SCR reticle)................is a FUCKING STEAL.
I'm happy with the Pro though (for under $1900 shipped NEW) .....................it's sticking around. Well done Burris, and thanks to SportOptics for the hookup.
P.S.
For those who don't think it's worth dicking around with the "reticle focus" to "tune resolution", your missing out. EVERY scope I've put on a tripod and spent time with has benefited, sometimes greatly by a slight tune to the "fast focus" reticle adjustment.
I have three of these, they all have excellent glass. Compared side x side with three different 3.3-18x50 SCR Mil versions, the 5.5-30's have a "nicer picture" with more clear glass at all mag levels. At least that is the way it was with my 6 Burris XTR3 scopes.
I recently purchased a Zeiss LRP 3.6-18x50 and compared it with my two Leupold Mark 5 HD 3.6-18x50 PR-1 Mil scopes. The after hours of adjustment, the Zeiss was "barely" nicer in resolution, contrast and color were identical.
I had two of my 5.5-30 XTR 3 scopes that weren't mounted, so I compared those both to the Zeiss. My XTR3's were better in every way.
I sold the Zeiss.
I just got a great deal on a Burris XTR Pro with SCR 1/4 Mil. Just arrived today from Sportoptics. I spent a good portion of today, off and on comparing it directly on a tripod from ranges of 70 yards to 1200 yards from the front of my house to the mountainside in my neighborhood.
I know that my examples of the Standard XTR3 5.5-30 have OUTSTANDING glass, i've tuned the eye piece perfectly for optimum resolution for my eyes. They must be "good ones" because they are incredible.
The Pro initially "didn't look as good". I played with the eye piece "reticle focus" some more and tuned it to where things started to come together. I also realized that the parallax on the Pro is more "finicky" than the standard XTR3. You have to fine tune it more than the regular XTR3 to get the parallax out and resolution perfect.
After spending a good portion of today looking through these, and fucking with adjustments on the pro.
Here is the conclusion.
XTR Pro
Parallax adjustment is more finicky, more critical to "tune". 1200 yards parallax was "out" with setting just past 750 yard mark on dial. Closer to 750 than infinity mark. When set to infinity, parallax was present and clarity suffered at 1200 yards. I'm assuming this may be good set at infinity at ranges closer to a mile.
Colors.......Deeper Green, Darker Browns(notably "different" than the XTR3)
Resolution.......Excellent, BARELY better than my standard XTR3, (depending on what I looked at)
Contrast.........Excellent, notably better than my standard XTR3 (still very close optically)
Brightness.........Both, bright as hell
XTR3
Parallax adjustment very forgiving......set to infinity, 700 to 1200 yds objects seemed focused well.
Colors......a little lighter looking, one might think "brighter", but not really, just not as deep color
Resolution......Excellent, slightly less than XTR Pro
Contrast.........Excellent, slightly less than XTR Pro
Brightness..........colors seem lighter, greens are a lighter green, browns are a lighter brown.
I think I have 3 excellent 5.5-30x56 standard XTR3's. The one that currently isn't mounted, is probably the "best" of the bunch.
It is the only one that isn't mounted, so It's the only one I compared the pro to.
In my examples................they are fucking close.
They are both fucking awesome.
As far as the pro, the illumination choice of Red, or Green is awesome. (it's not daylight bright), which is fine for me.
The SCR 1/4 Mil reticle is AWESOME!!
The elevation Turret is AWESOME.
P.S...................
I've compared this standard 5.5-30x56 XTR3 to my Vortex Razor Gen 3 6-36 and on 25x and 30x the Vortex was slightly better.
So, without having the Vortex available to put on the tripod, it didn't get a direct comparison to the pro. I know from experience though, that the Vortex will be slightly "nicer" than the pro.
Conclusion...........
The $1100 Camerland deal on the Burris XTR3 5.5-30x56 (If you can live with the SCR reticle)................is a FUCKING STEAL.
I'm happy with the Pro though (for under $1900 shipped NEW) .....................it's sticking around. Well done Burris, and thanks to SportOptics for the hookup.
P.S.
For those who don't think it's worth dicking around with the "reticle focus" to "tune resolution", your missing out. EVERY scope I've put on a tripod and spent time with has benefited, sometimes greatly by a slight tune to the "fast focus" reticle adjustment.
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