Rifle Scopes Burris 1-8x24 XTR II vs Trijicon Accupower 1-8x28

[Benito]

OK, so I am looking for a bombproof robust 1-8x optic for either my 16" .308 or 14.5" 5.56 ARs.
I have narrowed it down to these 2 and would like the input of the Hide as to pros/cons of these 2.
They are relatively close in terms of specs, with the Trijicon being slightly more expensive.

How does the illumination, glass and construction compare?

 

[blbennett1288]

I can tell you from experience that a 34mm scope on a 5.56 is going to feel top heavy and awkward, it would be much more at home on the 16" .308. That being said I ran it for a while, made it work, and got used to it, just something to keep in mind.

I have owned 2 XTRII's, the 1.5-8 and 3-15, and would not hesitate to buy one again. The price difference is pretty large at around $500, so if money is a concern go with the XTRII. The 2 scopes are very similar in size, weight, FOV, and adjustment range. I liked both sets of turrets, so that is a wash. I do not think you will be disappointed with whatever you decided, but I would make the decision based on reticle choice and price.

 

[Benito]

I can tell you from experience that a 34mm scope on a 5.56 is going to feel top heavy and awkward, it would be much more at home on the 16" .308. That being said I ran it for a while, made it work, and got used to it, just something to keep in mind.

I have owned 2 XTRII's, the 1.5-8 and 3-15, and would not hesitate to buy one again. The price difference is pretty large at around $500, so if money is a concern go with the XTRII. The 2 scopes are very similar in size, weight, FOV, and adjustment range. I liked both sets of turrets, so that is a wash. I do not think you will be disappointed with whatever you decided, but I would make the decision based on reticle choice and price.

Thanks for the input.
Regarding the weight, I see what you're saying but the weights of these 2 34mm optics are pretty close to the Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24, which seems ubiquitous on 5.56 ARs for at least the last several years.

I would like a lighter weigh low power variable, but not sacrificing durability. I guess there is the Kahles 1-6x24 but that is a significant increase in price.

 

[blbennett1288]

Thanks for the input.
Regarding the weight, I see what you're saying but the weights of these 2 34mm optics are pretty close to the Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24, which seems ubiquitous on 5.56 ARs for at least the last several years.

I would like a lighter weigh low power variable, but not sacrificing durability. I guess there is the Kahles 1-6x24 but that is a significant increase in price.

How far will you be shooting? I was shooting at 700 yards with the 1.5-8, wanted more power, upgraded to 2.5-10, and now want something in the 3-15 range. It really just depends on the intended purpose, but I would not go the opposite direction to 1-6.

 

[VegasHKShooter]

I'm currently running two Burris XTR II's. I have the 1-5 on my 3 gun AR, and the 1-8 on my Daniel Defense .308. I have it set up as a DMR type rifle, and as such, I love it. I am extremely happy with it in that role. The BDCCreticle in mine is spot on shooting Federal 168 GMM, all the way to 600 yds. It is a REALLY good scope for the money spent. I have had zero problems with my 1-8, and I've shot it quite a bit. If you're looking for a low power variable, in the 1-8 range that isn't $1600-$2000, I think the Burris really shines.
That particular XTRII is made in Japan, I would bet money that it's made by LOW, the same manufacturer that does most of the mid to high range Japanese glass.

I have no experience with the Trijicon.

 

[bp7178]

I have to echo what's been said about 34mm tubes on 5.56mm rifles. They are pretty bulky and awkward on top of a rifle as light as 5.56mm AR15 platforms. If you're looking for a 1-8 with a MIL based reticle, I'd suggest looking at the Swaro Z8i with the BRT reticle. Very lightweight as well.

 

[RonSwanson]

I have both. I have the XTRII 1-8 (ballistic dot) on a 556 and the Accupower 1-8 (green mil) on a short barreled Grendel. Glass is very good on both. Having owned the Razor 1-6 and an MK6 in the past, I would say the Burris and Trijicon are very close in clarity. Weight isn't unmanageable and feels relatively balanced on both rifles when a mag is in place. Both are sitting in Aero Precision SPR mounts.

Here's a short comparison of the Burris XTRII 1-8 to the Trijicon Accupower 1-8:
Glass: Very good clarity on both, maybe a slight edge to the Trijicon. The image darkens more at higher power on the XTRII.
Eyebox: Good on both but better on the Accupower at higher power, most likely due to the larger objective.
Weight/Size: Both are about even. Knobs are a little bit bigger on the accupower.
Reticle: XTRII is easy, simple, fast, and has a reasonably fine aiming point. Accupower is good enough on both 1x and 8x. Center appears thick on 8x - .2 mil line thickness
Illumination: XTRII has a very fine center red dot that gets uncomfortably bright - easily visible in bright daylight. Accupower is not at all daylight bright. It can be visible, but washes out on most backgrounds in full sunlight.
Image flatness: Both images are very flat at 1x and do not experience the fish-eye that some other 1x scopes do.
Durability: Both seem well built, but neither have seen more than a few hunts and range trips.

If Burris would put the SCR Mil reticle (or just a mil based reticle) in either the FFP or SFP 1-8 XTRII it would be even better than it is now.

If Trijicon would amp up the illumination and make the center cross of the Accupower .1 mil it would be even better than it is now.

These are just my assessments, they both do well in the roles I have them in. The Burris is on my do-all 5.56 carbine and is nice and quick on 1x and the drops match nicely with 77gr IMI out to 400 yards (furthest I've been able to shoot it). The Trijicon is on a shorty Grendel that is mostly used as a ranch hunting rifle/range toy. It's reasonably quick with or without illumination, has excellent clarity and maintains a bright enough image throughout its illumination range to still be used when light gets lower.

 

[longshot2000]

I would echo Ron's comments, although I am looking through a Burris 1.5-8x, which is not quite as good as the 1-8x. My Accupower is red, not green. I can see it just fine in daylight. I will say, that the red-dot on the 1.5-8x is better than the other two scopes, as it is DUAL focal plane, so the red dot stays the same size (RFP) and the reticle moves in and out (FFP). While I am a FFP fan, I am starting to think that SFP is probably better for lower-mag. The Trijicon can be a little annoying, as the illuminated part moves in and out and you get the broken segmented circle at 8x, and what resembles a horseshoe at 1x.

You cannot say that money is no object, because if that were the case, I would take the S&B 1-8x Short Dot, the new model, when available. I don't however, think it makes sense to break the bank on a 1-8x. I like Burris XTR-ii and the Accupower, as well as Leupold Mark 6 and Mark 8. I am not a fan of Vortex anything in the lower mag. The Razor is a fine scope, just personally does not appeal, and much of the other line of Vortex is not appropriate (read: I would not buy it)

 

[Benito]

I have both. I have the XTRII 1-8 (ballistic dot) on a 556 and the Accupower 1-8 (green mil) on a short barreled Grendel. Glass is very good on both. Having owned the Razor 1-6 and an MK6 in the past, I would say the Burris and Trijicon are very close in clarity. Weight isn't unmanageable and feels relatively balanced on both rifles when a mag is in place. Both are sitting in Aero Precision SPR mounts.

Here's a short comparison of the Burris XTRII 1-8 to the Trijicon Accupower 1-8:
Glass: Very good clarity on both, maybe a slight edge to the Trijicon. The image darkens more at higher power on the XTRII.
Eyebox: Good on both but better on the Accupower at higher power, most likely due to the larger objective.
Weight/Size: Both are about even. Knobs are a little bit bigger on the accupower.
Reticle: XTRII is easy, simple, fast, and has a reasonably fine aiming point. Accupower is good enough on both 1x and 8x. Center appears thick on 8x - .2 mil line thickness
Illumination: XTRII has a very fine center red dot that gets uncomfortably bright - easily visible in bright daylight. Accupower is not at all daylight bright. It can be visible, but washes out on most backgrounds in full sunlight.
Image flatness: Both images are very flat at 1x and do not experience the fish-eye that some other 1x scopes do.
Durability: Both seem well built, but neither have seen more than a few hunts and range trips.

If Burris would put the SCR Mil reticle (or just a mil based reticle) in either the FFP or SFP 1-8 XTRII it would be even better than it is now.

If Trijicon would amp up the illumination and make the center cross of the Accupower .1 mil it would be even better than it is now.

These are just my assessments, they both do well in the roles I have them in. The Burris is on my do-all 5.56 carbine and is nice and quick on 1x and the drops match nicely with 77gr IMI out to 400 yards (furthest I've been able to shoot it). The Trijicon is on a shorty Grendel that is mostly used as a ranch hunting rifle/range toy. It's reasonably quick with or without illumination, has excellent clarity and maintains a bright enough image throughout its illumination range to still be used when light gets lower.

Good to know, and thanks for your input!.
The illumination, particularly daylight brightness is important to me. Do you think your Trijicon Accupower would fare better in this regard if it was red rather than green?

 

[Benito]

How far will you be shooting? I was shooting at 700 yards with the 1.5-8, wanted more power, upgraded to 2.5-10, and now want something in the 3-15 range. It really just depends on the intended purpose, but I would not go the opposite direction to 1-6.

Anywhere from up close to 600 yards.
This is why I'm looking at 1-8x. Otherwise I would totally go for more magnification on the top end.

 

[RonSwanson]

Good to know, and thanks for your input!.
The illumination, particularly daylight brightness is important to me. Do you think your Trijicon Accupower would fare better in this regard if it was red rather than green?

I imagine it would, but honestly don't know. I've heard the red is reasonably bright in the day time.

 

[Benito]

I have to echo what's been said about 34mm tubes on 5.56mm rifles. They are pretty bulky and awkward on top of a rifle as light as 5.56mm AR15 platforms. If you're looking for a 1-8 with a MIL based reticle, I'd suggest looking at the Swaro Z8i with the BRT reticle. Very lightweight as well.

The Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24 uses a 30mm tube and is listed at 25.2 oz. It is used on AR-15s by everyone from 3 gunners to military dudes (according to what I've read)
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle

The Trijicon Accupower 1-8x28 uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 25 oz.
https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3b.php?pid=RS27-C-1900028

The Burris XTR II 1-8x24 also uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 24.4 oz
https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/xtr-ii-riflescopes-series/xtr-ii-riflescope-1-8x24

According to these listed weights, these 2 34mm tube scopes actually weigh less than the Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24.
That surprised me, but makes me think they wouldn't be too bad for an AR-15. I may still use it on the AR-10 though.

 

[SuperSneakySniper]

I was trying to choose between these same two scopes a year or so ago and I went with Burris 1-5x to save some money. I'm very glad I chose Burris! Nothing against Trijicon, I'm sure it's awesome too, but I have no regrets, and the XTR2 has been working great on my 3-gun rifle! It's tough, the strong illumination lets me use it like a red-dot in BRIGHT sun, and to me, the glass was as good as the Trijicon (since we're talking about pretty low power, the difference in glass quality is hard for me to tell between since it's not going all the way up to like 25x or anything. They're both super clear.)

I'd choose Burris again any day for the price they're sellin' for, so it gets my vote! It gives up nothing to the other scopes mentioned imo.
As for the Vortex, even though it has a 30mm tube, it's heavier? I'd rather have a slightly lighter 34mm than a slightly heavier 30mm.

 

[CSTactical]

I'm a big fan of the Burris XTR II myself, I prefer the RFP version since it is Aimpoint bright personally. Here's a good review below:
Burris XTR II 1-8x24mm w/ Illum Ballistic Dot RFP http://bit.ly/2ovkKBM

 

[Benito]

I'm a big fan of the Burris XTR II myself, I prefer the RFP version since it is Aimpoint bright personally. Here's a good review below:
Burris XTR II 1-8x24mm w/ Illum Ballistic Dot RFP http://bit.ly/2ovkKBM

Is there a difference in brightness between the FFP and SFP/RFP versions???
Why and how significant?

 

[CSTactical]

Is there a difference in brightness between the FFP and SFP/RFP versions???
Why and how significant?

The FFP version is an illuminated reticle like in the video, the RFP version is like an Aimpoint. It all comes down to preference IMO

 

[bp7178]

The Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24 uses a 30mm tube and is listed at 25.2 oz. It is used on AR-15s by everyone from 3 gunners to military dudes (according to what I've read)
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle

The Trijicon Accupower 1-8x28 uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 25 oz.
https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3b.php?pid=RS27-C-1900028

The Burris XTR II 1-8x24 also uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 24.4 oz
https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/xtr-ii-riflescopes-series/xtr-ii-riflescope-1-8x24

According to these listed weights, these 2 34mm tube scopes actually weigh less than the Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24.
That surprised me, but makes me think they wouldn't be too bad for an AR-15. I may still use it on the AR-10 though.

No one would even bat an eye if it were said that the Razor Gen 2 was overweight. For what it is, its at the extreme end of the spectrum, its very much an outlier in the 30mm tube world. The Z8i is 18.2oz and is by far and away the scope that has impressed me the most out of the ones I've owned. I don't normally post reviews, but I did on Europtic's website. My random thoughts about the scope splattered into the review is as follows...

"Glass quality is nothing short of amazing. The fast focus eyepiece has a reference mark on it, which is a very nice detail. I don't like locking eyepieces as I find that my focus changes depending if I'm wearing contacts or eyeglasses. The threads for the focus adjustment seem to be the perfect pitch too. It adjusts very quickly. This is something I hated about the NF 2.5-10x24 this scope replaced. The diopter adjustment was very finely threaded, and required many turns. The ocular lens on the Z8i is very large. This gives the user a wide open viewing experience that is very easy to get behind. The scope is very user friendly in this regard. Pointing and finding the reticle is very intuitive. Scope is very lightweight, and doesn't have the unnecessarily heavy or bulky 34mm tube of some scopes in this genre. The capped turret clicks are firm and tacticle and have an adjustable zero reference which I find beneficial for compensating for different ammo or adding a suppressor. The power ring is smooth and quick to adjust. I didn't opt for the throw level. The built in extended nub does it for me so far. Reticle illumination controls are good. I wish the buttons had a bit more travel or maybe a more tacticle sensation when they are depressed. This is really my only dislike. The on/off control is brilliant with its day/night settings. Very good range to the illumination as well. Very usable in low light all the way up to thermonuclear bright. When off, it appears as if the center of the reticle is slightly open with a very faint grey color present. This slightly open reticle center, which is .1 MIL corresponding with the dot size, is actually an unexpected help when shooting for groups off of a bench. You can play with your zero range in the Swarovski app to make the hold overs make sense for your rifle and ammo. For example, with 77gr M262 zeroed at 50/194ish yards, the drops of the BRT are 308, 403, 485, 558 and 622 yards. The app will even tell you to zero 1.4" high at 100 yards. I've owned quite a few scopes and different optic setups. Brands including S&B, Trijicon, NIghtforce, Aimpoint, Eotech and just about everything you'd expect to see on an AR15. This is bay far the most impressive scope I've owned. Going from a NF 2.5-10x24 with an offset MRDS to this, I feel like I'm giving nothing up on the high end due to the very impressive optical quality, and only gaining on the low end due to the Z8i's very impressive 1x feel. The NF setup with a Larue mount and RM06 was 26.1oz. This scope in the same mount less the MRDS is 25.1oz. Gains about 2" in overall length, but it isn't noticed. The Z8i isn't cheap, but well worth the cost."

 

[TMR137]

Good to know, and thanks for your input!.
The illumination, particularly daylight brightness is important to me. Do you think your Trijicon Accupower would fare better in this regard if it was red rather than green?

The red is daylight bright. Not Aimpoint bright but way better than the green. I run mine on an 18" SPR and have no issues even in midday desert sun.

 

[Benito]

The red is daylight bright. Not Aimpoint bright but way better than the green. I run mine on an 18" SPR and have no issues even in midday desert sun.

If you could please post up some pics of your reticle on the max brightness setting during daytime, I would be eternally grateful.
Thanks!

 

[TMR137]

For some reason I can't the pics to post. Sent you a PM.

 

[bp7178]

The Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24 uses a 30mm tube and is listed at 25.2 oz. It is used on AR-15s by everyone from 3 gunners to military dudes (according to what I've read)
http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/razor-hd-gen-2-1-6x24-riflescope-with-vmr-2-moa-reticle

The Trijicon Accupower 1-8x28 uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 25 oz.
https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3b.php?pid=RS27-C-1900028

The Burris XTR II 1-8x24 also uses a 34mm tube and is listed at 24.4 oz
https://www.burrisoptics.com/scopes/xtr-ii-riflescopes-series/xtr-ii-riflescope-1-8x24

According to these listed weights, these 2 34mm tube scopes actually weigh less than the Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24.
That surprised me, but makes me think they wouldn't be too bad for an AR-15. I may still use it on the AR-10 though.

The Z8i is 18.2oz w/o mount...I'm just saying. Every scope you linked is about 1/2 a pound heavier.