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Rifle Scopes Burris XTR3!!!
- Thread starter D_TROS
- Start date
I was worried about the recoil on my B14R damaging my XTRIII so I moved it to my dasher. 
I can understand that a company wants to defend its name, but I’m disappointed that Burris feels it necessary to publicly post such detailed customer information.
Good scopes, bad scopes, whatever. People move on and forget about product issues. What people don’t forget is when the company takes actions outside the line of professionalism. In my opinion, Burris just crossed that line.
I disagree. This information was already brought onto this forum and publicly discussed. Names were already revealed, as were scope returns. I only provided dates and details of the returns. Thats it.
Matt's name was the one hung out in the wind, and I didn't do that. He was revealed as being on the Burris team, and returning broken scopes, and moving on to Kahles. I explained Matt wasn't on the team, showed the information that he had returned no broken scopes.
My post is simply a fact check of the information already given. At no point in time is any sensitive customer information revealed.
This isn't medical records, addresses or phone numbers. The information isn't harmful to anyone,, and its not protected.. This is scope return dates, the reason they were returned, and Burris' response. People ask for info of that nature all the time. And they discuss that very information on these pages whenever they talk about the customer service they received.. A poster on this page asked for feedback on Burris' response.
You are giving this far more brevity than it deserves. This stuff isn't a secret.. And I think the very large majority of people would agree that a business has every right to respond and tell the other half of the story. Anything else is simply tossing that business under the bus and calling them unprofessional for actually caring about what their customers think.
I'm glad you posted that @Birddog6424 and I thank you. This XTR III 5.5-30 is my first "nice" scope, on my first "accurate" rifle (Bergara BMP 6.5CM) as I dip my toe into this world, and I want all the clarity on all sides of the story. It makes me even more sure of my purchase, in this case. So thank you from a newbie (to this stuff).
I have tried several scopes in this price range. Mark5, k624i, a few low scopes like the tango6, tract, and razor.
I’m no pro at reviews so I’m not going to write up a big long story, if anyone would like my take on a comparison feel free to pm me.
however this xtr3 I’m keeping. Best way to put it I think is it has mk5 glass, with a reticle that’s actually useful and killer fov. The 20 through 30 zoom is bright. If you ever look through a tract or tango6 you would know it gets dark fast. Razor is good if you must have illumination. Hint hint Burris. Doesn’t have any bad habits like heavy CA, extreme weight. Or tunneling. Turrets are good with lots of options for elevation and wind if you want them. Simple zerostop that’s fast to set and zero.
Good scope guys. For those with scope ADD, it’s a cure lol
I’m no pro at reviews so I’m not going to write up a big long story, if anyone would like my take on a comparison feel free to pm me.
however this xtr3 I’m keeping. Best way to put it I think is it has mk5 glass, with a reticle that’s actually useful and killer fov. The 20 through 30 zoom is bright. If you ever look through a tract or tango6 you would know it gets dark fast. Razor is good if you must have illumination. Hint hint Burris. Doesn’t have any bad habits like heavy CA, extreme weight. Or tunneling. Turrets are good with lots of options for elevation and wind if you want them. Simple zerostop that’s fast to set and zero.
Good scope guys. For those with scope ADD, it’s a cure lol
I appreciate your response but still find it uncouth that a guy who hasn’t “entered the chat” is having his customer information put out based on some rando’s hearsay. If I was this Matt guy (which I’m not), I may not be pleased my name being dropped on the forum and being dragged into this without consent, nor the details related to supposed issues with his Burris customer service interaction.
However, this is just my opinion and I’m not wanting to beat a dead horse or further derail this thread.
In Burris’ defense and to try to bring this thread back on track, I absolutely love my XTR II for the value it has given me with 1000+ rds from 100 yards and past 1 mile. I’m holding off on the XTR III for illumination and I hope we see it soon.
I agree with you there brother..
Matt got dragged into this on a name drop. He's a friend of Dorgan Trostel's who is the Burris shooter who started this thread two and a half years ago. Its my hope that he's understanding of the situation. I would certainly apologize if he wasn't. But I wouldn't be the only guy who owed him one.
Hang in there on the illuminated model. They are taking it to production soon. The goal, barring any unforeseen delays or design tweaks, is to have it on the shelves no later than the end of the year. That's direct from brand management.
Matt is a good friend. He won a match using his scope XTR3 so not sure what else needs to be asked. lol. He has several scopes. I dont know if he wanted better glass or pref another retc I havnt asked him. He a grown man Im not baby sitting him and what he uses. I own or have owned every scope available except a ZCO... Its just nice to have a scope that doesnt break the bank that has all the features plus some to cover all my rifles (and my 4 sons rifles)
I work construction I cant afford 5 TT scopes. I follow this scope closely. I have heard of literally 0 tacking issues and an early run of scopes that had the image somehow shift when zooming (which was covered in this thread couple pages back) but it does not effect the tracking/performance of the scope at all.
Im not sure why you are coming so hard against this scope after this was covered so long ago...It has one of the best trrack records among scopes period. I have a phenominal shooting record with this scope including wins along with my fiend Matt. Ive used them since they came out and have not had a single issue. Lucky I guess
Me too!! Super excited. I dropped my rifle and cant get a sunshade to screw on...I might have to test out the forever warranty!! after the match... lol.
I was worried about the recoil on my B14R damaging my XTRIII so I moved it to my dasher.
I was worried about the recoil on my XTRIII damaging my 6BR so I moved it to my 338.
True story. haha.
End of day, I will not only be supporting a local company that is going out of the way to make a USA made product, but I will take any growing pains they have to have the opportunity to do so. Burris is a really small company. What they have achieved is mind blowing. TOOOOOO many winy beeches complain about the state of the country then go to walmart and amazon to buy their shit. Go be a hypocrite somewhere else (myself included lol - dam that amazon is easy) BUY USA!!!
This thread is worthless w/o pics.
GL
DT
Amen to all of that...Matt is a good friend. He won a match using his scope XTR3 so not sure what else needs to be asked. lol. He has several scopes. I dont know if he wanted better glass or pref another retc I havnt asked him. He a grown man Im not baby sitting him and what he uses. I own or have owned every scope available except a ZCO... Its just nice to have a scope that doesnt break the bank that has all the features plus some to cover all my rifles (and my 4 sons rifles)
I work construction I cant afford 5 TT scopes. I follow this scope closely. I have heard of literally 0 tacking issues and an early run of scopes that had the image somehow shift when zooming (which was covered in this thread couple pages back) but it does not effect the tracking/performance of the scope at all.
Im not sure why you are coming so hard against this scope after this was covered so long ago...It has one of the best trrack records among scopes period. I have a phenominal shooting record with this scope including wins along with my fiend Matt. Ive used them since they came out and have not had a single issue. Lucky I guess
Me too!! Super excited. I dropped my rifle and cant get a sunshade to screw on...I might have to test out the forever warranty!! after the match... lol.
I was worried about the recoil on my XTRIII damaging my 6BR so I moved it to my 338.
True story. haha.
End of day, I will not only be supporting a local company that is going out of the way to make a USA made product, but I will take any growing pains they have to have the opportunity to do so. Burris is a really small company. What they have achieved is mind blowing. TOOOOOO many winy beeches complain about the state of the country then go to walmart and amazon to buy their shit. Go be a hypocrite somewhere else (myself included lol - dam that amazon is easy) BUY USA!!!
This thread is worthless w/o pics.
View attachment 7677460
View attachment 7677465
GL
DT
Funny that I have the exact opposite problem. After knocking over my rifle on one of those stupid chain swinging shooting platforms,, I cant get my sunshade off!
Technically I'll be RO/shooting since they were trying to find qualified RO's. Should be a good time!
Maybe you & @D_TROS can just trade scopes, haha!Amen to all of that...
Funny that I have the exact opposite problem. After knocking over my rifle on one of those stupid chain swinging shooting platforms,, I cant get my sunshade off!
how does the XTR III compare to the Ares ETR, if anyone is willing to share views? The price is a little higher for the burris, but I dont know anyone who owns one to try it out.
Shot a friend's ares side by side with my vortex, and convinced me enough to order an Ares for the glass quality.. Would really be interested in the burris 5.5-30x56 compared to the similar Ares ETR
Shot a friend's ares side by side with my vortex, and convinced me enough to order an Ares for the glass quality.. Would really be interested in the burris 5.5-30x56 compared to the similar Ares ETR
^^^ Ares is made in China, I would not buy it for that reason alone. Because of this, the extra cost of the XTR III assembled in the USA is well worth it to me.
Burris has sold scopes made by LOW (their LVPO for example), which is in Japan, with Athlon also using this company. I dont consider assembly country a heavy factor in how it performs for me when I shoot it.
Athlon only has one scope, the Cronus, being made by LOW in Japan. Everything else is made in China.
Just because Athlon uses Japan for one optic and Burris has used Japan for optics, doesn't make them all the same. There's zero correlation there for a comparison.
The Ares is made in China, the XTR3 is made in Colorado. Burris has complete design and quality control over every single XTR3. Two people inspect each scope before it goes out the door. Athlon only tests a few scopes per batch of optics shipped to them from China. It's a complete different game with many reasons why the Burris made stateside is a better option.
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I guess I wasnt clear enough previously. Im not looking at "country of origin/assembly" as a measurement. I get some feel good about it, but thats not what I'm interested in.
Vortex, by far, has had the best customer service for me, and they sell plenty of Chinese glass. Havent had to replace one yet, but when I have contacted them, for things like scope ring height recommendations, its clear their customer support is more knowledgable than the average CS, and is made up of people that shoot and are passionate. If they offered a scope in the magnification I'm looking for, I'd buy it already and not even post this question.
My point was, and still is, that if LOW is considered adequate for both Burris and Athlon, then its fair to say that both companies goals for quality control and value have some overlap. That says nothing about where they are at now, or where they have been on every single product. It is simply a statement that if we both buy groceries from the same place, we're likely not comparing dollar tree to whole foods, as much as one of us might want to say so.
I was looking for an objective comparison, because the XTR II compared to the Athlon option has been openly reviewed both on the hide and all over the internet, and in most cases, the Athlon was the clear winner, with the common point being "wait until the XTR III comes out". Googling this comparison provides a youtube video in the top results that compares Athlon and Burris XTRII side by side and also spells out a clear winner.
Others (significantly more respected than myself, an admitted newbie) have written here that within the price point the XTR III exists, there are many proven quality scopes (Athlon being one of them) that would likely be a better choice. Many of them dont wear a brand or receive free stuff, so I imagine that the bias isnt as significant as it could be, to make those kind of statements.
Similarly, the quality control is a non-factor for me, if the product quality isn't below-average to begin with. Per your own admission, the first XTR III's sold had issues as well, that made it past quality control: https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/burris-xtr-ii.7024845/post-8861157 whether that number is minor or not, I wouldn't be happy to get one that made it past QC and have to deal with replacing a brand new product.
I owned an Ares ETR for my precision 22LR and sold it because eyebox was very tight at high magnification (and I spend a lot of time there) and I was spoiled by the better glass on my centerfire rifles. I replaced it with an XTR3 and am very pleased with it. The eyebox is much easier to deal with at high magnification, the FOV is wider, and the glass is nicer. It's not my ZCO 5-27 but for the money and my use case I don't think you can beat the XTR3. I have owned the scope for about 6 months and so far haven't had any issues.
I don’t understand why anyone would pay $1K for an ARES ETR when a Cronus can be had for not much more at all and the same price if buying used. What am I missing?
I have a Cronus and an ARES BTR ($350 new) but I’ve never even considered buying a ARES ETR ($1K made in China scope).
Ares ETR can be had for $899 . The Cronus is approx. $300 more for the best price Ive found. I havent found many for sale used, to be honest with you, at all. Would have certainly considered one if I saw it.
watching this video has me wondering what $300 more buys, rather than what $300 less gets. Locking turrets on the cheaper model, and better feeling turrets overall being key points in the video, if you're not interested in watching through all of it.
"slightly better glass" being Cronus's advantage. I guess I'd need to see one in person to know if its worth an extra $300 for me.
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Not interested. They dont compare. AT ALL. Ive seen all of the Athlon scopes and the 3 times I saw them at matches and 2 of them broke. They have horrible FOV and i hate their retc. Vortex (G2)/Leupold (mk5) both smoke them as well. They have nothing I want.
You mentioned "(Athlon being one of them) that would likely be a better choice" yet you have admittingly not had them side by side. ummm what? I have. Multiple times. Athlon is crap. Literally crap. They make one decent scope and even it is sub XTR3. Closer to XTR2 with higher acceptable error in tracking.
Yes im a scope snob. Yes im a xenophobe. Take your china love to another Athlon love fest thread please. This isnt a "lets compare $300 shit scopes" thread.
Regards
DT
You're going to get a significantly nicer eyebox in the XTR3. Not mention a much better FOV. The XTR3 has an edge to edge glass look to it when you get behind it. Very thin black ring of scope tube is visible. It makes a lot of other optics look like your looking through a tunnel or narrow tube.
And the glass is better. Plain and simple. I dont think any Athlon I've compared to the XTR3, including several Cronus', has as nice of glass. And I think out of all the scopes from LOW, the Cronus is one of the best optically. The rest of the scope around the glass isn't so great... The Ares isn't in the hunt..
And the glass is better. Plain and simple. I dont think any Athlon I've compared to the XTR3, including several Cronus', has as nice of glass. And I think out of all the scopes from LOW, the Cronus is one of the best optically. The rest of the scope around the glass isn't so great... The Ares isn't in the hunt..
Color me shocked that you're not interested in an objective review by a forum member. I guarantee that at least 10 things around you right now, that you've paid for, are made in china.
If you feel so confident in your XTR III, send it to me. I'll gladly compare the two side by side for you.
I don't think D_TROS ever mentioned he wasn't interested in an objective review?
And why is that? Because the US has for far too long sold out manufacturing to the CCP. I too have Chinese made gear all around me, my stupid iphone that Apple uses to spy on me is made there, I also still have an Amazon account even though they are almost as bad (though I'm trying more to look at alternative places to purchase online), but 2020 "woke me up" and I sure as heck am trying my best to not fund our enemies, and just like my oath when I enlisted - that includes "both foreign and domestic". It's decision making time for patriotic American's.
He already knows the outcome, it's you who doesn't believe him.
Why? You're the one representing their brand. You want me to do the legwork in comparing your competing product?
I find it odd how aggressive the people tied to the brand are about the subject of a comparison. Must be a tough idea that the product you endorse should be able to stand on its own when compared objectively to a competitor.
BRB. Asking Tangent Theta to send me a scope to compare to my NX8.
OMG, you post in the Burris thread and are surprised to find some fanboys…. Wait, head over to the Leupold thread and start telling them about Chicom gear then act surprised when someone mentions they are trying to support American companies.
To catch up to the thread and then drag it back: I will just say that I like my cronuses just fine but I’m not sure why there’s a dick measuring contest going on…
But for the next rifle this post I quoted just sold me on an xtr3. I like that accountability that can be present.
https://mavenbuilt.com/collections/demo-units Maven will send you a demo. And I dont see their shills calling any another brand "cheap chinese shit"
I dont really care about the fanboys. I was genuinely curious on a comparison between scopes in a similar pricepoint. Its clear the Athlon is better, or there wouldn't be so many fragile egos afraid of a competitor.
Give it up and start with a new attitude, you won't find any help being a dick to well respected members.
The lack of respect was only reciprocated after someone got uptight about their sponsor’s product and me asking some simple questions about how they compare.
My attitude isn’t the one that’s afraid of a foreign product being superior.
You asked us how they compare, but now you are telling us they're superior? Suddenly you now know?
We told you how they compare. We've done it. You haven't. You aren't listening.
We told you how they compare. We've done it. You haven't. You aren't listening.
FWIW, I recently sold my Athlon Cronus (incredible value Japanese made scope) to get a Burris xtr iii. for my own personal uses and reasons, I like the Burris more. Wider FOV and what I think is clearer glass and better reticle (love the scr2). and for context sake…I’m a vortex fanboy and run razor Gen 2s on my comp guns
I’m not a huge fan of my XTR3 but still much prefer it over the Cronus I had. I have used the lower end Athlon scopes and I don’t see them as competition to the XTR3. In fact they are irrelevant to the conversation.
I do not represent either company and I paid retail for both scopes.
Sorry, the comparison must have gotten lost in shuffle with all the dick measuring about country of origin. Those foreign sourced parts must really be inferior. Im off now to pretend my "Made in the USA with global materials" Dewalt tools are all American too.
I have both scopes. I find the fit and finish on the burris to be more appealing. The burris glass is a bit nicer ,I can especially tell when mirage is high or in lowlight. The turrets on both are nice but the athlon clicks more crisply and audibly. If I were to keep only one it would be the burris.
Come on dude, its just rifle scopes.
I'm quite certain there is plenty of responses from a variety of posters for you to consider your question well-answered.
Let's just get over it and move on.
You’ve gotten multiple responses on how the Athlon scopes don’t compete with the XTR3 from people that owned both. So are you just trolling now.?
To further beat an almost dead horse: Over the last 16 years or so, I have have bought , used extensively and still own the following: Premier Reticles x2, USO many, NF Atacr x2, NF NX8 LPVO, Razor Gen 2 4.5x27, Burris XTR3, Heine 4x16, Various Leupies. I enjoy using all of them. I consider the XTR3 to be an amazing value for the money. If I need another scope in the future, it would likely be another XTR3.
The glass in the one 30X I have is VERY good for the money. It hangs with my AMG in most conditions. Not quite as good resolution wise but better contrast. In high contrast situations I can see A LITTLE better with the AMG. In low contrast situations I can see more with the XTR3.
Tracking has been dead nuts both shooting and in collimator.
Tracking has been dead nuts both shooting and in collimator.
I've got three Cronus scopes, haven't broken one yet. It is way better than the fuzzy XTRII I had before it, comparable to a Razor to my eyes. Personally I like their reticle better than most too. I'm not a snob though, I'll take a ZCO if you're handing them out.
I looked the other night for a XTR3 3-18 model at several different vendors. It appears most were sold out. I hope this is a good sign that the illuminated model will be coming at end of the year or first quarter of 2022.
Its been selling really well. They haven't been easy to find the last 6 months.
Everything they produce right now is spoken for. Nothing is sitting around.
I loved the one I had previously. Bought it from @Glassaholic. I just wanted illumination, but I have been tempted picking up another non illuminated model. Hopefully the wait will be over soon. Definitely doing the preorder once available!
