|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I needed a scope for use in testing the various handguns and TC barrels that
I am constantly getting for test and evaluation and also wanted one for varmint
and target shooting. For these purposes I wanted a scope with the highest
magnification range available as a primary consideration. I wanted it to be a
variable to take advantage of the versatility offered by the variables as
opposed to having just a single fixed power all the time. This is of primary
importance to me when using it on varmint guns where all shots might not come at
long range and a wider FOV might be handy.
Looking the field over I found most company's offerings topped out at 6x or 7x but there were some going to 8x or even 9x. But I noticed Burris had one that topped at a whopping 12x and it was a 3x12. From my own personal use I find I prefer a means of adjusting for parallax correction when the power exceeds 7x on a handgun scope and when it exceeds 9x on a rifle scope. These are personal values and might or might not be the same for you. Burris offers parallax correction via an adjustable objective on their 2x7, 3x9 and the 3x12 unlike others. So as a result of these factors I asked Burris to send me one of their 3x12AO handgun scopes in Matte finish for use in testing TC barrels, other handguns and for target and varmint shooting uses. The Field of View (FOV) of the 3x12 is 14 feet at 100 yards on 3x and 4 feet at 100 yards as compared to 13 and 6 respectively for their 3x9 handgun scope. As you can see you give up little at the top end and actually gain an extra foot of FOV at the lower power by selecting the 3x12AO scope. When cranked up to the full 12x the FOV is kinda small and it could take some getting used to if your experience is limited to scopes of 2x to 4x but it shouldn't take long to get accustomed to it. The is the same size as the 3x9 at 14 oz. in weight and 10.8" long. All of that means that other than the price differential there is pretty much no penalty in selecting it as opposed to the 3x9. Some other pertinent numbers for the scope are: Exit Pupil in mm at low and high power settings: 9.1--2.8. Click adjustment value: 0.125". Optimum Eye Relief at low power: 9" to 22" and at high power 9" to 13". I have found the image to be sharp and clear at all powers with normal day time lighting but with an exit pupil of only 2.8 mm the image will suffer a bit in very low light situations at max power settings. I've not found this to be a problem as so far I've seen no need to use powers that high under low light conditions. This same thing would apply to any variable scope at the upper end of its power range when the exit pupil starts to shrink. That's the reason many like the huge 50 to 56 mm objectives but personally I like the more normal size objectives of 44 mm and under and accept the reduced light if I happen to need to use them just before full daylight or after dusk in the evening. The scope was initially mounted on a 15" TC Custom Shop barrel in 6 MM TCU caliber and testing of both begun. It didn't take me long to find a load the barrel liked and nice small clusters of shots developed on the targets. It was easy to see the bullet strikes of the .243" bullets at all points on the targets without the aid of a spotting scope, another plus for a scope of such high magnification. I find I can also see .22 caliber holes at 100 yards with equal ease. Shooting out to 400 yards on a steel gong proved the value of the 12x as it was easy to see the target and the bullet strikes were also easy to see on the steel plate thru the scope. The click adjustments are precise and accurate. The scope tracks well when given the tracking test of making the full circuit of left, up, right, down and back to zero point. When you put in an adjustment it takes and will be seen at the next shot. I can find nothing to complain about with this scope. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. If you are looking for a high magnification power handgun scope then look no further. Folks this one is a real winner. I will continue to test it on the 6 TCU and many other barrels as well as on long range varminting when the opportunity presents itself. It will get switched around a lot from barrel to barrel as I test new barrels and handguns. I really like this scope and highly recommend it to all who feel the need for a high quality high magnification scope. I think it a natural for those who hunt prairie dogs, ground hogs or rock chucks from far away with a handgun. I can see a worthwhile use for it on antelope hunting also as you give away little in FOV at lower powers and if the need arises for a long shot and you want the higher power it offers then it is on tap for you. Target shooters should love it as no other currently available handgun scope offers the power of this one to clearly see your target and to place those shots in the same spot time after time. So far I've not subjected it to much recoil but will be doing so in the future as I have both a .30-30 SS 14" and a .35 Remington SS 14" barrel to test and it will go on them for testing. The .30-30 barrel will eventually become either a .30-30 AI or a .309 JDJ or maybe both in turn for further testing so the recoil level will continue to rise. After the end of the 2000-2001 hunting season I'll be getting some barrels from JD Jones at SSK for testing so again the recoil level is likely to climb. I'm expecting only the best from this scope. The Burris 3x12 AO handgun scope gets the Graybeard Seal of Approval rating. CLICK HERE to visit the Burris Website |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Burris Company |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
