I received the Burris Tac30 1-4x scope as part of a package ($500 Opticsplanet) that included a PEPR (prepared eye position ready) mount and a Fastfire3 (it was supposed to have a FF2 but it came with the FF3) sight which mounts on the scope ring. Below is an initial review. I'll throw it out right away that I'm sending it back.
Scope: While the combo package is going back I am requesting a scope only be returned (along with the $200 difference). I really like the scope. The reticle is great and when lit it's very crisp and clear as long as you have it set correctly. It is way to bright having it set high while looking at a dark target. The windage and elevation are lower profile which I prefer and had nice firm clicks. Changing the magnification is easily done by rotating the eyepiece. The 1X doesn't seem like a true 1x to me but I'm not sure what it is exactly. It was close enough to seem quite workable. The finish was flawless matte black. It had a made in china sticker but I never would have guessed it. The only thing I don't like about it is the on/off/brightness adjustment. It is a button and I really would prefer a knob. 1 push to turn on to the last brightness level. Each push after will cycle it whatever direction it's going until it hits the max./min brightness and then it goes the other way. Holding it for 3 seconds at any point will change which way the brightness is adjusting and holding it 5 seconds will turn it off. It has 10 or 11 brightness settings and I found they they seemed to work in both bright and dim light.The picture below shows the unlit reticle. When lit the 3 circles pretty much blend together. Everything on the reticle has mildot sizes to help judge distance and the dots work for 5.56 bullet drop compensation.
Fastfire3. Retails alone for $240. Improvements over the FF2 include windage/elevation adjusted without special tool. 3 brightness settings and one setting will automatically adjust brightness for changing lighting conditions. The unit is very small which keeps a great deal of vision available for acquiring targets. As with the scope, the on/off/brightness is all accomplished with a push button. I'm right handed and the button is on the left which I don't like. The FF3 is available in 3moa and 8 moa dot. This model was the 3 moa. The dot was not good. It's more like 3moa high by 6-8 moa wide. It also looks like a jumbled up line instead of a solid dot. The dot on my $100 dollar Bushnell TRS-25 isn't perfect but it's way better than this FF3. I can't recommend this. I'm curious if anyone had a different experience with the FF3.
PEPR mount. A very nice mount and definitely geared toward the AR15 platform (what isn't?). Very nice quality piece and the finish was a spot on match with the scope. Unfortunately I planned to mount this on my Mini14. I have a rail adapter that mounts to the Ruger scope points but it makes the whole assembly to high for my cheek weld. I thought that would be the case and had looked at the mount as a throw in on the deal that could be sold (or build an AR under it!). I would recommend this for you AR guys.
Scope: While the combo package is going back I am requesting a scope only be returned (along with the $200 difference). I really like the scope. The reticle is great and when lit it's very crisp and clear as long as you have it set correctly. It is way to bright having it set high while looking at a dark target. The windage and elevation are lower profile which I prefer and had nice firm clicks. Changing the magnification is easily done by rotating the eyepiece. The 1X doesn't seem like a true 1x to me but I'm not sure what it is exactly. It was close enough to seem quite workable. The finish was flawless matte black. It had a made in china sticker but I never would have guessed it. The only thing I don't like about it is the on/off/brightness adjustment. It is a button and I really would prefer a knob. 1 push to turn on to the last brightness level. Each push after will cycle it whatever direction it's going until it hits the max./min brightness and then it goes the other way. Holding it for 3 seconds at any point will change which way the brightness is adjusting and holding it 5 seconds will turn it off. It has 10 or 11 brightness settings and I found they they seemed to work in both bright and dim light.The picture below shows the unlit reticle. When lit the 3 circles pretty much blend together. Everything on the reticle has mildot sizes to help judge distance and the dots work for 5.56 bullet drop compensation.
Fastfire3. Retails alone for $240. Improvements over the FF2 include windage/elevation adjusted without special tool. 3 brightness settings and one setting will automatically adjust brightness for changing lighting conditions. The unit is very small which keeps a great deal of vision available for acquiring targets. As with the scope, the on/off/brightness is all accomplished with a push button. I'm right handed and the button is on the left which I don't like. The FF3 is available in 3moa and 8 moa dot. This model was the 3 moa. The dot was not good. It's more like 3moa high by 6-8 moa wide. It also looks like a jumbled up line instead of a solid dot. The dot on my $100 dollar Bushnell TRS-25 isn't perfect but it's way better than this FF3. I can't recommend this. I'm curious if anyone had a different experience with the FF3.
PEPR mount. A very nice mount and definitely geared toward the AR15 platform (what isn't?). Very nice quality piece and the finish was a spot on match with the scope. Unfortunately I planned to mount this on my Mini14. I have a rail adapter that mounts to the Ruger scope points but it makes the whole assembly to high for my cheek weld. I thought that would be the case and had looked at the mount as a throw in on the deal that could be sold (or build an AR under it!). I would recommend this for you AR guys.