There’s no doubt both the Burris Fullfield II as well as the Vortex Crossfire II are excellent low-cost rifle scopes. They are sturdy and offer solid capabilities for hunting scopes.
Vortex has risen to be one of the most recommended and sought-after scope brands in the last few years. That reputation is due to their offering of high-quality scopes at fair prices combined with a lifetime warranty.
Burris, on the other hand, has been around since 1971 and has a long history of offering top-notch scopes that won’t let you down. The Burris Fullfield II is the low-cost workhorse that provides great features at a reasonable price. On top of that, you get the Burris Forever Warranty that provides you peace of mind for as long as you use a Burris scope.
We’ll have a look at the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 and the Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40. The 3-9x is still one of the most sought-after magnifications for hunting. It allows you to cover shorter ranges as well as medium and even long-range in good conditions. Overall, the 3-9×40 combines a reasonable magnification with a sufficiently large objective lens while usually being nicely sized for nearly all rifles. The weight is also less than with higher magnified scopes or scopes that have 4x or 5x zoom.
Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 Review
The Crossfire II is the affordable and versatile workhorse scope from Vortex. It comes in a large number of variants ranging from 1-4x up to a 6-24x version. You can find scopes in that family that are made for crossbows or rifles, with or without parallax adjustment, etc. To have a fair comparison between the Crossfire 2 and the Fullfield 2 we opted for the 3-9×40 as both families of riflescopes have that version.
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 offers high-quality components and clear glass at an affordable price. The scope tube is constructed from a single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum and measures 1 inch in diameter. It’s fogproof, waterproof, and shockproof and is sturdy enough to resist recoil on any typical hunting rifle.
All outer glass surfaces of the lenses are fully multi-coated to improve optical capabilities when it’s foggy or raining. You get a sharp and crisp target image in most light conditions. There’s the chance of a little blurring of the edges during dusk and dawn.
The Crossfire II in the 3-9×40 version is available with three different second focal plane reticles:
- Dead-Hold BDC (MOA)
- V-Brite (MOA)
- V-Plex (MOA)
The scope provides elevation and windage adjustments up to 60 MOA with 1/4 MOA adjustment graduation. The field of view at 100 yards ranges between 34.1 and 12.6 ft, providing a sizeable FoV for hunting at any magnification.
The eye relief measures 3.8 inches which is generous and allows the scope to be mounted on large caliber rifles with heavy recoil. The parallax on the Crossfire II 3-9×40 is fixed at 100 yards.
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 is a solid scope that is very affordable. Vortex made sure that it’s built tough to withstand impact and recoil and can be used on a wide range of rifles. It offers a great compromise between quality glass and materials and price.
Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40 Review
The Burris Fullfield II scope family contains three different models:
- 3-9×40
- 4.5-14×42
- 6.5-20×50
The Vortex Crossfire II lineup covers a lot more magnification ranges, but the Fullfield II scopes cover the essentials for hunting and long-range shooting. You get similar pricing to the Vortex Crossfire II, including comparable quality and components.
The Fullfield II 3-9×40 is available with the Ballistic Plex second focal plane reticle. In the past, you could also get this model with the simple Plex reticle, but that is discontinued. Nevertheless, you can at times find that model online if you prefer the Plex reticle to the Ballistic Plex variant. Both reticles are some of the simplest reticles available and are easy to understand and use.
The scope is built around a single-piece tube that is nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging. In addition to that, the Fullfield II is shockproof and waterproof. It’s built sturdy and withstands the heaviest-recoiling calibers.
The objective lens measures 40 mm in diameter, and the scope tube itself has a 1-inch diameter. The lenses are multicoated with Burris’ Hi-Lume proprietary coatings. These coatings are specifically designed to increase light transmission and provider better visibility during low-light times.
The windage and elevation can be adjusted within 50 MOA each. The click value is 1/4 MOA. The scope offers a Field of View between 33 and 13 feet at 100 yards.
The eye relief on the Fullfield II 3-9×40 varies between 3.1 and 3.4 inches. This is a typical range for many affordable scopes with that magnification range. It’s a reasonable eye relief to use on nearly all hunting rifles and calibers.
Burris Fullfield II Review – Are they Great Scopes for Hunters?
Side-by-Side Comparison of the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 and Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40
| Vortex Crossfire II 3-9×40 | Burris Fullfield II 3-9×40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Reticle | Dead-Hold BDC (MOA) V-Brite (MOA) V-Plex (MOA) | Ballistic Plex (MOA) |
| Focal Plane | SFP | SFP |
| Magnification | 3-9x | 3-9x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Tube Diameter | 1 inch | 1 inch |
| Eye Relief | 3.8 inches | 3.1 – 3.4 inches |
| Field of View @ 100 yards | 34.1 – 12.6 feet | 33 – 13 feet |
| Turret Style | Capped | Capped Hunter |
| Adjustment Graduation | 0.25 MOA | 0.25 MOA |
| Max Elevation Adjustment | 60 MOA | 50 MOA |
| Max Windage Adjustment | 60 MOA | 50 MOA |
| Parallax Setting | 100 yards | None |
| Length | 12.2 inches | 12.2 inches |
| Weight | 14.8 oz | 13 oz |
Final Thoughts – Burris Fullfield II vs Vortex Crossfire II
Both the Vortex Crossfire II as well as the Burris Fullfield II are capable scopes. Vortex is the better-known brand for most.
When it comes to quality and innovation, both Burris and Vortex have a reputation for delivering great optics at reasonable price points. You get high-quality scopes that won’t let you down when you’re out hunting.
Comparing both the Burris Fullfield II and the Vortex Crossfire II in the 3-9×40 version shows that the Crossfire II has some slightly better technical specs. The adjustment range for windage and elevation is greater, and the overall field of view is wider. Additionally, the eye relief is slightly larger and stays constant across the different magnifications.
The Fullfield II has its advantages when it comes to size and weight. While both scopes measure the same length, the Fullfield II is lighter. Therefore, the impact of the scope on the balance of your rifle is smaller.
The glass quality and scope image are reasonably similar on both scopes. The Fullfield II might have a slight edge during low-light conditions and give you a couple of minutes or more usable time for hunting. Realistically, that’s more a theoretical consideration rather than any impact you’ll experience in the real world.
Pricing does not factor into this comparison as both scopes will cost you roughly the same. Overall, we think the Crossfire II has a slight edge. However, you won’t go wrong if you decide to pick the Fullfield II from Burris. Both are sturdy scopes that are affordable and offer solid capabilities and features.
What about the Vortex Diamondback vs Burris Fullfield II?
The Vortex Diamondback is a step up in quality and build from the Crossfire II. However, you’ll see the difference in price!
The Vortex Diamondback 3-9×40 comes with either the Dead-Hold BDC or V-Plex reticles. Similar to the Crossfire II, you get a second focal plane reticle.
The Diamondback has elevation and windage adjustments ranging within 70 MOA. The glass is slightly clearer compared to the Crossfire II and, in that sense, compared to the Burris Fullfield II.
Another significant difference is the large field of view that ranges between 44.6 and 14.8 feet at 100 yards. That’s significantly wider compared to either the Fullfield II or the Crossfire II.
If you have the money, then the Vortex Diamondback is the best optic when you compare it with either the Crossfire II or the Burris Fullfield II. However, if you’re looking for a scope with slightly fewer capabilities that is significantly cheaper, then consider the Burris Fullfield II or the Vortex Crossfire II!
Vortex Crossfire II vs Diamondback Scopes – Hunting Scope Comparison
Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40mm Review
