Burris AR-332 pros/cons?

S

Skadoosh

New member
I am seriously considering purchasing the Burris AR-332 prism rifle scope. This optic seems to be pretty popular and, from what I have read, it seems like a very good alternative to the ridiculously over-price ACOG line.

I am looking for anyone with long-term experience with their AR332. Overall impressions? How has it held up? Any problems? Specific like/dislikes?
 
I have an AR332 and I've fired about 600 rounds with it mounted.

The AR332 is ACOG-like. It is not an ACOG. I don't think the AR332 is as robustly built as an ACOG. But then again, the Burris is in the $340 range, with most ACOGs going well over $1,000. So, the ACOG ought to be better.

That being said, it is still a fantastic scope. It still seems to be very well built and is a bit heavy. The glass is wonderfully clear. There is no distortion at all in the field of view, even at the extreme edges.

The scope has a focusing eyepiece which is very nice for my 45 year old eyes.

The reticle is a bit busy, but is very useable. It is etched on an internal lens so even without illumination you can use the scope. The reticle can be illuminated in red or green. In bright sunlight, the red does not wash out on the highest settings, but the green does a bit. I prefer green illumination as the sun starts going down, and red, or no illumination in the day time.

The center dot in the reticle is 2 MOA. I am pulling consistently 2 MOA groups, and sometimes a bit better - but I think the sub-2 MOA groups are more luck than anything. The center dot covers a 2-inch diamond at 100 yards so sub-2 MOA is asking a bit much. The reticle is designed for fast pick-up, not precision sniping.

The scope takes a battery you can find in any supermarket or drug store and they cost $7 for 2 where I live. I've yet to burn one out.

The scope comes with sun shade thats an inch or so long. I keep mine mounted all the time. It screws into the scope body. Burris is not making a flash-kill device for the AR332 that could be used to replace the sunshade.

The scope has 3 small picatinny rails and I have a Burris Fast Fire II mounted on the top rail.

The one thing I don't like is that the illumination adjustment knob on mine is tight and its easy to accidentally turn just the battery cap as opposed to the whole knob.

The base it came on is detachable so you can mount it on an AR handle if you want, or use the mount and put it on a flat top receiver. Burris sells a quick detachable mount which is very well made and an exceptional value. Or you can use an ACOG mount -they fit, too.

Eye relief is a little short, like with many ACOGs. But not too bad.

All in all, it's a solid scope and a great value. I like mine very much and have sold a couple of friends on them (actually, the scope sold itelf), one of whom put one on a 7.62 AR rifle.

Here's mine...
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Or you can handle mount it if you want (I didn't leave mine like this).
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Do the newer Burris 332's still have the off-center reticle? This was a feature (design flaw) back two+ years ago when they came out. They all had a off-set, low and to the left as I recall. It wasn't much but it was noticeable.

It's a nice looking optic, just curious if they fixed the reticle problem yet.
 
Do the newer Burris 332's still have the off-center reticle?
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I hope not. I just put one on back order (3-4 weeks before back in stock at OpticsPlanet) along with the QD mount.

This optics is getting rave reviews and is apparently selling like hot cakes, so I kind of have high hopes. I will post a review after I have lived with it for awhile.
 
There were some complaints that the reticle was "canted," not that they were off center. Some people insisted the reticle was canted, other stated it appeared that way due to the mount, and still others stated it was an optical illusion. Others stated there was no cant.

I can tell you, mine is not canted. And can I agree with the optical illusion theory.

If you hold the scope by hand, or set it on a flat surface and look through it, it can appear canted. The reason, I think, is because one side of the mount is slightly taller than the other other. It's the way the mount is designed. If you hold it in your hand and try and level it based on the bottom edges of the base, the reticle will look canted (when in fact, the whole scope is canted). Once you put it on the rifle and the base is level with the flat top, the canted appearance goes away. Some people who claimed the cant stated their cant went away by changing the base, or by mounting the scope.

The other issue (and this is my theory) is the the lens covers are push on and if you put them slightly canted, then there is some tendancy is the hold the rifle with the hinge at the 12 oclock position because it appears you are holing it upright. This can also make the reticle look canted. If you take the covers off and pay attantion to how you are holding the rifle, there is no appearance that the reticle is canted.
 
I can tell you, mine is not canted. And can I agree with the optical illusion theory.
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I tend to agree with you. I have handle a 332 one time and I didn't see it but I wasn't looking for it. I'll be buying some flavor of red dot this spring and the 332 is on the list, the Vortex Strikefire looks interesting also.
 
From what I have been reading, the Burris Quick Detach mount alleviates any "canting" the stock mount seems to cause.
 
I realize this topic and thread is over a year old, but figured I should add my fresh 2 cents since I just purchased a Burris AR-332 and returned it.

While I figured the canted reticle problem would have been resolved by now, it hasn't, and the one I just purchased, (July 2013,) had a canted reticle. Also, the glass wasn't what I expected, with some cast and hues in bright sunlight - like the glass hadn't been properly coated. I have a number of mid range Burris optics that I like very well, but this was nowhere on par with my other Burris units.

Also, and this was a surprise... these are "Made in China." My earlier purchases of their affordable line of optics came from the Philippines, and despite my initial reservations, those have worked out fine. But optics from China? No thanks. Pass. Rather than the $349.00 I paid, I really felt like this unit should be hanging in a blister pack at Walmart for about 79 bucks.

My comment history on TFL includes some number of favorable mentions of Burris for their value... quality for the price, etc. But going forward I'll be looking elsewhere for value, and withdraw my prior endorsements of Burris.

If your AR-332 is working out for you - great. But if an AR-332 is on your short list and you're on the fence about it, IMO, scratch it and look elsewhere.
 
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