Happy 50th, Burris Fullfield (Here Come the Spanks and Pinches)!

You call them turret adjustments, I call them “Happy Birthday” spanks.

Firearms and ammunition ballistics have changed greatly over the last half-century, but absolutely nothing has seen greater leaps in technology, innovation, and performance capabilities than the riflescope. Through those decades, Burris Optics has been in the industry forerunner, developing dependable, reliable, and affordable riflescopes for serious hunters, and the company’s Fullfield series optics continue to deliver after 50 years of production.

“Only the most outstanding companies become woven into the cultural fabric of the American hunting community,” said Bruno Beccaria, General Manager of Burris Optics, “Fewer still are the product lines that continue a half-century or more after their introduction. The Burris Fullfield is one of those exceptional products that has been taken afield by multiple generations of passionate and demanding hunters.”

Don Burris started his company in 1971 with a mission to improve riflescope performance for hunters. Burris early on recognized the importance not only of quality construction but also of the need for maximum light transmission and a generous field of view in typical hunting environments. After four years of development, Burris introduced his Fullfield riflescope to an eager hunting community.

Born Different

Three Burris Fullfield scope models entered the market in 1975, boasting 53% more field of view than conventional scopes and 23% greater FOV than wide-angle scopes of the time. Offered in 4X, 2-7X, and 3-9X magnification, the debut Fullfield riflescopes set the precedent for dependable performance and rugged construction at a price to fit the hunter’s budget.

A mere two years later, Burris introduced America’s first Hi-Lume lenses across the company’s growing variable-power scope line. The Hi-Lume fully multi-coated lenses — which enhanced visibility by over 20% thanks to a remarkable increase in light transmission through each lens surface — continue in Burris optics to this day. Burris continued the spirit of innovation by introducing, in 1980, Fullfield “mini-scope” variants for carbines and compact rifles as well as fixed-power models offering long eye relief for 94 Winchesters and pistols.

“The Burris Fullfield is a brand synonymous with western big-game hunting, yet it enjoys a well-deserved reputation among hunters across the U.S.,” said Jordan Egli, Director of Marketing for Burris. “That reputation began when Don Burris set out to build a better riflescope for the American hunter — one that could be counted on to get the job done with consideration of the workingman’s limited budget. Those same principles continue to guide our product development long after our founder’s passing.”

Innovation with an eye toward filling the needs of serious hunters has always been the foundation for Burris optics — and it is a legacy that lives on across the current Burris riflescope lineup.

The Dynasty Continues with a New Generation

In recognition of this proud heritage and 50 years of manufacturing excellence, Burris introduces the fifth-generation Fullfield riflescope for 2025. Maintaining the “hunter first” approach to engineering, the all-new Burris Fullfield series reflects the ergonomic, industrial-themed design common across the most recent Burris riflescope models while maintaining the high light transmission and wide field of view characteristics that placed Burris on the map 50 years ago.

“As a company still headquartered in its founding town of Greeley, Colorado,” said Bruno. “Burris employees take great pride in producing a riflescope that generations of avid hunters have relied upon to put meat on the table. The Fullfield has proven its ruggedness and dependability under the toughest conditions, and those capabilities are certainly exceeded in the newest generation of this American classic.” BurrisOptics.com.