The Burris Eliminator III is an impressive piece of technology. This scope utilizes a laser rangefinder, as well as a host of other advanced features in order to take much of the guesswork out of aiming. In this article, we’ll give you all you need to know about Eliminator 3 and help you decide whether it stands up to the hype.
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Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50mm
Pros
Cons
Burris Eliminator III 4 16x50 Specs
Eye Relief: 3.5”-4”
Adjustment Options:
Parallax/Focus: Objective PA
Windage Adjustment: 40 MOA
Elevation Adjustment: 40 MOA
Type of Reticle: X96
Image of Reticle:
Focal Plane: RFP
Objective Lens Diameter: 65 mm
Field of View: 26 – 7 (ft. @ 100 yds.)
Weight: 30.4 oz.
Pros
The Burris Eliminator 3 is designed to be one of the most advanced scopes on the market. There are a host of impressive features worth noting:
Easy-to-Use Rangefinder
The Burris Eliminator uses laser rangefinder technology. What this means is that a laser is used to determine the distance to your target, and account for some of the adjustments to your aim.
Using this feature is easy and intuitive. Simply aim the crosshair on your target, press a button located on the front of the scope, and a red dot will appear on your X96 reticle which indicates your new aim point (accounting for distance and bullet drop). It will also display the distance to your target (in meters or yards) on the top of the reticle. We love this feature because it is extremely intuitive and highly accurate. The distance and aim point data appear almost instantaneously upon the press of the button.
The laser rangefinder works for 1200+ yards with a reflective target, and 750 yards with a non-reflective target. So it’s quite ideal for long-distance shooting.
Wind Info
Although this scope doesn’t actually measure the wind, it does provide accurate 10 mph crosswind data based on the distance to the target and your cartridge’s ballistic information. You’ll need to estimate the wind yourself, and adjust your aim based on the bright red aiming dot that was calculated with the laser rangefinder. Based on the red dot, you’ll then use your own estimates to calculate how many dots you need to hold into the wind.
Inclinometer
If you tend to shoot up or down hills, you’ll be happy to know that this gun also has a built-in inclinometer. This allows the rangefinder to account for elevation when you aim, and it adjusts up to 45 degrees, which is likely more than you will need at any point.
Easy Programming
Programming the Eliminator III is fast and easy. All you have to do is input the relevant information so that it can properly account for your cartridge of choice. This includes information on your cartridge (including drop # at 750 yds. and ballistic coefficient), atmospheric condition, and elevation. The Eliminator 3 comes with a handy guide book which will help you to gather this data.
Quality
Aside from all the technical features and advanced components, this is simply a clear, quality scope that works. It is made with high-grade optical glass for optimal brightness and clarity. The lenses are also a bit larger than competing scopes, which makes for better light transmission. Additionally, the Hi-Lume multicoating helps to eliminate glare.
Basically, this scope is not only easy to aim for, but it’s a quality scope that provides an accurate, clear view of your target.
Cons
We want you to have all the facts necessary to make your decision, and that includes looking at the drawbacks as well. Here are some potential downsides of Eliminator 3:
Heavy
The extra bells and whistles often come with a trade-off, and in the case of the Eliminator III they do add some extra weight. This scope comes in at 30.4 oz, which is almost 2 lbs. It’s not overly heavy, but it’s definitely a bit heavier than most comparable scopes for long-range weapons.
Of course, this is to be expected when you purchase a scope with so many additional features and components, but it’s a valid consideration nonetheless.
Expensive
We won’t sugar coat it, this is clearly positioned as a premium scope, which means that it is quite expensive. If you’re buying this scope, you should be expecting to pay a premium price. You should really compare it against similar rifle scopes within the same price range to see whether it justifies the price for you.
Your main consideration with a premium product should be whether the expensive price is justified. We do think that it is, based on all the features we mentioned above, but this will be your decision to make.
Best Uses for the Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50
The Burris Eliminator is a highly capable long-range scope that is ideal for a variety of uses. These uses include:
Big Game Hunting
The Eliminator III is certainly one of the best scopes for big game hunting. The laser rangefinder and programmable scope make adjusting for distance easy and intuitive, and it works accurately up to 1200 yards (which you’ll have to balance against your own ethical considerations). Big game hunting requires long-range clarity and pinpoint accuracy, and this scope makes that surprisingly easy to achieve.
Varmint Hunting
Although this might be a bit extensive of scope for varmint hunting, it would certainly get the job done. The laser rangefinding scope makes aiming at any target easy and intuitive, and you can eliminate pests with ease.
Target Shooting
If you just want to hit the range and practice, then this scope will do the job. The only issue you might encounter is that it takes a bit too much of the guesswork out of target shooting. So while your accuracy will almost certainly improve, you might not learn to compensate enough on your own.
Is the Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50 Compatible With Any Rifle?
The Burris Eliminator III can unfortunately only be programmed to work with centerfire rifles. However, because this is a high-performance, long-range scope, you would likely require the reliability and accuracy of a centerfire rifle regardless.
What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50?
The Burris Eliminator III has quick and intuitive scope mounts that allow for easy mounting on any Picatinny or Weaver-style of mounting base.
The scope comes with an extensive User Guide which explains these steps clearly and efficiently.
Once the scope is mounted, you will need to program the X96 reticle to properly calculate the aiming dot. Programming the scope is also quite intuitive. Burris includes a User Guide which tells you how to find exact information on the cartridge of choice, elevation, and atmospheric conditions.
What Makes the Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50 Stand Out From the Competition?
Simply put, the Burris Eliminator III stands out from its competition based on how accurate and intuitive it is. This is quite clearly an extra premium option in the world of rifle scopes.
The laser rangefinder quickly and accurately calculates an aim point and displays it on the reticle almost instantly. It is easy to program and accounts for incline, wind, and holdover. If you’re looking for an accurate, easy-to-use, long range scope, then this is definitely among the most capable options on the market. Just note the high price-tag.
Burris Eliminator 3 vs Nightforce - Comparison Overview
When evaluating a product offering, it often helps to see how it stands up against its top competitors. Let’s compare the Eliminator 3 against a top contender in the premium rifle scope market – the Nightforce.
While Nightforce scopes may not have all the technological advancements included in Eliminator 3, it’s hard to deny that they are a premium option as well. Generally speaking, Nightforce puts more focus into having a flawless, clear glass, variable power, and accurate sight. Their models don’t all have the precise laser rangefinder aim-adjustments that are found on the Eliminator III, but it’s an extremely high-quality, accurate scope. In terms of lens quality, we’d have to give it to the Nightforce. But the Eliminator 3 has them beat in terms of technological design.
Conclusion
Thanks so much for reading our comprehensive review and outline of the Burris Eliminator III.
As you can see, this is a highly capable scope, and most of its technical prowess is owed to the precise and intuitive laser range-finding technology. If you want a scope that accurately and near-instantly accounts for distance and holdover, then Eliminator 3 is probably exactly what you are looking for.
People Also Ask
What is the Eye Relief On a Burris Eliminator 3?
The eye relief on the Eliminator 3 is 3.5”-4”.
How Does the Burris Eliminator Work?
The Burris Eliminator works with laser range-finding technology that is programmed with your cartridge’s ballistic info to accurately predict your target based on distance and holdover. Simply place your crosshair on your target, press the laser range-finding button, and a red dot will appear on your reticle to indicate your target.
Can You Use Burris Eliminator III 4-16x50 In Low Light Conditions?
It can be. The Eliminator 3 uses Index-matched, Hi-Lume multicoating on its glass. This is ideal for low-light conditions, and also for eliminating glare. However, the reticle is not illuminated.
