Burris has long been a major name in American sport optics, and their XTR line has focused heavily on precision and tactical-style shooting. Today we are reviewing one of their newer products that incorporates a significant amount of electronic technology; the Burris XTR PS 5.5-30X56. I was interested to see what new things Burris had come up with in the XTR PS and, more importantly, whether all that technology actually makes a difference on the range.
Burris designed the XTR PS for precision and extreme long-range shooting. The scope uses a 34mm tube made from 6061-T6 aluminum and a large 56mm objective. ED glass and Hi-Lume multi-coatings are used throughout the optical system.
The scope has a 5.5-30X magnification range, giving the shooter a lot of options from relatively close targets to extended-range shooting. Like most scopes in this class, maximum magnification comes with some reduction in brightness and resolution, but I found the image particularly impressive around 25X.
The real difference with the XTR PS is found in the elevation system and electronics.
The XTR PS uses Burris’s PĒK, or Programmable Elevation Knob. Unlike a conventional turret with mechanical clicks, the PĒK uses a clickless digital adjustment system. It provides 1/30 MRAD adjustment resolution and up to 20 MRAD of elevation on the first and only revolution.
That means there’s no reason to make a second rotation for most shooting applications. The turret also incorporates a zero-stop, making the system relatively simple to set and use.
The lack of clicks takes a little getting used to, especially if you’ve spent years dialing conventional turrets. However, the smooth adjustment makes it quick to operate, and the turret is stiff enough that accidental movement isn’t something I was particularly worried about.
The XTR also allows the shooter to use either the standard capped windage turret or an additional exposed windage turret supplied with the scope.
The integrated heads-up display is probably the most unique feature of the XTR PS. The HUD puts useful information directly in the shooter’s field of view without requiring them to look away from the target.
Depending on how it’s configured, the display can show the elevation setting or corresponding distance. as well as wind hold, wind speed and direction, digital cant level, density altitude, angle compensation, battery status and a countdown timer.
The elevation display can be configured to show MRAD or distance. The latter could be particularly useful during rapid target transitions because the shooter doesn’t necessarily have to interpret a turret setting before making the next shot.
The built-in wind hold is based on the wind speed and direction entered into the scope. It isn’t going to eliminate the need to read changing wind conditions, but it provides a useful starting point.
The electronic bubble level is another useful feature. Keeping the rifle level is critical when shooting longer distances, and having the information directly in the scope means one less reason to look away.
The Burris Connect app is where much of the XTR PS’s customization can take place. The app allows ballistic profiles to be created and uploaded to the scope, including profiles for different rifles and cartridges.
There’s a considerable amount of ballistic information that can be entered, including density-altitude data. It can also be updated as atmospheric changes occur.
I’m more of a shooting nerd than a technology nerd, so I used the app primarily to get the information I needed into the scope. Once that was accomplished, I was ready to head to the range.
I tested the XTR PS over several months and on two different rifles. It spent time on my Desert Tech SRS M2 and later on a custom Bergara chambered in 7 PRC.
I tested the usual functions, including tracking and repeatability, but I was particularly interested in how the electronic features performed in actual use.
All the electronics in the world don’t mean much if the image isn’t any good. Fortunately, the XTR PS delivered the kind of optical performance I expected from a scope in this price range.
The image remained bright and clear throughout most of the magnification range. As with virtually every scope I’ve used, maximum power wasn’t quite as impressive as slightly backing off the magnification. At 30X there was some loss of brightness and resolution, but at 20X to 27X the image looked great.
I also found myself rarely using maximum magnification. Most of the time I had the power set at 20X or less.
One of my initial concerns with the XTR PS was adding electronics to a riflescope. The good news is that the basic mechanical functions of the scope don’t depend on the whiz-bang technology. If the battery dies, you still have a perfectly functional riflescope.
The PĒK turret is surprisingly simple. There aren’t a bunch of complicated components built into the elevation adjustment, and its single-turn design provides a straightforward 20 MRAD of elevation.
Tracking was very good. I observed approximately .09 MRAD of disparity over the full 20 MRAD of travel when compared with the internal display.
The scope also incorporates adjustable timeouts for both the HUD and the illuminated reticle. That’s a welcome feature because anything powered by a battery will eventually be left on and die.
Turning the magnification ring was slightly stiffer than I like, while the PĒK turret was also somewhat stiff. In the case of the elevation turret, however, I consider that more of a benefit than a drawback.
The three-button control pad is simple and easy to operate. The buttons are tactile enough to use without looking and can be operated in darkness.
The SCR 2 illuminated MIL reticle is a first-focal-plane, Christmas-tree-style reticle. It provides .2 subtensions with a .1 MRAD side scale. The center portion illuminates in either red or green. Reticle preference is subjective, but I found the SCR 2 usable without being overwhelmingly busy.
Having a heads up display sounds like something from a sci-fi film. It makes me feel a little like I’m operating some kind of futuristic targeting system, but the Burris HUD is actually more useful than it initially appears.
It didn’t get in my way, and there were plenty of times when I was looking for targets that I wasn’t even paying attention to it. The competition timer could be particularly useful for competitive shooting, while the wind hold provides another piece of information when making a shot.
Setting the display to show distance instead of MRAD could also make target transitions faster. The ability to adjust density altitude as conditions change gives the shooter another way to keep the ballistic information current.
The XTR PS occupies a part of the market where its price is going to limit its audience. With a street price around $2,300, this isn’t a scope most people are going to buy for casual shooting.
Instead, the XTR PS is aimed more toward serious precision and competitive shooters who can take full advantage of its electronic features.
Despite all the technology, I appreciate that Burris kept the traditional riflescope appearance. Some electronic optics can look awful. The XTR PS still looks like a conventional precision optic. There was a time when I didn’t want electronics in my riflescope. The Burris XTR PS is rapidly changing my mind.
I can see the advantages of having ballistic information, wind holds, a digital level and other information available right there in the scope without taking your eye away. Competition shooting is an obvious application, but the features could be useful anywhere rapid shots and transitions between targets are important.
At the same time, I understand why some shooters will still prefer a traditional analog scope. Simplicity has its own advantages.
I really like the XTR PS. It has performed reliably throughout my testing, and the optical performance is commensurate with its price. More importantly, the technology isn’t there simply because Burris could put it there. Much of it actually has a practical purpose.
Will it win you a competition? That’s hard to say. But it has proven to be a useful tool for making quick and accurate shots, and if you’re looking for a high-end precision riflescope with modern electronic capabilities, the Burris XTR PS is certainly worth a look.
Specifications: Burris XTR PS 5.5-30X56
- Magnification: 5.5-30X
- Objective Lens: 56 mm
- Main Tube: 34 mm
- Reticle: SCR 2 Illuminated MIL
- Reticle Plane: First focal plane
- Reticle Illumination: Red or green
- Elevation System: PĒK (Programmable Elevation Knob)
- Elevation Adjustment: Digital, clickless 1/30 MIL resolution
- Elevation per Rotation: More than 19 MIL
- Total Available Elevation Adjustment: 26 MIL
- Windage Adjustment: 0.1 MIL
- Total Windage Adjustment: 15 MIL
- Zero Stop: Yes
- Parallax: 20 yards to infinity
- Field of View: 21.5 ft at 5.5×; 4.2 ft at 30× at 100 yards
- Eye Relief: 85 mm low power; 95 mm high power
- HUD: Integrated heads-up display with eight customizable data zones
- HUD Information: Dial-to-distance, wind hold, wind speed/direction, digital level, battery status, density altitude and angle compensation
- Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Length: 15.4 inches
- Weight: 37.5 oz.
- Battery: CR123A
- MSRP: $2,760 (about $2,300 retail)