Burris Fullfield II vs E1 vs IV: 50 Years of the Classic, Explained
The Burris Fullfield line decoded — how the II, E1, and current Fullfield IV differ, verified specs and prices, and which generation to buy in 2026.
On this page
The Fullfield is Burris's original riflescope — on the market since 1975 — and three generations circulate today: the long-running Fullfield II (the classic 3-9x40 hunting scope, no longer the current line but everywhere at retail and used), the Fullfield E1 (the II platform updated with the Ballistic Plex E1 drop reticle), and the current Fullfield IV, a redesigned five-model line with a 4x zoom system starting around $228 MSRP. All are second-focal-plane hunting scopes; the IV brings the modern reticles (Ballistic E3, illuminated options) and updated turrets. For a new purchase, the IV's 2.5-10x42 at $228–276 is the value center of the whole Burris catalog.
Your buying path
Start with how much magnification you actually need
The current Fullfield IV line is the buying path; the older II and E1 are legacy comparisons rather than the default new purchase.
Burris Fullfield IV 2.5-10x42 Ballistic E3
Best for: A general hunting rifle used from timber to ordinary open-country distances
Why it leads: The 2.5-10× range gives a wider low-end view without giving up useful hunting magnification.
The tradeoff: It has less top-end detail than the 3-12× model.
Verify before ordering: Confirm magnification and Ballistic E3 reticle on the exact listing.
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 Ballistic E3
Best for: A hunter who values more top-end magnification in open country
Why it leads: It adds useful detail at distance while staying in the same current Fullfield IV platform.
The tradeoff: The higher low end is a little less forgiving at close range.
Verify before ordering: Confirm 3-12x42 and the exact reticle before checkout.
Retailer links are currently untagged and do not earn Optics Intel a commission. Availability never changes the recommendation.
The Fullfield isn’t just another Burris product — it’s the scope the company was founded to build. Don Burris left Redfield to make a better hunting riflescope, and the Fullfield he shipped in 1975 was it. Fifty years later the name is still in the catalog, which means three generations of “Fullfield” now coexist at retailers, in classifieds, and on grandpa’s rifle. Here’s how to tell them apart and which to actually buy.
The Generations at a Glance
| Fullfield II | Fullfield E1 | Fullfield IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status (2026) | Prior generation — abundant retail/used | Prior generation | Current line |
| Classic format | 3-9x40 | 3-9x40 class | Five models, 2.5-10x42 to 3-12x56 |
| Zoom system | 3x-class | 3x-class | Improved 4x |
| Signature reticle | Plex / Ballistic Plex | Ballistic Plex E1 (drop + wind dots) | Ballistic E3 (illuminated option) or Plex |
| Focal plane | Second | Second | Second |
| Typical money | Bargain used/NOS | Bargain-to-modest | $228–276 MSRP (2.5-10x42) |
Fullfield II: The Half-Century Workhorse
If American deer camps had an official scope, the Fullfield II 3-9x40 would be on the ballot. Its long production run made it the default budget-serious hunting scope for a generation — simple SFP Plex or Ballistic Plex reticles, sealed and nitrogen-filled, and covered by Burris’s transferable Forever Warranty, which is what makes buying one used unusually safe. It’s no longer the current line, but at used prices it remains the cheapest ticket into glass with a real warranty behind it.
Fullfield E1: The Transitional Update
The E1 updated the II platform around the Ballistic Plex E1 reticle — adding cascading drop and wind dots to the classic plex design for holdover shooting with common hunting cartridges. Think of it as the II with a smarter reticle rather than a new scope; it bridged the line until the real redesign arrived.
Fullfield IV: The Current Line
The IV is what Burris calls a complete redesign, and the verified specs back the claim: an improved 4x zoom system (2.5-10x from the same platform that used to give 3-9x), a five-model lineup, redesigned finger-adjustable turrets, and modern reticle options — the Ballistic E3 in illuminated ($276) and non-illuminated ($228) versions, or the traditional Plex.
The 2.5-10x42’s numbers, from Burris’s spec table:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 2.5–10x, 42mm objective |
| Tube | 1 inch |
| Focal plane | Second |
| Field of view | 46 – 11 ft @ 100 yds |
| Eye relief | 3.5 – 3.8 in |
| Clicks | 1/4 MOA, capped hunter knobs, 80 MOA range |
| Parallax | Fixed at 100 yds |
| Length / weight | 11.6 in / 16.8 oz (18.4 oz illuminated) |
| MSRP | $228–276 |
At 16.8 ounces and 11.6 inches, it’s a genuinely light mountain-rifle candidate at a price where most competitors are heavier or dimmer.
What Only Range Time Can Answer
Per our standard, the open questions:
- Whether the IV’s redesigned turrets track true — capped hunting knobs rarely get tested, and we intend to
- Low-light performance of the E3 illumination against the class
- How the 4x zoom system’s eyebox behaves at the 10x top end
Which One to Buy
New rifle, new scope: Fullfield IV, almost without argument — the 2.5-10x42 at $228–276 is the value center of Burris’s whole catalog.
Tightest possible budget: a clean used Fullfield II. The warranty transfers, the formula is proven, and the money saved buys ammunition.
An E1 at a good price: fine — treat it as a II with a holdover reticle, and confirm the reticle’s drop calibration matches your cartridge before trusting the dots.
Fifty years of production means the Fullfield’s history is also Colorado history — the Burris factory story covers where these scopes are designed and built.
Decision recap
The short list
Burris Fullfield IV 2.5-10x42 Ballistic E3
A general hunting rifle used from timber to ordinary open-country distances
Burris Fullfield IV 3-12x42 Ballistic E3
A hunter who values more top-end magnification in open country
Retailer links are currently untagged and do not earn Optics Intel a commission. Availability never changes the recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Burris Fullfield II discontinued?
It's no longer the current generation — Burris's catalog centers on the Fullfield IV, which the company describes as completely redesigned. But the II had such a long production run that new-old-stock and used examples are abundant and cheap, and the transferable Burris Forever Warranty still applies.
What's the difference between the Fullfield II and Fullfield IV?
The IV is a ground-up redesign of the line: an improved 4x zoom system (the II was a 3x-class design, e.g. 3-9x), modern reticle options including the illuminated Ballistic E3, redesigned turret knobs, and a five-model lineup from 2.5-10x42 up through larger objectives. Both generations are second focal plane on hunting-weight tubes.
Are Fullfield scopes made in the USA?
No — industry reporting has long placed Fullfield production in the Philippines, with design, engineering, and warranty service in Greeley, Colorado. That split is standard for the price class; our factory-story guide covers what's made where across the Burris catalog.
Which Fullfield IV for a deer rifle?
The 2.5-10x42 is the line's center of gravity: 46 feet of field of view at 2.5x for timber, 10x for open country, 16.8 ounces on a 1-inch tube, and a choice of Plex or Ballistic E3 reticles at $228–276 MSRP. Go 3-12x56 if low-light hunts over fields are your norm.
