Burris Timberline 4.5-14X32 AO Scope Review

[Gene_SC]

Today Tommy Cupples came over around 2:00pm. I had my new BSA Ultra ready to rock in roll but found that AOA did not send me my fill probe... Fortunately Tommy's fill probe from his Scorpion worked well enough to fill my Ultra.

Ok here is the nitty gritty on the Burris Timberline 4.5-14X32 AO Scope.. It is an excellent scope for light and clarity even out to maximum power. It is one excellent scope for the right person. I fingered that since it was 14 power it would make a difference being only a 32 objective but I was wrong.. At 27 yards and on 14 power I was having problems seeing clearly. It is as simple as the one inch bulls not being big enough for me to see clearly. I did manage to compete with Tommy at that range but it still was not the same as having a 4-12X40 AO scope. Since I normally shoot from around 20 yards out to 40 yard 90% of the time the Burris Timberline 4.5-14X32 AO Scope just will not fil the bill for me. For someone who has not had cataract surgery in both eyes this scope is a 10.. One of the clearest and brightest scopes I have ever look through.

Tommy shot the BSA with the Burris Timberline 4.5-14X32 AO Scope and seemed to do well with it but not me.. He sighted it in for me before we started shooting. We shot till the sun was dropping low and it was still very clear and sharp.

I truly would recommend this scope at a $156.95 for those who have good vision. It is well made and the turrest have nurling on the wheels for easy adjustment.

[shadow]

Happy that you and Tommy got together for a shoot buddy, bummer about the scope for you. I know that you were pumped about trying it out. :0   Ed

[Gene_SC]

Ya Ed I was excited and it is a great scope. You or Jeff would not have a problem. You could hunt till the sun almost went down with this baby. She is bright and clear.. And i guess she is even springer rated as well.

[shadow]

The scopes with low light ability are great when the critters like to sit in the shadows. Ed

[tjk]

I've said this once before, and I'll say it again,....AO scopes are a PAIN!!!! At least for me. I've experienced the same problems at max power settings even with the AO adjusted to the proper distance. Most of the time I leave the power setting at the mid point of the adjustment,....around 6 or 7 with a 12 to 14 powered scope and 8 to 10 with scopes that power up to 16 magnification. I don't shoot from a bench much, but I find off hand shooting difficult with higher settings, and adjusting the eye piece isn't much help either. This gives me a little room for error too. What I have done is set the AO on my adjustable scopes to 30 and 40 yards and forget about it!!! Brother Timmy gave me this advice and so far so good!!!! Glad you fellas were able to get together for some shooting fun!!!! Hopefully we can get another SC fun shoot in the works!!! tjk

[daved]

As you know, this scope just wasn't working for Gene.  Turns out I was needing a compact scope and had a Bushy Legend I didn't need, so Gene and I did a trade.  Don't tell Gene, but I think I got the better end of the deal ;-)!

First, this is a surprisingly compact scope for the power level, it's actually a tad shorter than the BSA 4X AO I have on my Gamo.  The eye relief is also quite long, Burris designed this for use on short action magnum powder rifles, so they gave it plenty of eye relief, even on full mag it's almost 4" and at low power it's about 5".  I could actually see this as being a problem with some rifles, but for the AA S200 I've got it on, it's perfect.

The other surprise was 1/8" clicks.  Call me weird, but I happen to like 1/8" clicks, so that was a pleasant surprise.  So all that's fine, but how does it work?  Well, I'd have to say this is the best scope I've owned yet, period.  And that's a bunch of different scopes over the last few years.  The optics are crystal clear, and despite only having a 32 mm front objective, it's very bright.  To test this, I actually shot it in my shop with most of the light out.  I had trouble seeing the reticule, but no trouble seeing my target, even at full magnification.  Edge to edge clarity is superb, and my eyes didn't detect any distortion.  Clicks are accurate, tactile, audible, and easy to move without being the least bit sloppy.  In fact, all the adjustments are very smooth, and only slightly stiff, which is to be expected from a brand new scope.  One other surprising feature, the eyebell actually has a locknut on it, no "fast focus eyepiece" that never holds it's adjustment.  

To sum it up, I've finally found a scope that I think is BETTER than my old Simmons 44 Mag, and for me, that's saying a lot.  In fact, I may just sell the Simmons to get another one of these for my Cyclone, it's that good.  Considering that it's a Burris and still under $200, this just shot to the top of my list as an answer for the "what scope should I buy?" posts.  So if you're in the market for a "surprisingly" good scope, here it is.  Later.

Dave

[Gene_SC]

Glad you are happy with it Dave. But dispite you thinking you got the better deal, in my opinion I got the better deal.. Looking through my eyes you would understand. Thanks again for the Bushy scope. It is an excellent scope for me and I have another one for my newest BSA LoneStar .22 full powered PCP. It should work perfect on it as well as yours has worked on my new BSA Scorpion.

We are both happy and that is great..

[daved]

When both parties to a trade think they got the better end of the deal :-).  Thanks again, pal!

Dave

[imadogman]

After reading what you gentlemen wrote about the 4.5-14x32 Burris Timberline, I thought that I would get one for my Ruger Airhawk  (yep, paid over 3 times as much for the scope than I did for the gun).  Call me crazy, but what the heck, if you can't see it, you can't shoot it, right?
  I received the scope from Optics Planet today, and I am very pleased with the quality of the optics.  I haven't mounted it on a weapon yet, as I am waiting for the mount to get here.  The power adjustment is easy to turn, but with enough friction to keep it from moving.  The same goes for the A.O., but it is a bit stiffer to move near the infinity end.  Maybe it will loosen up a bit with some use.  I especially like the fact that this scope is very compact and light weight.  Just what I was looking for on my walkabout gun.
Burris should consider making this scope with a 40 mm objective.  It doesn't need the light gathering capablilities so much, but a little bit larger field of view on high power might be nice.  I may change my mind about that after shooting it though.
FYI  Optics Planet shipped the scope very quickly, and their packaging was very good.
More later, after I poke some holes in things.  ;-)
Imadogman