Issue with Burris Mini Mag 4x scope

[O.S.O.K.]

I'm kinda surprised at this but I've got a 4x Burris mini mag scope that gives very poor performance on my Marlin 336 35 Rem.

The rifle shoots much smaller groups with the irons than with this scope. When I adjust it, the point of impact moves much more than the 1/2MOA per click that it should and when I reverse the change, the impact doesn't go back to the same spot. And as mentioned, it just won't group - with flyers being the norm.

I've tried two different mounts and rings too - the last one a rock solid Leupold mount/rings.

So, I'm sending it to Burris to be checked out.

This is the only Burris that I own. Anybody else have these kinds of issues with their Burris scope?

[william iorg]

I have a Burris straight 4x Short Mag scope on my 308 Marlin Express and I am very happy with it.
I have adjusted this scope quite a bit as I load tested with all available bullet weights. I have never had a problem with the scope not able to hold its adjustment while shooting a group.

I use a Weaver Base and Millett Angle Loc rings on my lever-action rifles – but I don’t believe the mount has any bearing on your problem. Have you tried the scope on another rifle?

[86er]

I have a VX-III Leupold that is brand new out of the carton and is acting the same way. Overexaggerated adjustments, inconsistent adjustments, not holding, etc. I don't know how or why these things happen but I do know that Burris and Leupold will make it right. It is a pain and an inconvenience nonetheless.

[Blaine]

Trying it on another rifle, if you can, will go a long way to saving time.

[EdinCT]

I have a short mag 4X that I had on a 338 Mag that worked out great and shot good to the 400 yard mark.
I then put a 3/9 Burris fullfeild with ballistic plex on the 338 and put the short mag on my 12ga slug gun.
It walked all over the place and I had to tighten the mounts down more than I would of liked to stop it from slideing in the mounts. Then as I ajusted it I felt that one click seemed to be 1" at 50 yards instead of 1/4 at 100. I got it sighted about 2 inches high at 50 and it seems to be holding zero so the jury is still out.
Yesterday I shot my TC Black Diamond that has a Bushnell 1.5/4.5 on it and It was three inches high at 50 so I lowered it 4 clics and it hit 5 inches low. I ajusted it up 3 clicks and it is about two inches high at 50 which is hardly 1/4 min clicks either.
I wish I could afford higher end glass but my wife is out of work I for the first time in my life I am wondering if I will have to sell some rifles.

[Kapincrunch]

Try making an adjustment and then before firing your next shot tap it with an empty shell. Chances are the adjustments are not settling. I read somewhere about the new Timberlines doing that and I think the Short-Mags may be much the same.
Jim

[O.S.O.K.]

Try making an adjustment and then before firing your next shot tap it with an empty shell. Chances are the adjustments are not settling. I read somewhere about the new Timberlines doing that and I think the Short-Mags may be much the same.
Jim

I always do this - after adjusting the scope, I take the unloaded rifle and pop the butt on the bench a couple of times to simulate recoil - to settle the scope. Does nothing for this scope.

I haven't tried it on another rifle but I did try two mounts - both rock solid. A millit and the current leupold. It has to be the scope - the rifle shoots great with the irons.

I've never had a scope do this to me before and I've got several Leupolds, Nikons, a Weaver and a Simmons scope.

I think they can just take a looksee for me.

[new pig hunter]

I've had the same sorta "problems" with Burris and Leupold and Bushnell, it seems the amount of clicks don't correlate to expected distance moved. I've always attributed this to operator error, just one more mysterious plague I've not been able to figure out. I do eventually get the point of impact to agree with point of aim, but most of the time it seems more black art than simple science.

Last month's or this month's "American Rifleman" magazine has an article about scope mounting and the author is of the opinion that such problems may be due to overtightening the ring clamps which then deforms the scope body and causes internal problems.

Cheers,

Carl

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, you may be right about the tightening, but if that's it, then none of my scopes should work properly. But I don't try and break the allen wrench - just torque the screws down, one side then the other, front to back rotating until they're all snug. I don't leave marks on the scope body... and besides, the mounts are on the tube - not in the erector area....

I have 12 scopes mounted on rifles and this is the first one to give me grief.

I figure I just finally found a dud.