American Handgunner Nov/Dec 1981

For years handgun scopes tough enoughto take the recoil of heavy caliberhandguns were few and far between.However, the shooting world changes andtoday there are several recoil proof modelsto choose; and from the looks of things weeven have a power race on.The Leupold M8-2X was the first of thelong eye relief tough ones, but over thepast few seasons other makers have enteredthe field with models from 1.5X to3X. Last year Burris and Thompson/Center moved up to 3X and at the same~ime Leupold and Redfield moved up to4X. This year Bushnell introduced theirI.3X Centurion with a 2.5X adapter, BurFisand Thompson/Center added a 4X andBurris has gone one step farther and addedthe ultimate 6X.The new Burris 6X-LER is lOW' longand weighs in at 9V2 ounces. The tube is Iinch in diameter and the eye piece and objectivelens housings are about l1"g inches indiameter. This is a small package for a 6Xscope, but the optics are very clear andbrighl. This is due to the fact Burris usesYou have a choice of three different reticlesand I recommend the Plex. This is thepopular style that features four heavywires that change to four fine cross wires atthe center. This reticle tends to center theshooter's eye on the target area, even inpoor light, and the fine center crosshairsmake close holding on small targets possible.The other reticles available are theplain crosshair and a 2 inch dot.BURRIS6.XLERBy Russ CarpenterIn spite of its high power, the new Surris6X is not too big for such as theThompson / Center Contender pistol.Powerful' handguns need powerfulscopes and Burris has met the challengewith a sturdy scope that has the powerquality American made lens and their specialHi-Lume lens coating process accentslight transmission without reflections ordistortion. These scopes are nitrogen filledto insure against internal fogging and theyare sealed and tested against leakage.The windage and elevation adjustmentsare graduated to move the point ofimpactV2 inch at 100 yards. However, I found thismovement about 20 percent less than this,but I feel this is no problem as the adjustmentson a hunting scope such as this willseldom be moved after initial sight in.The field of view is 8 feet at 100 yardsand the eye relief is approximately 14inches. Most pistol scopes feature an eyerelief of about 20 inches. Don Burris tellsme that with higher magnification it is opticallydifficult to build in a long eye relief.However, sighting with a scope of thismagnification requires a two hand holdwhich brings the gun closer to the shooter'seye. Shooting over a sand bag rest andusing two hands I experienced no difficultywith a clear sighting picture.Burris catalogs their new 6X-LER as theideal scope for high velocity .22 caliberpistols. The idea being the greater magnificationextends the practical range of avarmint type handgun. For this test Imounted the 6X-LER on a 10" barrelledThompson/Center Contender chamberedfor the .223 Remington. I used a set ofWeaver top detachable mounts. TheWeaver base for the Contender is comparativelynew, but I have found it an excellentchoice for use on the heavier rifletype calibers.All the shooting was from a sandbag restand groups were fired at both 50 and 100yards. I sighted in with Hornady's Frontierammunition loaded with 55 grain spirepoint bullets. After sighting in, I fired anumber of 5 shot groups and several ofthese were well under 2 inches at 100 yards..Those that were over, I was able to call asmy error was evident as the gun fired. Backat 50 yards the average group size wasslightly over 1.10 inches and several ofthese groups were under 1.0 inches.I had the silly notion I could improve onthis and handloaded the Hornady 55 grainSX bullet ahead of25 grains ofWinchester748 ball powder. The accuracy was equalto the Hornady factory loads, but it wasnot better. However, the lighter easier toexpand jackets of the SX bullets will expandeasier at the lower velocity from theshorter Contender barrel.For the handgunner answering the challengeof long range varminting the newBurris 6X-LER is a dependable scope wellsuited for its intended use on a ~long range varmint pistol. ~AMERICAN HANDGUNNER . NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1981