Seasoned Contributor for Minuteman Review and teaches over 100 shooting classes a year.
The Burris AR332 was designed mainly for law enforcement, military personnel, and competitive shooters who need a compact optic with long-range capabilities. Its unique design allows it to be used in both close quarters and long range tactical applications without sacrificing accuracy or speed. It has rugged construction and exceptional performance for your tactical carbine.
BURRIS AR 332
Burris has a long track record of making high-quality optics for a long time, and this one is no different. The entire unit is waterproof, and the nitrogen-filled body prevents internal fogging. The illuminated reticle has ten different settings and two colors, and also works as a non-lit crosshair when it is turned off.
The unique Fast Action Ballistic CQ Reticle and fixed 3x magnification is easy to use in close quarters and is accurate out to 600 yards.
This combo works very well with 5.56mm tactical rifles. It mounts to any standard flat top rail system and has rails on the unit for attaching a small reflex unit.
As always, it is backed by its brand warranty to protect against damage and defects. Should your AR332 fail at any time, you can send it back to Burris for repair or replacement.
PROS
CONS
Scope Review and Breakdown
Features
1. The Ballistic CQ Reticle has a unique design that works well for close range and long range shooting. The round center allows for quick target acquisition up close while the small crosshair dots provide drop compensation out to 600 yards.
2. The fixed 3x magnification is strong enough to aid in long-distance targets, but not so overpowering that it’s unusable for close range targets.
3. Hi-Lume multicoating provides brightness for the lens while reducing glare. It gives the shooter a more precise picture and allows for more accurate shooting.
4. The reticle has ten different brightness settings. It can be illuminated in red or green and appears black when the unit is turned off. The illuminated reticle aids the shooting in any condition and increases the accuracy in low light.
Specifications
Ease of Use and Reliability
The controls on the AR332 consist of windage and elevation knobs, and the illumination knob. Windage and elevation settings can be dialed in easily with a simple click. Both of these knobs are tethered to the optic so they will not be lost.
Illumination is controlled via a rotary knob with 11 settings. There are 5 “red” brightness settings, 5 “green” brightness settings, and an off switch. The reticle is still visible with the illumination off.
The sight is very durable, is water and weatherproof, and no issues of reliability have been reported – however, it must be mounted to the rifle using a torque wrench, and specific setting or the reticle will appear canted.
Battery Life
A single CR2302 provides 200 hours on the high illumination setting. Using low or medium illumination the battery will last for up to 500 hours.
Cost
It will cost you less than $450. While not inexpensive, most high quality fixed power optics designed for tactical rifles are in this price range, and it is cheaper than some other military fixed tactical optics that can cost well over $1000. For this price, you are getting a very high quality optic.
Who is this scope for?
Type of Shooter
Burris designed this optic specifically for law enforcement, military, and competition shooters who need additional magnification from a close range rifle optic. Experience and training are vital when using a fixed power optic, and due to its design back up iron units cannot be used without first removing the optic from the rifle.
Even though the controls are easy to use, this would not be a good choice for home defense applications due to the magnification. The fixed 3x sight will be too powerful for use exclusively at close ranges. While you could mount it on a shotgun, it is not designed for that purpose. Many other options would be better suited for this.
Type of Firearm
The Burris AR332 was designed to work on tactical carbines chambered in 5.56mm. It is a good choice for any of the many AR-15 platforms on the market today (16″ barrels are ideal). It also works well on the Beretta ARX 160, Ruger Mini-14, HK416, and various other semi-auto rifles.
The standard rail adapter can mount to any flat top, and an adapter is available for AR-15s with a fixed handle. It can also be used on 7.62mm rifles including M1As, AR-10s, and AK variants, provided they have not been set up only for long distance shooting.
Our Opinion
It is a high quality, durable rifle optic that is an excellent option if it fits your needs. It is not a replacement for a full powered scope, nor should it be used solely as a close quarters product for your AR-15. This Burris optic has a particular purpose and fulfills it very well.
The product is best suited for law enforcement officers who may encounter any number of situations on patrol, and competition shooters who are shooting at various distances during their course of fire. While it is easy to use I would only recommend it to experienced shooters who will have the time to put in the training switching from close range to long range.
If you are looking for a low-powered fix magnification optic, it should be on your shortlist. It was designed solely with the tactical carbine in mind and fulfills that role very well.
Other Options Worth Looking At
If you are looking for a similar optic without spending as much money, then Primary Arms has several fixed power optics available for under $300. While they are a newer company not carrying the history or reputation of Burris, their optics are high quality and function very well. They have many different fixed power models in a variety of magnifications.
An alternative to using a fixed power optic for both closeup and distance shooting is using a 1x power red dot and a 3x magnifier. Both EoTech and Aimpoint offer options utilizing this combo, with EoTech using a “flip to side” magnifier and Aimpoint being a quick release model. While you do get the best of both worlds, the combination can be quite cumbersome on a tactical rifle as well as costing close to $1000.
The gold standard for fixed power combat optics is the Trijicon ACOG. They offer several high end fixed power optics costing over $1000. While expensive, the quality, durability, and clarity of the ACOG cannot be beaten. A variety of models are available, including those with self-illumination and various magnifications.
Other Models from the Manufacturer
Not your cup of tea? See these ones too!