Burris Veracity PH 4-20x50

Chris Parkin eyes up the Burris Veracity PH 4-20x50 Riflescope

At first glance, you really might not notice the true capability of the Burris Veracity PH riflescope. However, under the skin, it carries some very helpful functionality.

Essentially, this is a 4-20x magnification unit with a 50mm objective lens, side parallax, and a 30mm tube. Its reticle is in the first focal plane. If you remove the right side windage cap, there is a familiar-looking adjustment dial below, yet if you twist the elevation turret, there are no clicks. The only other factor you will visually notice is that the field of view within is not quite circular. So, what’s the secret? Well, the scope is absolutely normal in mechanical terms, other than no sprung click detents, yet the internal mechanics are still pushing the inner erector tube up/down and left/right as normal. The external dial is marked in minutes of angle, which looks normal. To light up the system, you simply turn the extreme left side dial, which looks like a reticle illumination dial, into the ON position.

Looking through the scope, you now see a small LED display across the upper edge of the field of view, and as you turn the turret, the numbers change. In short, what you do is zero the scope as normal on target, then reset the turret to mark ‘0’ with its circumferential screws. There is also an easily engaged/disengaged zero stop, which you may or may not decide to use. Next, use the Burris Connect ballistic app to set up your rifle/scope/ammunition combination with the usual variables, like muzzle velocity, ballistic coefficient, scope height above the bore, and zero distance. The left side dial can then be set to the Bluetooth symbol, so that can you transfer the setup. Then, the magic begins.

Magic

It would be unwise to take long shots straight away, but if you want to check and confirm everything, which I seriously advise, measure the distance to your target by whatever means you normally use, like with a laser rangefinder etc. Then, while looking through the scope, turn the upper elevation dial and watch the numbers increase or decrease until they are at your required distance. Now, here you may expect there to be some magical illuminated additional aimpoint, but there isn’t. The conventional etched black reticle remains. Burris uses the normal mechanics of the scope to dial, just like you would with a conventional turret, but because there are no specific incremental mechanical clicks, it has infinite precision. The Veracity can be set up in metres or yards, has easily controlled brightness, and side focusses/parallax adjusts clearly, along with the reticle using the fast-focus eyepiece at the back.

The true benefit is that whereas other scopes must use extra reticle illumination, fibre optics, or additional lens packages with sandwiched LCD screens, the Burris retains all its characteristic daytime optical quality, with high, bright, and unhindered light transmission. Even if you were without batteries, the mechanical turret, although not clicking, still retains position through friction, and can be dialled by reading the external engraved markers according to preciously confirmed DOPE.

Nicely done

I have to say, I think Burris has supplied a really good system here, as the scope and app are easy to use (you don’t need the app after setup), the instructions are clear to follow, and you don’t compromise the quality of the image with additional glassware within the tube. If the battery were to die (it has actually got two internal batteries under the left side dial cap), you are not stuck high and dry. Although the scope is only available with MOA indicators, it doesn’t really matter, because you will work in metres or yards as to your preference anyway. There is an internal clinometer for the scope to automatically compensate uphill and downhill trajectories, and the automated off function can be set for 1,2,4 or 12 hours. Roll/Cant angle is also indicated by an internal bubble level, helping you hold your rifle straight.

Burris’ bullet and ammunition library allows you to pick factory data or to personally refine your ballistic solution to hit the mark. The reticle is sharp, the image is easily focussed without excessive parallax backlash, and all the other mechanical controls were intuitive variations on what we consider the norm. The windage dial can be zeroed, and I thought the ability to easily engage or disengage the zero-stop function makes the initial zeroing of a rifle much easier for the less experienced users.

Conclusion

I tested the scope on inanimate targets beyond 400m and found the results on target were well within the lateral and wind variables that must be accommodated for when taking a long-range shot. I only had it for a very short period and would love to have done more with it, as crucially, it didn’t seem to offer pseudo benefits with hidden compromise. The benefits were all useful functions. Most importantly for me, I liked the intelligent combination of electronic and tactile mechanical controls to offer me a firing solution, and a secure connection to the app when I needed it with 100% reliability. I also think the scope is incredibly good value.