While some classes of scopes may have stagnated in development, red dot sights, on the other hand, have seen a significant amount of innovation, with various brands striving to offer the best in terms of accuracy, speed, and efficiency. Burris is one of the leading names in top-quality red dot sights, and the Burris FastFire 3 is a major contender worth considering.
Its promise of providing greater accuracy and faster target acquisition in a compact design caught my eye. With the FastFire 3, it seems like Burris aims to simplify the aiming process, essentially reducing it to a point-and-shoot affair. As someone who appreciates a straightforward, effective approach to targeting, I was eager to put the FastFire 3 to the test. Lock and load, it’s time to hit the range.
My First Impressions
Unboxing the Burris FastFire 3, I was immediately struck by how light it felt, without feeling cheaply made. Weighing in at a feather-light 1.5 ounces and measuring 1.9 inches, it’s a sight that won’t add any noticeable heft to your firearm, which is crucial for maintaining a natural feel when aiming and shooting.
The sight comes with a Picatinny mount included, indicating it’s ready for action right out of the box. Mounting it on my AR-15 was a breeze, and it sat snugly without any wobble. The design is sleek, with a rugged build that hints at its durability. The top battery access is another feature that caught my eye. It’s designed for ease of battery replacement without having to remove the sight from the firearm.
Turning it on, I was greeted by a crisp 3 MOA dot reticle. The power button is conveniently placed, making it easy to cycle through the three levels of brightness. I also noticed the automatic brightness setting, which eliminates the need for me to mess with it in situations where my attention may be needed elsewhere. 
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Optics Quality
The quality of the optics in any red dot sight is going to be one of the most critical aspects of its performance and ultimately, its use. Luckily, the Burris FastFire 3 doesn’t disappoint. With a parallax-free 1x magnification, it offers a simple, unobstructed view of your target, making it ideal for situations where speed and accuracy are paramount. The lens measures 21mm, providing a decent field of view while maintaining the sight’s compact profile.
The clarity is amazing, producing a sharp, clear, sight picture. At a glance, lens coatings seem to do an excellent job of reducing glare and maximizing light transmission, which is crucial for maintaining visibility in bright daylight or transitional lighting conditions. I was happy to see there was no noticeable tint on the lens, which is going to provide the most natural view of the target area, essential for accurately gauging distances and target colors.
Another feature that enhances the quality of the optics is the automatic brightness adjustment. It’s a smart addition that takes the guesswork out of manual brightness adjustments, allowing the sight to adapt to the ambient lighting conditions seamlessly. The 3 MOA red dot reticle is bright and sharp, providing a fine point of aim that allows for precise shot placement without obscuring the target.
For more red dot sights have a look at my articles about Vortex Viper red dot sight or Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 holographic red dot.
Reticle Performance
One of the pivotal points of the Burris FastFire 3’s performance lies in its 3 MOA red dot reticle. The reticle is designed to offer a fine point of aim, enabling precise shot placement even at extended ranges. The dot is clear, and bright, and makes target acquisition fast and easy. As someone who values a no-nonsense approach to targeting, the simplicity of the reticle was very appealing.
We’ve talked about the reticle’s automatic brightness adjustment, but you can also adjust it manually. The three levels of manual brightness settings provide ample range to adjust the reticle brightness to your liking. During my use, the reticle remained sharp and did not exhibit any noticeable blooming or distortion, which I wouldn’t expect after just a day in the field, but it was nice not to see any premature failures in a name you respect.
Turrets & Adjustments
The Burris FastFire 3 comes equipped with windage and elevation adjustments that are straightforward and user-friendly. Unlike some other red dot sights that require a special tool for adjustments, the FastFire 3 allows for tool-free adjustments which is a significant advantage in the field. The turrets are well-constructed and provide tactile feedback with audible clicks for each increment of adjustment, which is a feature I found to be very useful for making precise changes. Each click is 1 MOA or about one inch at 100 yards.
The power button on the FastFire 3 doubles as the brightness adjustment control. With a simple press, you can cycle through the three levels of brightness to find the one that suits your current environment. Holding down the button activates or deactivates the sight, which is intuitive and quick. The FastFire 3 also features a low battery warning indicator, which is a useful addition to keep you informed about the battery status, ensuring that you’re not caught off guard.
Battery access on the top of the sight is a thoughtful design choice that simplifies the process of changing batteries. Unlike some other models where you have to dismount the sight to change the battery, the FastFire 3 ensures that you can quickly swap batteries while keeping the sight on the firearm, which is a significant time-saver in the field.
Build Quality
The sight is housed in a compact, lightweight chassis that doesn’t compromise on durability. Its design ensures that it won’t affect the balance or handling of the firearm, whether mounted on handguns, rifles, or shotguns. The lightweight nature, measuring a mere 1.5 oz, is a factor that reduces how much you need to “re-learn” how to handle, aim, and fire your gun after you change its weight and balance.
The exterior is robust and feels capable of withstanding the rigors associated with field use. The sight is impervious to moisture, which is a crucial feature for maintaining functionality in unpredictable and sometimes adverse weather conditions.
A Picatinny mount is included with the FastFire 3, and it’s actually a decent mount, unlike some other free mounts you may get. It held up well to recoil, ensuring the sight remained in place and maintained zero. The lens is well-protected within the housing, minimizing the risk of damage from impacts like drops or strikes.
Real-Life Testing: A Day In The Field
I took the Burris FastFire 3 to a local range to put it through its paces, mounted on my trusty AR-15. The day was a mix of sunshine and clouds, providing a good range of lighting conditions to test the sight’s performance.
Right from the get-go, the FastFire 3 proved to be a reliable companion. The reticle was crisp and bright, making target acquisition almost instantaneous. The unlimited eye relief and parallax-free design played a significant role in the ease with which I could engage targets at varying distances.
Adjusting the reticle brightness was straightforward, with the automatic brightness setting doing an excellent job of adapting to the changing light conditions as clouds moved across the sun. Once zeroed, the FastFire 3 held its zero reliably throughout the day, even after numerous rounds downrange. The tactile feedback from the adjustment turrets made fine-tuning the sight a breeze.
Transitioning between targets at different distances was smooth, with the 3 MOA red dot providing a fine point of aim without obscuring smaller or more distant targets. During rapid-fire drills, the sight kept up well, with the reticle remaining clear and the sight maintaining its position on the rail. After a full day on the range, it was pretty clear to me that the FastFire 3 exceeded my expectations in real-life testing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact and Lightweight: The FastFire 3’s minimal footprint and lightweight design ensure it won’t hinder the balance or handling of the firearm.
- Clear Reticle: The 3 MOA red dot is crisp and bright, facilitating quick and accurate target acquisition.
- Automatic Brightness Setting: This feature adapts the reticle brightness to ambient lighting conditions, which is excellent for dynamic environments.
- Top Battery Access: Changing batteries is a breeze with the top access design, minimizing downtime.
- Unlimited Eye Relief: This feature allows for flexible positioning and quick target acquisition, making the sight versatile for different firearms and shooting styles.
Cons
- Manual Brightness Adjustments: While the automatic brightness setting is great, the manual adjustment range could benefit from more than three settings for finer control in varying light conditions.
- Protective Cap: While useful, it’s easy to misplace due to its loose fit. A more secure attachment method would be a notable improvement.
Who Should Buy This Scope?
The FastFire 3 is a solid scope that can cater to a wide range of shooters, including:
- Competitive Shooters
- Law Enforcement and Military Personnel
- Hobbyist Shooters
- Hunters
- Home Defense Enthusiasts
The Final Word
The Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot Reflex Sight is an embodiment of functionality, ease of use, and reliable performance wrapped in a compact, lightweight design. Through various tests and real-world usage, it’s evident that this sight is built to meet the demands of serious shooters, providing a clear, bright reticle for quick target acquisition across a variety of firearms and shooting scenarios. While it’s not the most expensive red dot sight out there, it’s also certainly not the cheapest, so it’s ideal for shooters ready to invest in serious red dot optics.
More information about other red dot and holographic sights can be read in my EOTech 512 review and Vortex Strikefire 2 review.
Mike Fellon is an experienced firearms enthusiast and optics expert. He delivers unbiased and detailed rifle scope reviews. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped shooting ever since.