Burris RT-3 Mini-3X Prism Sight: A Quick Review

 If you are on the prowl for a magnified prism sight, the RT-3 is one of the smallest I’ve ever seen. When Burris put this one together, they really had “compact” in mind and accomplished it. There are a lot of opinions when it comes to magnified prism scopes. Some love them, and others prefer a standard red dot. LPVOs and rifle scopes can be adjusted, which is a big appeal for some.

However, LPVOs and other scopes tend to be larger and heavier, which is not ideal for every setup. Having a magnified optic that is smaller than some standard red dots is kind of cool. The Burris RT-3 has a red illumination to help you see the etched reticle, giving you the best of both worlds. Because it’s a 3X magnification, it has just enough power to increase your distance but still works up close as well.

The Burris RT-3 3X Prism Scope. [Photo: Jason Mosher]

Over the years, I’ve used a variety of low-power magnified optics, and they are helpful. Instead of choosing between a red dot or prism scope, I set up several rifles for different purposes. This allows me to grab the rifle that works best with the task that day, whether hunting, training on the range at various distances, or heading to work.

If we are serving a search warrant on a residence in town, I use a standard red dot. But at times, we must approach suspects in rural areas, and something with magnification is helpful.

About the Burris RT-3

Saying this is a compact prism sight is an understatement. It’s about 3.5 inches long and weighs 8.8 ounces. The eye relief is 2.6 inches, and the field of view is 38-100 yards. The design of the Burris RT-3 is simple and easy to use. A side loading compartment houses the CR2032 battery. It’s sealed off well because I submerged it in water to find out.

A side-loading CR2032 battery powers the Burris RT-3 Prism Scope. [Photo: Jason Mosher]

While Burris doesn’t list a water rating for the RT-3, it has a rubber gasket on the inside of the battery compartment. I left it submerged in a bucket for one hour, and the compartment was still dry. Over the years, I’ve found myself standing in the rain with my rifle many times. Because of this, I always want to know how an optic holds up when it gets soaked.

Another method I use to do an impact test is to place the optic in the dryer. Our dryer has a large metal bin, and it really throws metal objects around quite nicely. The RT-3 made a lot of noise bouncing around in the dryer, but it was still running strong when I took it out.

Some of Burris’s other models have removable bases so that a riser can be added if you so desire. With the RT-3, you get a one-piece setup. The optic blends into the Picatinny rail with a cross-bolt mount. From the bottom of the mount to the middle of the lens is 1.5 inches. A Picatinny rail mount riser can still be used with this optic, but I like the distance as it is.

Operating the RT-3

Two buttons on the top of the optic increase or decrease the brightness settings of the illuminated reticle. Stadia lines and a center horseshoe make up the reticle. The elevation and windage lines are easy enough to see, especially when the reticle is turned on. Because the RT-3 has an etched reticle, you can use it without any power as well. This is perfect for home/self-defense.

The controls are on top of the RT-3 and are easy to use. [Photo: Jason Mosher]

An auto-off feature helps preserve the battery life, but there is no auto-on feature. To turn it on, press the up or down arrow on top of the optic. Press and hold the down arrow to turn it off manually. Normally, I would say I don’t like using an optic without auto-on for home/self-defense. But because the reticle is etched in the glass, it’s always there. It may not be as quick to pick up, but it can be seen.

Sighting in the RT-3 was easy, with the elevation and windage being 1 MOA per click. I mounted my RT-3 on a full-size AR for now, but I may move it to a shorter rifle down the road.

Burris RT-3 Range Testing

Once I zeroed the optic, I did some shooting at 25, 50, and 100 yards. Because it has an illuminated reticle, I wanted to run some speed shooting drills. The bright red horseshoe reticle made it easy to find the target quickly. My first drill was from the 25-yard line, and I fired five rounds from a low ready as fast as I could. All my rounds hit the A zone, so I was a happy camper.

Shooting the prism scope on the range was easy, and the illuminated reticle worked great. [Photo: Jason Mosher]

I slowed down as I moved to 50 yards and then fired multiple rounds at 100 yards. Because I wanted to see how accurate it was, I used a gun rest at the 100-yard mark. I had a nice group at the head of the target. During my first few drills, I did move the optic back a little more because I was past the recommended eye relief. Once I had it adjusted, it was clear and focused.

A “Forever Warranty”

This is a perfect optic for those who want a compact optic with 3X magnification. Burris offers what they call a “Forever Warranty” that makes this prism scope even more appealing. If something goes wrong, Burris will repair or replace it at no charge with no receipt, and no questions asked. That is a bold promise to make and one that means something to me.

If you plan to spend hard-earned money, it’s refreshing to know the company guarantees you are buying a good product. The RT-3 retails for about $389.99 at most retail stores. The box includes a CR2032 battery, cleaning cloth, and lens.

All that said, I think the Burris RT-3 Mini-3X Prism Sight is an excellent entry-level optic for the home defense rig. It’s affordable and reliable, and while I wish there was an auto-on feature, the optic is rather accurate. It gets the job done and doesn’t break the bank. I’ll count that as a win.

This article was first published on The Mag Life on July 29, 2024