A representative for Burris Company reached out in early 2025, asking if I’d like to evaluate one of the new Fullfield riflescopes. From the many size and lens configurations, I chose the Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm. I had hoped to have it in time for my sone to use on his Ruger 10/22 rifle for Project Appleseed.

Unfortunately, the new scopes weren’t ready in time for the 2025 shoot, but I was sent the Fullfield riflescope with plenty of time to test in the 2026 Project Appleseed shoot. The Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm riflescope turned out to be an ideal scope for the Ruger 10/22 in the 25-meter fixed distance competition.

Why the Ruger 10/22 Is an Excellent Training Rifle

Owen’s Ruger 10/22 is the 21st-century updated version of the standard Ruger 10/22 Carbine I had when I was a boy. My standard model with the front barrel band and curved buttstock was the first .22 rifle I ever owned.

I was still in Boy Scout’s when I got it for Christmas. The next summer, I took that 10/22 to Camp Falling Rock and fired the best .22 LR group I have ever shot: five shots into one hole in the center of an official 50-foot .22 LR paper target. I fired that group prone, without a mechanical rest or sling. That experience stayed with me.

Because of my experience, I wanted Owen to try Project Appleseed with what is still one of the most popular semi-automatic rimfire sporting rifles, configured as closely as possible to the one I had years earlier.

While the Ruger 10/22 and Burris Fullfield 2.5 scope are designed as sporting equipment, they work well as early training tools for defensive shooting skills. The wood-stocked Ruger 10/22 also has something of the feel and handling of the old .30 U.S. M1 Carbine, which makes it a natural training rifle. Ruger even offered a 10/22 with an M1 Carbine-style wood stock, though that version has since been discontinued. I saw a couple of those rifles on the line at Project Appleseed this past April.

Why I Chose the Burris Fullfield for Project Appleseed

 

The scope my son Owen used on his Ruger 10/22 during his second Project Appleseed event worked well enough, but it was only a 4-power optic. With a zoom control and brightly illuminated reticle, I thought it would be fine for a set 25-meter shoot.

However, I noticed many of the more experienced Appleseed shooters used higher-powered scopes. I wanted to find a new scope better-suited to precision target shooting that would give him the best close-up view of his shots without adding unnecessary weight. Project Appleseed is not casual plinking. It is precision rifle shooting from unsupported prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions.

The Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm looked like it might offer the right balance of magnification, clarity and manageable weight for that job.

Burris Optics and the Fullfield 2.5-10×42

I was familiar with the Burris name, but it had been years since I’d reviewed the optics lineup as I most often review handguns, long guns and accessories for self-defense rather than sporting arms. I was surprised by how expansive the company’s offerings have become.

Burris scopes are manufactured in the Philippines rather than China and are well-built pieces of equipment that should last for years with minimal care.

The Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm scope is not a dedicated .22 scope, which is one reason I liked it for Owen’s Ruger 10/22. Burris describes the Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm as a riflescope designed for hunters and shooters who need both adaptability and precision.

That summed up what we needed for Project Appleseed. The 2.5 was precise enough for 25-meter target work but reasonably sized at only 15.4 ounces for Owen at age 12. And he won’t outgrow it as he gets older.

Specifications

Model: Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm, Model 201511
MSRP: $288
Reticle: Ballistic E3 Illuminated, red
Magnification: 2.5 x 10
Objective diameter: 42mm
Ocular diameter: 41mm
Focal plane: Rear focal plane
Field of view: 43 to 11 feet
Adjustment capability: ¼ MOA
Parallax/focus: Fixed at 100 yards
Length: 10.5 inches
Weight: 15.4 ounces
Battery: CR2032
Knobs: Standard capped

Understanding the Burris E3 Illuminate Reticle

The Burris E3 illuminated reticle is one of the main reasons I wanted this scope for Owen’s Project Appleseed rifle. According to Burris, the E3 is a rear focal plane reticle calibrated for traditional, magnum and varmint loads. When the rifle is zeroed at 100 yards, the lower vertical crosshair marks are intended to provide holdover references for 200, 300 and 400 yards.

That makes the scope capable of much more than 25-meter rimfire work. It has enough reticle information for hunting and longer-range training, while still being perfectly usable at known close distances. It would have been a great tool for sniper training when I was in law enforcement.

For Owen’s training rifle, what interested me most was the way the lower horizontal crosshairs and cascading dots naturally draw the eye toward the central crosshair. That road-like pattern helped to consistently draw his eye to the central crosshair and keep his concentration sharp.

Mounting the Burris Fullfield on a Ruger 10/22

Burris included a set of standard-height scope rings with the Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm scope. I used the Ruger factory mounting Weaver plate to install it on Owen’s 10/22. Once mounted, we took the Ruger to the practice range to zero it at 25 meters using the official Project Appleseed “Redcoat” target.

Owen liked the Burris scope once we had it zeroed. Windage and elevation were easy to adjust with the Burris Knob Synergy system. Burris also offers custom Ballistic Knobs for serious shooters who want to enhance the sight adjustment further.

After the first zeroing session, I noticed one problem. The front end of the scope bell was resting on the folded rear sight of the 10/22.

Rather than risk marring wood or metal with the tools I had on hand, I asked my buddy Mike, an excellent shooter and craftsman extraordinaire to help. He dismounted the scope, tapped out the rear sight and remounted the optic with his usual efficiency.

Range Testing the Burris Fullfield Riflescope

We had time to get the rifle out to the range again before the match to verify the zero. Owen was dead on from prone and did better than he had before from the sitting position. We did not have time to work on standing with live ammunition, but I knew he would do better than the previous year. He was one year bigger and one year better at concentrating.

What Shooters Should Know About Project Appleseed

Before I tell you how Owen did at the match this year, it helps to explain the Project Appleseed Competition.

It is a two-day shoot held on Saturday and Sunday that teaches American history in segments around the nation. The match we attend is scheduled close to the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and that history is woven into the instruction.

The shooting portion is a 25-meter known-distance match fired for different ratings. The instructors do an excellent job, and there is a lot of camaraderie on the line.

Thought the match is for shooters young and old, it is not intended for those who have never fired a gun. Owen was 8 years old when he attended his first match, but I had worked with him beforehand and was able to stay on the firing line with him. His range violations were minor and few, he was familiar with the rifle he was using and he earned a “Most Improved” award.

Whether attending as an adult or bringing a young shooter, you should be comfortable with rifle safety, loading, unloading and firing. Instructors will not have time for basic safety rules and operation instructions.

Burris Fullfield Performance at Project Appleseed

Owen did quite a bit better than last year, despite the cold and windy day. I was freezing and hiding in truck behind the firing line where I could still watch him. His groups were much better than the year before, and the Burris Fullfield gave him the magnification and visibility I had hoped it would.

The riflescope was not too heavy for him to manage, which was important during unsupported shooting. The adjustments were easy to use, and the reticle helped give him a clear aiming point throughout the match.

There was one problem, but it was not a performance issue with the scope. The illumination turret had not been fully turned off after our last use, and the battery was dead by match day. That was my fault. I should have checked it before we left.

What I Would Change 

I do have one suggestion for Burris and other illuminated-reticle scope makers: mark the “on” position more clearly. A vivid red dot for “on” and a plain white mark for “off” would help prevent surprises.

This is not just a Burris issue. I once loaned my father-in-law a .350 Legend bolt-action rifle with an illuminated reticle. When it came back, the reticle had not been turned off and the battery was dead, even though I had explained how to use it. A clearer on/off indicator would help shooters keep illuminated scopes more ready to go.

Is the Burris Fullfield 2.5-10×42 Worth It?

I was really impressed with the Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm illuminated rifle scope with the E3 reticle. The elevation and windage adjustments were easy to operate, and the illumination settings were straightforward.

Weighing just under a pound without rings, the scope was right for Owen to handle on his 10/22. If we return to Project Appleseed next year, we will add a rifle sling to the gear list, and that should not compromise the rifle’s overall weight.

For a Ruger 10/22, Project Appleseed training or general rimfire target shooting, the Burris Fullfield 2.5-10x42mm offers a strong mix of magnification, usability, manageable weight and practical reticle design.

Sources:

Burris: BurrisOptics.com
Project Appleseed: ProjectAppleseed.com