The Burris FastFire 3 is a long-time solid performer in the Micro Red Dot Sight (MRDS) class. Competition shooters, hunters, and firearms enthusiasts will find the FastFire 3 an excellent choice as their go-to optic. This feature-complete optic is durable and versatile, backed by a lifetime no-questions-asked warranty; you cannot go wrong with this optic.
This Burris FastFire 3 red dot sight review will cover the specifications and features in-depth and in as much detail as possible. We’ll see what other shooters’ experiences have been with this sight and cover some common questions and answers about this MRDS.
Burris FastFire 3 Review
Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Colorado, Burris optics has a decades-long track record of providing high-quality optics to meet the needs of civilians, law enforcement, competition shooters, and hunters. Burris optics are primarily manufactured in the Philippines yet are still known for their high quality and durability.
The Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot sets the standard for affordable, high-quality optics. This optic is a simple yet feature-complete sight that is easy to use and adjust to the needs of the shooter. You can expect this sight to hold up in austere environments and work wonderfully on a pistol, shotgun, carbine, and rifle platforms.
Bottom Line Up Front
The Burris FastFire 3 is an economical and versatile sight that delivers high value for the price. For under $300, this optic delivers an incredible value for a red dot sight in this class. Many shooters have sworn by the versatile functionality, demonstrating that this sight really is an incredibly economical option for any shooting platform.
We don’t hesitate to recommend this optic for shooters of any skill level, whether it’s your primary optic or an affordable backup, should your primary become inoperable. You will not find a greater value for the price than you do with this optic; it gets the job done and will not break the bank.
Top Features of the Burris FastFire 3 Reflex Sight
Design
The Burris FastFire 3 is made of aluminum with a matte black anodized finish. Incredibly lightweight, it weighs in at only 1.5 ounces with the battery installed.
This optic includes a protective cover that can slide over the sight to protect it from various bumps and collisions shooters might encounter at the range or in other operational scenarios.
The FastFire uses high-grade optical glass to provide excellent brightness and clarity as well as durability. The lens is coated with index-matched Hi-Lume multi-coating to eliminate glare and provide a high level of performance in low light.
This optic is water-resistant and shockproof, providing reliability in its operation and allowing it to be utilized with almost any weapon system. This sight has a very small profile compared to some other optics in the MRDS class, measuring at 1.9 inches long and 1 inch wide, with a height of 1 inch.
Reticle
The Burris FastFire comes in two reticle option models. A 3 MOA red dot reticle or an 8 MOA red dot reticle. Choosing between these two MOAs is a matter of shooter preference; a smaller reticle provides the shooter more precision at mid-range, while a larger MOA can be more user-friendly for close-quarters use.
The optic has a sight window of .82” x .59”. The optic has four automatic brightness settings and three manual settings that can be selected via the power button on the left side of the sight. It comes with an automatic light adjustment that uses a sensor to cue the brightness level of the red dot automatically depending on ambient light conditions wherever the shooter is operating.
Operation
The Burris FastFire 3 is powered by a single CR1632 battery. The battery is located on top of the sight and is accessible by using a slot-head screwdriver. The ease of access to the battery on top of the sight has become a standard feature in many MRDS optics, allowing shooters to replace the battery without unmounting the sight and requiring re-zeroing.
The battery life on the Burris FastFire 3 comes in at about 5,000 hours at the max brightness settings. The FastFire lacks a motion-sensing “shake awake” system, but the optic will shut off automatically after 9 hours of use.
Elevation and windage adjustment dials are located on the top and the right sides of the sight, respectively. These can be adjusted using a slot-head screwdriver as well. Adjustments for the FastFire 3 are one Minute of Angle (MOA) per click with an elevation adjustment range of +-115 MOA and a windage adjustment range of +-86 MOA.
Mounting
The FastFire 3 is available for purchase with a Picatinny/Weaver mount or without the mount. Purchasing the sight without the mount will allow you to choose one that best fits your application.
Details
Included with your purchase:
- Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot Sight
- 2 #6x48 Screws with Torx socket head
- 1 Torx Wrench
- 1 Protective Cover
- 1 Lithium Battery 3V (CR1632)
- User Guide
- Weaver/Picatinny-style Mount (on select models)
Other Great Features
The Burris FastFire 3 comes with a no-questions-asked, lifetime warranty. This warranty not only applies to the initial owner of the optic but any future owners of the optic as well. No receipt needed.
Common Questions
Can I remove the Picatinny mount and use another mounting system? Yes, the Burris FastFire 3 can be used with non-Picatinny rail systems; shooters can even purchase the optic without a Picatinny rail if they have a different mounting system they prefer to use.
Are star washers included with the mount for use with the Glock MOS? Star washers are not included with the mounting system, however, Burris Customer Service will provide the washers to shooters wishing to mount the FFIII on the Glock MOS.
Customer Feedback
The Burris FFIII has a 4.2/5 star rating on Amazon, with 71% of user reviews being five stars.
Quality: “The quality is just as good as other optics out there that are two or three times as much as the FFIII.”
Price: “Don’t think for a minute that you’re getting an inferior product in the FastFire 3 just because it sells for less than half the price of the Trijicon or DeltaPoint.”
Accuracy: “These are incredibly lightweight, tough, bright, and easy to zero, and they hold their zero.”
Warranty: “The warranty cannot be overlooked in a product like this that takes so much of a beating, and the Burris Forever Warranty absolutely can not be beaten.”
Variations
The Burris FastFire 3 has two variations, the Burris FastFire 3 (300235) 3 MOA Red Dot and the Burris FastFire 3 (300237) 8 MOA Red Dot.
