Red dot sights are great and all but they offer no magnification. If you want to magnify on the target, you would need to install a magnifier in front of the sight.
If you are in the market for a sight that also offers a bit of magnification to do range shooting or hunting. Then you probably have heard of both of the sights here.
Vortex is known for its great lens making and craftmanship on its aluminum. On the other hand, Burris is another great manufacturer that makes sights, scopes, and spotters.
Vortex Spitfire 3x VS Burris 332 is an argument we have been having for a long time now. Which one do we recommend? Let’s find out.
Vortex Spitfire 3X/ Burris 332 – Outlooks
Vortex Spitfire 3X/ Burris 332 – Specs
| Specs | Vortex Spitfire 3X | Burris 332 |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 3X | 3X |
| Weight | 437 Grams | 402 Grams |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | CR2032 | CR2032 Lithium |
| Brightness Settings | 10DL and 2NV | 10DL and 2NV |
| Adjustments | Windage, Elevation, Brightness | Windage, Elevation, Brightness |
Vortex Spitfire 3X VS Burris 332 – Differences
- Burris 332 is lighter than Spitfire 3x.
- Spitfire 3x has larger eye relief than Burris 332.
- Spitfire 3x is just a tad bit bigger than Burris 332.
- Burris 332 has more brightness settings present than Spitfire.
- Both of them have different reticles.
Quality
Spitfire 3x: The lenses used on this sight are fully multi-coated. They are made to last for a long time. They are also scratch-resistant and fogproof. The chemical used by Vortex is kept secret. Rest assured, you are getting a sight with high-quality lenses.
It also has adjustable brightness and a glass-etched reticle. The glass-etched reticle is nice to have when you don’t want to run your sight on battery. The reticle is clear and bright during the daytime.
Burris 332: Lenses used on 332 are also fully multi-coated. They are scratch and waterproof. As the housing is nitrogen-purged, lenses won’t have moisture from the inside either. The reticle is also adjustable with different brightness settings. Reticle is available in red or green. Choose the color you prefer.
Vortex lenses are undoubtedly one of the best in the market. They have been doing this for a while and they even sell their lenses to other manufacturers. For lens quality alone, the Vortex Spitfire 3x is far superior to Burris 332.
Durability
Spitfire 3x: Durability will always be an important factor when choosing a sight. Spitfire is made with high-grade aluminum. The turrets are capped and they are also made out of aluminum. The housing of this optic is fully water and shockproof. Recoil won’t be able to harm the sight at all.
The inside of the sight is also filled with nitrogen. Making it fogproof.
Burris 332: It is also made out of aluminum. The same quality aluminum that Burris uses in other sights of theirs. It’s durable and quite resistant to scratch marks.
The inside of the sight is also filled with nitrogen to make it fogproof. The exterior is shock and scratch-proof. Even if you submerge the sight by mistake, it should operate perfectly fine once dried out.
As you can see, both of these sights were crafted well and made to last for a long time. I understand a lot of you won’t be able to take care of the sight always. For that, a durable sight is mandatory. No matter which sight you go for between the two, you won’t regret it.
Performance
Spitfire 3x: Performing good is Vortex’s middle name. Jokes aside, all of their sights and optics-related products perform excellently both on the field and in a controlled environment. Vortex did a great job by adding glass-etched reticles to this sight. Even if your battery dies in the middle of the hunt, you can still carry on due to the glass-etched reticle being bright.
The shots are on point as well. Just make sure to calibrate it with your gun.
Burris AR332: As the name suggests, Burris 332 is made for AR rifles. AR rifles are known for their reliable med-range shooting capabilities. You don’t want your sight to fail you on that range. Don’t worry, Burris AR332 has no plans to fail you anytime soon.
The accuracy of this sight is insanely on point. Of course, a controlled environment and a real-life environment differ a lot. Still, it performs equally well in both scenarios. Turrets feel good and tactile. You won’t miss clicking and over-tuning anything.
Both of their performance are credible and praiseworthy. They are accurate and can shoot pretty far. The reticles on both are nice and robust. In terms of performing accurately, under a controlled environment, both of them will be neck to neck.
Size
Spitfire 3x: The length of Spitfire 3x is 5.5”. That’s not too long as an AR sight. With default 3x fixed magnification, you don’t need to use a magnifier in front of the sight to make it usable in mid-range. The height of the sight is 1.54”. Pretty tame size for a sight this big.
Burris AR332: The overall length of the AR332 without sunshade is 5.3”. Barely smaller than 3x. But hey, we take every single win possible here. The height of the sight is 1.6”. Slightly higher than Spitfire 3x. But it’s not an eyesore.
If size is an issue for you, the obvious choice here is Burris AR332. If you are fine with whatever size, both of them are great options.
Weight
Spitfire 3x: The weight of Vortex Spitfire 3x is 15.4oz. In grams, that’s nearly 437 grams. For a 3x sight, it’s not the heaviest. The weight balance on this sight is excellent. You will enjoy how well it sits on top of your AR rifles.
Burris AR332: This weighs around 14.02oz. It is noticeably lighter than the Spitfire. Weight balance feels better on this due to it being lightweight. Lighter sights are always better for heavy rifles. You don’t want another heavy object to wear you down even further.
I quite liked how both of these are lightweight and how well they play with most rifles available in the market right now. If you prefer lighter sights, that’s understandable.
Vortex Spitfire 3X/ Burris 332 – Videos
Vortex Spitfire 3X VS Burris 332 – Summary
In short, there is no winner between Vortex Spitfire 3x VS Burris 332. Both of the sights are incredible for what you are paying. They won’t disappoint you for a moment. Ultimately, the decision will depend on whether the price difference matters to you or not.
The lenses on Vortex are better. But Burris is not far behind either. Both of them are usable without battery. But Vortex took it to the next level. Whichever you go for, you won’t regret the purchase decision. That much I can guarantee you.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
