Burris Signature HD Riflescopes: The Overlooked Middle of the Lineup
The Burris Signature HD is the mid-tier hunting line between the budget Fullfield IV and the premium Veracity — three models (2-10x40, 3-15x44, 5-25x50) on 30mm tubes with push/pull locking turrets, zero click stops on tall-knob versions, and side parallax focus. The 5-25x50 runs $900–1,020 MSRP across three reticle choices, and hides a detail most listings miss: the Ballistic E3 and Fine Plex versions are second focal plane, while the 6.5 Creedmoor reticle version is first focal plane — same model name, different focal planes.
Every manufacturer’s lineup has a quiet middle child, and in the Burris catalog it’s the Signature HD — pricier than the Fullfield IV everyone recommends to new hunters, cheaper than the Veracity PH that gets the headlines. It’s also sitting on the least competitive keyword territory in the whole brand, which tells you how little anyone has bothered to explain it. Here’s the full picture.
The Line
Three models, all on 30mm nitrogen-filled tubes with premium multi-coated glass, per Burris’s published specs:
- 2-10x40 — the light woods-to-fields hunter
- 3-15x44 — the all-rounder
- 5-25x50 — the precision/long-range hunting model, examined below
The name carries history: “Signature” has been a Burris trust-mark since the 1990s (the Signature Rings that let you sight in with the rings themselves date to 1995).
Verified Specifications — 5-25x50
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Magnification / objective | 5–25x / 50mm, 5x zoom system |
| Tube | 30mm, nitrogen filled |
| Turrets | Push/pull locking; zero click stop on tall-knob models |
| Click value | 1/4 MOA, 65 MOA elevation and windage |
| Parallax | Side focus, 25 yds–infinity |
| Illumination | 6 settings (E3 and 6.5 Creedmoor versions) |
| Length / weight | 14.3 in / 23.2–24 oz |
| MSRP | $900 (Fine Plex) – $1,020 (6.5 Creedmoor) |
| Warranty | Burris transferable warranty |
The Detail Everyone Misses: One Model, Two Focal Planes
Here’s the finding that justifies this guide’s existence. The 5-25x50 comes in three reticle versions, and they don’t share a focal plane:
| SKU | Reticle | Focal plane | Knobs | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200533 | Ballistic E3 Illuminated | Second | Short, push/pull locking | $960 |
| 200534 | Fine Plex | Second | Tall, with zero stop | $900 |
| 200535 | 6.5 Creedmoor Illuminated | First | Tall, with zero stop | $1,020 |
Retail listings routinely blur this. If FFP holdovers matter to you, only the 6.5 Creedmoor version delivers them; if you want the illuminated E3, you’re getting an SFP scope whose holds are true at 25x only. (Unsure which you want? Our focal plane explainer settles it in five minutes.)
What Only Range Time Can Answer
Per our standard: whether the locking turrets track and return to zero, how the glass genuinely compares to the Veracity tier, and low-light illumination performance. Owner ratings on Burris’s site run 4.7/5 across 43 reviews for the 5-25x50 — favorable venue, but a consistent one.
Who It’s For
Buy the Signature HD if: you’ve outgrown the Fullfield tier and want locking turrets, a zero stop, and side parallax without paying Veracity money — especially if you shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor and the 200535’s pre-calculated FFP reticle matches your load.
Look elsewhere if: you want electronics doing the ballistics (the Veracity PH), or you’re best served by the simple money-saver (the Fullfield IV gives up the target turrets but costs a quarter as much).
Where That Leaves You
Burris Signature HD 5-25x50
Amazon groups the Signature HD family on shared listings — verify the model and reticle SKU (200533 E3 / 200534 Fine Plex / 200535 6.5 Creedmoor FFP) before checkout, since focal plane depends on it.
Check Price on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Burris Signature HD first or second focal plane?
Both — it depends on the reticle you order, which almost no listing makes clear. On the 5-25x50, the Ballistic E3 Illuminated and Fine Plex versions are second focal plane, while the 6.5 Creedmoor reticle version (SKU 200535) is first focal plane. Check the SKU, not just the model name.
What is the 6.5 Creedmoor reticle?
A first-focal-plane reticle designed around the trajectory of the 6.5 Creedmoor with the popular 140-grain ELD bullet — pre-calculated holdovers for the cartridge most identified with modern long-range hunting. If you shoot a 6.5 with common 140-class loads, it's holdover shooting with the math pre-baked; if you don't, choose the E3 or Fine Plex instead.
Which Signature HD models have the zero stop?
Per Burris, only the tall-knob models with the Fine Plex and 6.5 Creedmoor reticles have the zero click stop. The Ballistic E3 version wears short push/pull locking knobs without the stop — a meaningful difference if you plan to dial.
Signature HD vs Veracity — which one?
The Veracity line is the step up: first focal plane across the board and, in PH form, the electronic dial-to-distance system. The Signature HD's case is delivering locking target-style turrets, zero stops, and side parallax at hunting-line prices — several hundred dollars under a Veracity PH.