This five-hundredth anniversary has been a memorable one for Beretta. And so it is for its subsidiaries, who, in the wake of countless celebratory events, have had the opportunity to present some truly interesting innovations, for example, in the field of optics for hunting and shooting. The Burris & Steiner experience was an opportunity to take stock of the Italian group's optics sector in front of thirty gunsmiths and a dozen journalists. First, the customary presentation in San Lazzaro, just outside Bologna, and then practical tests at the Sant'Uberto long-range shooting range in Monterenzio, in the hills of Imola, about an hour's drive away. The American and German brands have been well-known in Italy since they joined the Beretta group, but they deserve greater attention than certain more prestigious European or Far Eastern brands, precisely because of the technical and qualitative values that distinguish them. And for the new "hybrid" optics and the advanced systems that characterize them. This is what the Beretta Group himself reiterated. Daniele Piva, commercial director of Beretta: "Burris and Steiner have significant potential to establish themselves in Italy as well, and gunsmiths are the primary ambassadors for customers.".
Bruno Beccaria, general manager of Burris and Steiner said that Technology today is about simplification and must provide solutions that serve people. In the field of hunting and shooting optics, this means precision and quality, for a hunting experience that must be high-performance, but also ethical, safe, satisfying, and lead to well-being and stress reduction. The price must be accessible; Burris has unique products that have now undergone a smart and innovative upgrade..
Alberto CorbettaBurris's sales manager, emphasized that the Colorado brand was founded in 1971 with a strong focus on innovation. Today, this is represented, for example, by the Eliminator 6 and Xtr ps. There are some riflescopes with historic roots, such as the Fullfill, that are maintained and constantly updated.
Thomas LippmannSteiner Optik's sales manager, Dr. Michael Schmidt, recalled how the Bayreuth-based company, founded over 75 years ago, is the undisputed leader in military and nautical binoculars. He mentioned the Nighthunter 8x56, launched in 2000, which holds the record for maximum light transmission of 96%, and the LRF (2022), which measures distances of over 10 km. He retraced the evolution of construction materials, from Makrolon in 1967 to Nano Protection in 2006.
The product range
Let's take a look at the latest products from both companies' ranges, which we were able to observe and "snatch" from each other at the Bologna meeting. First, two Steiner red dot sights designed for pistols, but which can also be used for stalking.Mps-Micro pistol sight It has a very similar look to its predecessor, with larger buttons and a battery life that has been increased to 90 hours with CR2032. Two versions with two different dot sizes: 2 MOA and 3,3 MOA. Very comfortable, lightweight and compact, easy to aim the dot and adjust its brightness, it costs 535 euros. TheMps-C, 25% more compact than its competitors, measures 36x27,5x33,5 mm and weighs just 32 grams. Parallax-free up to 25 meters, it has an excellent field of view, a very large window, and crystal-clear vision. The dot is 1,6 MOA, 1x true magnification, and costs 490 euros. The powerful binoculars are also new. eDiscovery 10×42, which observes, captures, and shares, all in a single, high-quality device, always using the Burris Connect app for sharing photos, as well as videos with audio, which is a novelty. It costs around 2.000 euros.
We also talk about hybrid optics, which are the most advanced products from both companies and integrate optical, digital, and laser technology. Steiner has been offering an innovative solution for some time now that involves the combined use of the riflescope. eRanger 8 (in the 2-16×50 and 3-24×56 versions) and binoculars eRanger Lrf 10×42Using the Steiner Connect app, the hunter enters a series of ballistic data based on the cartridge data; the binocular rangefinder reads the distance up to 3.000 meters. The riflescope's traditional elevation turret with an illuminated 4A reticle can then be adjusted based on the measurement detected by the laser. The turret's clicks are solid and audible, and most importantly, all information is easily accessible via the menu panel, visible in the eyepiece. The two riflescopes cost around €3.000, including the LRF 1.756 binocular. The latter also provides a point-of-impact location system with GPS coordinates and map reconstruction, essential for finding the target. It works even without a connection.
Burris has chosen to integrate many of these functions into theEliminator 6 4-20×52, defined as a "scope for ethical shooting with the certainty of hitting the target you would have shot at anyway." Therefore, a scope with a rangefinder over 1.800 meters, but designed not so much for long-range shooting, although it can be, but with the technical features to unerringly take down game in "normal" hunting conditions. It is a product that adapts to the customer: its internal display, clearly visible in the eyepiece, can be customized in 11 information zones, among which the display of the impact force on the target and environmental monitoring stand out. It costs 2.899 euros. Then there is the Veracity ph 4-20×50, which on the other hand is a total simplification, with the same display with customizable ballistic data (elevation distance, gun inclination, distance-compensated windage, battery level), and a clickless Pēk (Programmable Elevation Knob) turret, because the clicks limit the precision of continuous adjustment. Illuminated MOA reticles, it costs 1.729 euros. Xtr ps It's the Veracity applied to competition, with a 34mm tube and dedicated functions. It costs 2.449 euros.
Following the presentations and product testing at ranges up to 800 meters, using Sako and Beretta rifles, a 600-meter gong competition was held among the gunsmiths in attendance. The winner of the Eliminator competition was Simone Borgesa of the Tower gun shop in Avigliana (Turin). The Veracity competition was won by Roberto Ruggiero of the eponymous gun shop in San Giorgio a Liri (Florence).
You May Also Like ..
