Rifle & scope review: Testing Beretta’s first hunting rifle with the Burris Eliminator 6 scope

Founded in 1526, Beretta is the oldest firearm manufacturer in the world. What’s even more impressive is that it spans 15 generations of Beretta family management. That’s mind-blowing in today’s world! Beretta shotguns have been part of my hunting and competition shooting world for eons. I’m not sure how many have passed through my hands over the years, but I still own a couple of very fine models. When asked to review the BRX1, however, I agreed for a very different reason—surprisingly, it’s Beretta’s first dedicated hunting rifle.

Beretta certainly broke new ground with the BRX1, which was seven years in development. It is a straight-pull with cold-hammer forged barrels that can be interchanged between any of the five calibres offered—a design feature that certainly elevates the rifle’s versatility profile. And Beretta makes it easy, providing calibre conversion kits with each barrel. The parts are colour coded to ensure you are using the correct components, and best of all, you don’t have to remove the scope when swapping out barrels, thanks to the front receiver extension and Picatinny optics rail.

Adding to the BRX1’s versatility is the totally reversible bolt, making the rifle truly ambidextrous. And this can be accomplished easily without the need for tools—another clever innovation.

Other mechanical features include an eight-lug closing system for the ultimate in safety (16 lugs for magnum calibres), and a three-position safety system: shoot and reload; locked trigger and free bolt for safe loading; and locked trigger and bolt. The single-stage trigger is also unique, as it affords three different weight settings—2.2, 2.6 and 3.3 pounds—rather than being fully adjustable.

Boasting a negative comb high-performance polymer stock with modular length-of-pull and grip options, the BRX1 can be adapted precisely to the shooter. The stock is rounded out with a high-performance polymer forend with two textured grips, a recoil pad and a sling swivel ring. As for the removable drop-out magazine made from highly visible polymer, it offers a five-shot capacity and a double-release button.

TEST RESULTS

While assembling my test model BRX1 was straightforward, the unique features meant I needed to spend time reviewing the instructions, along with some hands on practice before heading off to the range. For that, I used Beretta’s online user guide to get a handle on the three-position safety and cocking procedure. I would suggest others do the same before using live ammo. Even then, I exercised caution in the field until it became second nature. During this learning curve, I discovered a couple of the rifle’s very positive attributes. Namely, the action was ultra smooth, and the bolt was quick and easy to remove for cleaning from the breach.

Once I was comfortable with the operational mechanics, I mounted my test model Burris Eliminator scope using Zeiss Precision medium-high 34-mm rings. The combo tipped my postal scale at nine pounds eight ounces, while the trigger provided a consistent pull weight of two pounds seven ounces, with a bit of creep. As advertised when changing barrels, the scope did not have to be removed.

Before heading to the range, I wanted to compare the ranging precision between my Leica rangefinding binoculars and the Eliminator 6 at three distances: close, Leica 69 yards, Eliminator 64 yards; medium, Leica 293 yards, Eliminator 292 yards; long, Leica 1,314 yards, Eliminator 1,319 yards. The results speak for themselves.

My only other comment regarding this scope is that it comes with both a quick set-up guide and a more detailed user manual that should be reviewed to fully comprehend the scope’s versatility. If you’re looking for absolute simplicity in a scope, this may not be the right model for you. If you take advantage of all its features, however, it is beast of a scope.

The driving force behind straight-pull rifles, particularly European-made models, is driven hunts, when the action can be fast and furious. The ultra-smooth and fast BRX1 fits the bill, making it ideal for quick follow-up shots. It also lived up to its advertised sub-MOA accuracy guarantee, with half of the factory ammo I tested bettering MOA—all 12 loads averaged 1.09 inches. For deer, 150-grain Norma Whitetail would be my ammo of choice with its fine 0.610 sub-MOA group (pictured above). As for moose and elk, I would look no further than Sako 180-grain Gamehead or Sako 220-grain Hammerhead. They also bettered three-quarters of an inch.

TEST RIFLE SPECS

• Calibre: .30.06 Springfield
• Total length: 109.5 cm
• Barrel length: 57 cm
• Weight:3.3 kg
• Length of pull: Adjustable 350 to 390 mm
• Magazine capacity: 5
• Rate of twist: 1/11″
• Drop at comb: Negative comb

For the complete range test results, go to www.outdoorcanada.ca/brx1test.

BURRIS ELIMINATOR 6

Over the past 14 years, the Burris Eliminator scope has evolved through a series of design improvements. First released in 2010, this revolutionary scope paved the way for the Burris models that followed. The Eliminator 6 4-20×52 (above) is the latest in the series. The most obvious advancement is its appearance. With a standard 34-mm tube, it now resembles a normal scope requiring rings and mounts for installation. For mounting flexibility, that’s a much-preferred design over the previous models, which included a mounting platform.

The real advancement, though, is in the ranging technology. At the touch of a button, the 6 will range out to 2,000-plus yards off a reflective target, and out to 1,400 yards off a deer. Just place the reticle on the target and press the ranging button, and the distance in yards or metres will be displayed on the heads-up display (HUD).

The 6 is designed to deliver ballistic solutions derived from user data uploaded using the BurrisConnect app. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to create an internal DOPE card that combines ranging, environmental and ballistic data for perfect shots. Once in place, the DOPE card works with the scope’s illuminated X177 reticle to display the precise holdover aiming point for the ranged distance. When combined with the reticle’s windage hold-off-points, it delivers precise point-of-aim and impact performance.

Other key features include the built-in thermometer, barometer and inclinometer, which provide density altitude for the best ballistic solution. The scope also provides digital readings via the HUD for the ranged distance, including bullet velocity and bullet energy, allowing the hunter to recognize if the distance may be too far for an ethical shot.

TEST SCOPE SPECS

• Magnification: 4-20x
• Tube diameter: 34 mm
• Objective lens: 52 mm
• Length: 14.6″
• Weight: 30 oz
• Focal plane: Rear
• Field of view: low 30.5′; high 6.5′
• Eye relief: 3.4″
• Parallax: 25 yards to infinity