Fastfire 2 or 3?

PickettSFHunter

PickettSFHunter

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Whats the differences between the two sights? I find some good deals on used FF2's so I am wondering. Going to switch from a scope to a fastfire. Thanks
 
Mostly just greater ease of battery replacement on the FF3.
There is also differences in the size of the "dot" offered.

FF2 is offered with a 4 moa dot.
FF3 is offered with a larger 8 moa dot.

The 4 moa dot is plenty big enough.
(More ideal might be something in between the 4 and the 8, which is not an option with either.)

The FF3 is also offered with a smaller 3 moa dot, which I would not recommend for turkey hunting.
 
Wes Parrish said:
Mostly just greater ease of battery replacement on the FF3.
Click to expand...

And there are 2 sizes of the dot MOA with the FF3.... so if you order one, be sure of which size MOA dot you are getting.

You won't have to check/re-zero the FF3 after changing the battery like you would with the FF2.
 
i got the 3 because it is slightly improved over the shortcomings of the 2. at the time that i was shopping around for them, the price delta was ~ $40 for a new 3 vs. a used 2. that may be different now...
 
Grizzly Johnson said:
And there are 2 sizes of the dot MOA with the FF3.... so if you order one, be sure of which size MOA dot you are getting.

You won't have to check/re-zero the FF3 after changing the battery like you would with the FF2.
Click to expand...
Guess it just depends on what you're mounting the FF on to.
IMO, the "smaller" dot on the FF3 makes it less suitable as a shotgun sight; while the "larger" dot option on the FF3 may be TOO large.

I opted for the FF2 mainly because the FF3 had just come out and I could only get the FF3 with that smaller dot at the time. If I were using a FF on a rifle, I'd lean more towards the FF3 (smaller dot version).

Kinda doubt most users will notice any change in POI from changing the battery of the FF2 on a shotgun. Do it once annually in early Spring, before you do any pattern testing, just in case. You shouldn't need to change the battery any more often than once annually.

Again, here's the difference in the aiming "dots":

FF2 = 4 moa diameter

FF3 = 3 moa diameter . . . . or
FF3 = 8 moa diameter

That 8 moa dot would "hide" an 8-inch circle of the target at 100 yards, or cover 4 inches at 50 yards. That's a very large aiming point.
 
REN said:
Yeah I went with the 3 and like it just fine.
Click to expand...
How is it in bright sunlight?
(I have no issues with the 4.)
I heard one reason Burris offered such a large dot with the 8 was too eliminate any concerns of not seeing the dot in bright sunlight. Heck, an 8 is almost enough to eclipse the sun.
 
Wes Parrish said:
REN said:
Yeah I went with the 3 and like it just fine.
Click to expand...
How is it in bright sunlight?
(I have no issues with the 4.)
I heard one reason Burris offered such a large dot with the 8 was too eliminate any concerns of not seeing the dot in bright sunlight. Heck, an 8 is almost enough to eclipse the sun.
Click to expand...

Shot 4 birds with it last year with 2 of them in a field mid day and had not prob seeing it. I just leave it on the auto brightness and it works great
 
I have a 2 and a 3. I used the 3 last year and gave my daughter the 2. This year I am switching the 2 back to my gun. Nothing wrong with the 3, I just like the slide switch on the 2 better for my turkey gun. I have the 3 mounted on a Ruger 22/45 right now. I am considering getting another 2 to mount on my daughter's gun.

The 3 has an auto shut off feature. After 8 hours it shuts off. I think it is 8 hours of no activity, or 8 hours with the cover on, or something like that. Anyway, mine shut off on me during an all day hunt in the rain. I had the cover on and when we set up for the evening, I checked and mine had shut off.

As far as the battery, I put in a new one each year, never had one die in the course of a year, let alone a season. I am careful to make sure it's off, but they last a long time.

I thought I would like the manual brightness adjustment on the 3, but it wasn't needed last year for me. It is nice on the .22 because I can get it smaller for finer shooting. On a turkey gun, it wasn't necessary.
 
Frank G said:
My 2 cents here. Not knocking any brand whatsoever. I have 3 Aimpoints with 2moa red dots. IMO anything bigger can obscure the object.
Click to expand...
I really appreciate those "2 cents". When I went with the Fastfire on a dedicated turkey gun, was leaning towards the FF3, which I could only get at the time with a 3 moa dot. Was concerned maybe this wouldn't be "big enough" in some circumstances. But on a turkey shotgun, I can assure you a 4 moa is not too much, and actually think I'd prefer it even more to be slightly larger (such as 5 moa).
 
Help me here Wes. Is it just a red dot or are they a "dial" a redical? Cross hairs, circle, circle with cross hairs etc. I have seen some brands with all. I liked the illumnited circle type, put the head in the center and send it. Just did't like the overall quality.
 
I have two FF 3's one with 3 moa and one with 8 moa I like the smaller dot better but both work well for me.
 
Frank G said:
Is it just a red dot or are they a "dial" a redical?
Click to expand...
The FF2 is simply a 4 moa red "dot". There is nothing to adjust, although it "self" adjusts for brightness level based on how light or dark the area you're using it. I've never been disappointed in it, including when suddenly going from dark woods into bright sunlight ---- have always been able to see the dot.

The FF3 has some manual brightness adjustment options.

I know there are many functionally good brands of reflex and red dot sights. What drew me most to the Burris Fastfire was it's comparatively tiny size.
 

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