Q: Should I buy a Burris Oracle X?
A: Short answer: Absolutely not, especially if you want to fill your freezer when hunting season rolls around. This review explains why we’re not fans of the Burris Oracle X, and lists a far better alternative for you to consider.
Q: What problems does the Burris Oracle X have?
A: These are the Burris Oracle X’s nine biggest problems:
Too much magnification for crossbow range. The Burris Oracle X starts at 2X, with a field-of-view of 47 feet at 100 yards, versus 106 feet at 100 yards for the Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX 1-6X at 1X, which is what we recommend instead. You end up hunting around for the animal inside the scope. More info here.
A battery that drains while the scope is switched off. Owners report a dead scope in about two weeks without firing a shot, and Burris’s own advice is to take the battery out after every use. More info here.
A mount that works loose and won’t hold zero. Owners report screws backing out after ten shots and a scope that rocks on the rail, in some cases through several replacements. More info here.
No way to range without pointing your crossbow. You can’t range a distance while scouting, or range anything near other people or livestock. More info here.
Mediocre glass and poor low-light performance. You lose shots at dawn and dusk, when most game moves. More info here.
A wireless remote instead of a wired one. You have one more battery to manage, and on older firmware the scope’s constant search for the remote drained the battery. More info here.
30.8 ounces in a polymer body. The Burris Oracle X is heavy for what it delivers, and it has no aluminum tube. More info here.
A display that times out too quickly. The range you just took disappears while you’re still settling into the shot. More info here.
Ranging failures in cold weather. The Burris Oracle X can fail to return a range below freezing, when late-season hunters need it most. More info here.
Q: What’s the best alternative to the Burris Oracle X?
Q: What’s better than a Burris Oracle X?
A: An increasingly popular solution to the “WMLRF problem” is mounting a handheld rangefinder to your rifle using a Sightlok RF-1 rangefinder mount.
The approach has some disadvantages. Overall, however, it’s a more flexible, modular, and cost-effective solution that, depending on the rangefinder you deploy, can actually deliver more accurate results in the field.
No single product combines a rangefinder, a ballistic calculator and an illuminated aiming point at 1X. You build that combination yourself: a Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX 1-6X scope, a Sig Sauer BDX rangefinder and a Sightlok RF-1 mount to co-witness the two. You still range the target, get an illuminated aiming point and take the shot, but at 1X.
The finished setup looks like this:
The Sightlok RF-1 protects your rangefinder from recoil, bumps, and scratches. A polymer hood protects the rangefinder as a whole, and hard rubber covers protect the laser aperture and eyepiece. The Sightlok RF-1 mounts on your crossbow the same way it mounts on a rifle.
Q: What are some advantages of the Sightlok RF-1 vs the Burris Oracle X?
A:
Quick Detach to range objects you don’t want to point your muzzle at
Keep rangefinder warm in your pocket until needed to avoid cold weather failures
Use superior handheld lasers with superior ballistic software
Q: What about recoil? Can’t it damage my rangefinder?
A: No. A crossbow produces far less recoil than a .308 rifle cartridge, and our setup easily survives .308 recoil. Handheld rangefinders are designed to survive drops of about 3 feet, and the impact from a 3-foot drop can generate several thousand psi of pressure. The RF-1 spreads recoil so evenly that no spot on your rangefinder takes more pressure than your thumb puts on the range button, a few dozen psi at most. A few dozen psi is well under 1% of the pressure your rangefinder is built to survive in a 3-foot drop. At that margin, the chance of a crossbow shot damaging a healthy rangefinder in the RF-1 is effectively zero. In two years of selling the Sightlok RF-1, no customer has reported a rangefinder damaged by recoil. Read our full analysis of the recoil question and watch recoil test videos.
What about recoil? Won’t my rangefinder be damaged if I mount it to my rifle?
To understand the probability of damage from recoil to your rangefinder, we must take into account how much force is being applied by common rifle cartridges like the .308, how that force is distributed, and roughly how close that comes to the amount of force necessary to actually damage your rangefinder.
How much force?
The amount of force is not that great. For example, in the case of a .308, the cumulative force of the recoil is about equal to the force of you picking up your rangefinder and squeezing it hard for a few thousandths of a second.
How is the force distributed?
Beyond the actual amount of force is an even more critical factor: How the force is distributed. The Sightlok RF-1 uses 3M impact-absorbing rubber to hold the rangefinder and evenly distribute the recoil forces while simultaneously shielding sensitive areas like the buttons, the laser aperture lenses, the ocular, and the ocular lenses from impact. Lastly, when the rangefinder is held in the RF-1 mount, recoil force travels straight back along the bore axis, rather than to corners or edges where impact forces can cause more damage. The result of these mitigating factors is that recoil generates about the same amount of pressure on your rangefinder as you exert when you press the range button.
Typical standards for rangefinder durability
Handheld rangefinders are designed to survive drops of about 3 feet, and the impact from a 3-foot drop can generate several thousand psi of pressure.
How close does recoil come to causing damage?
The RF-1 spreads recoil so evenly that no spot on your rangefinder takes more pressure than your thumb puts on the range button, a few dozen psi at most. A few dozen psi is well under 1% of the pressure your rangefinder is built to survive in a 3-foot drop. At that margin, the chance of a .308 shot damaging a healthy rangefinder in the RF-1 is effectively zero.
No reported failures
In two years of selling the Sightlok RF-1, no customer has reported a rangefinder damaged by recoil.
Recoil tests on video
Below, a US military rifleman tests the Sightlok RF-1 with recoil from two common cartridges.
Sig Sauer KILO1000BDX versus .308 rifle recoil:
Sig Sauer KILO1000BDX versus 6.5 Creedmoor rifle recoil:
Q: What about the rangefinder remote? Don’t I lose that feature with the Sightlok RF-1?
A: Yes, you do lose that feature. The Burris Oracle X has a wireless remote. A Sightlok RF-1 setup typically does not have one (unless you are using a rangefinder with a wired remote like the LE032). This means rather than triggering your rangefinder with your right hand by pressing a remote switch near the trigger, you typically mount your rangefinder on the left or top of your scope, and press the range button with your left hand while holding your crossbow with your right. This works fine if you shoot off a tripod, bipod, bag, etc., but it’s a disadvantage if you shoot with nothing to support your crossbow except your left arm. The Burris Oracle X’s wireless remote has its own problems, which we describe in problem 6.
Q: What about weight? Does the Sightlok RF-1 solution weigh more?
A: Yes, about 8.1 oz more.
| Part | Burris Oracle X | Sig Sauer build |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | 30.8 oz for the whole unit (scope, rangefinder and mount in one) | Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX 1-6X: 18.9 oz |
| Rangefinder | Sig Sauer KILO2200 BDX: 7.5 oz | |
| Rangefinder mount | Sightlok RF-1: 7 oz | |
| Quick-detach kit | Sightlok QD accessory: about 0.9 oz | |
| Protective cover | Sightlok polymer protective cover: about 2.6 oz | |
| Scope rings | 30mm rings: about 2 oz | |
| Total | 30.8 oz (1.9 lb) | about 38.9 oz (2.4 lb) |
| Difference | The Sig Sauer build weighs about 8.1 oz more | |
You carry an extra 8.1 ounces, but reap the massive benefit of more than double the field-of-view, which is a game-changer when it comes down to filling your freezer. The tradeoff is easily worth it.
Q: What about the Burris Oracle X vs the Garmin Xero X1i?
A: We think the Burris Oracle X is the better of the two, because you can at least dial it down to 2X, while the Garmin Xero X1i is fixed at 3.5X. Neither would be a top recommendation. Read our report on the Garmin Xero X1i.
👉 Read on for the field-of-view figures, the owner-reported failures, and what to buy instead.
Or jump straight to an answer: Is the Burris Oracle X worth it? · How far can the Burris Oracle X range? · Why do I need a Sightlok RF-1 instead of a Burris Oracle X if I already have a scope and a rangefinder? · See all FAQs
For a few years, the Burris Oracle X was the go-to rangefinding scope for crossbows. The Burris Oracle X was the first crossbow scope to put a laser rangefinder and an angle-compensated aiming point in one package, and the Burris Forever Warranty behind it is a good warranty.
You can now mount a handheld rangefinder on your crossbow and co-witness it with a far better scope, so you no longer have to accept the Burris Oracle X’s compromises.
1. The Burris Oracle X Starts at 2X, Which Costs You More Than Half Your Field-of-View
We’re outspoken critics of excessive scope magnification. There’s a common misconception among hunters, shooters, and even scope manufacturers that more magnification is better. In practice, more magnification usually means seeing less and seeing worse.
The Distances Crossbow Hunters Actually Shoot
A survey of 3,044 hunters found the average crossbow shot that hit its target was 22.4 yards, while the average missed shot was 32 yards. Even with today’s faster crossbows, the vast majority of successful crossbow hunts happen inside 50 yards.
At 22 yards, you do not need magnification. You need to find the animal and put the aiming point on it before it moves.
The Field-of-View Numbers
Burris publishes the Burris Oracle X’s field-of-view figures:
| Scope | Field-of-view at 100 yards |
|---|---|
| Burris Oracle X at 2X | 47 feet |
| Burris Oracle X at 7X | 14 feet |
| Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX at 1X | 106 feet |
At 2X, its widest setting, the Burris Oracle X gives you less than half the field-of-view of the Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX at 1X.
Why Field-of-View Decides Hunts
You spot the animal with your bare eyes, which are 1X. Then you have to find that same animal inside the scope. At 1X, the view through the scope matches what you’re already looking at, so you find the animal right away. At 2X, you move the crossbow around searching for a deer you can see plainly without the scope.
You find the animal at low magnification, then zoom up to take the shot. With a scope that starts at 1X, you pick up the animal instantly. The Burris Oracle X won’t go below 2X, so you lose that fast first step.
2. The Burris Oracle X Drains Its Battery While Switched Off
Owners report the battery drain more than any other Burris Oracle X problem, and Burris has acknowledged it. A wire in the Burris Oracle X keeps drawing power when the scope is switched off. Owners describe putting a fresh CR123 in, leaving the scope alone, and finding the scope dead a couple of weeks later without a shot fired.
Burris has a firmware fix, but you can’t install it yourself. You have to send the scope back to Burris.
Burris’s Own Advice Is to Remove the Battery
Burris’s technical notes recommend removing the battery after use to maintain battery life.
Every time you finish hunting, you have to pull the CR123 out of your scope, and every time you go out, you have to remember to put it back. Forget once and you arrive at your stand with a scope that does nothing.
In the middle of a season, you either send your scope away during the weeks you want to be hunting, or you live with a scope that drains batteries between outings and hope you catch a dead battery before opening morning.
3. The Burris Oracle X’s Mount Works Loose and Won’t Hold Zero
Owners report a loose mount second only to the battery drain, and a loose mount does a hunter the most damage. The Burris Oracle X’s mounting bracket carries the windage and elevation adjustments, and owners report the bracket coming loose again and again:
- Mounting screws backing out after about ten shots while sighting in
- The scope rocking side to side on the crossbow even after everything is torqued down
- Zero shifting between sessions, so the sighting-in process starts over
- The problem persisting through replacement brackets, blue Loctite, and in several cases two or three complete scope replacements
One owner went through a replacement bracket, then a full replacement scope declared non-repairable by Burris, then a refurbished unit, and still couldn’t keep the scope tight.
4. You Can’t Range Anything With the Burris Oracle X Without Pointing Your Crossbow At It
The Burris Oracle X’s rangefinder is built into the scope, so to range anything, you have to point your crossbow at it. Most buyers don’t notice this problem until they’re in the woods.
You can’t range a distance while scouting before you’re set up, check the range to an animal you’re not ready to shoot, or range anything near other people or livestock. Those three cases cover most of the ranging you’d want to do on a hunt.
The Burris Oracle X Is Also a State Law Problem
A number of states restrict or prohibit rangefinding optics mounted on a hunting weapon, and with the Burris Oracle X you have no way to comply short of taking the whole scope off your crossbow. Check your own state’s regulations before buying.
You Can Have a Rangefinding Scope With a Detachable Rangefinder
Ranging your target and getting an illuminated aiming point in the reticle is useful, and you should have it. You just don’t need the rangefinder built into the scope. See what to buy instead.
5. The Burris Oracle X’s Glass Is Mediocre, Especially in Low Light
Owners complain about the glass consistently, including owners who otherwise like the Burris Oracle X and would buy it again. They describe the glass as acceptable rather than good, and say low-light performance is its weakest point.
Game moves at dawn and dusk, so hunters need low-light performance more than most optics buyers. The last twenty minutes of legal light are often the most productive of the day, and mediocre glass costs you a shot in exactly those minutes.
6. The Burris Oracle X Uses a Wireless Remote
You range with the Burris Oracle X either from a button on the scope or from a wireless remote you stick somewhere on the crossbow. The remote placement is good, and better than reaching up to a rangefinder.
But the wireless remote is one more battery to keep alive and one more connection that can fail. The wireless remote also caused the battery drain in problem 2: on the older firmware, the scope constantly searched for the remote, and that search killed the batteries. A wired remote has no connection to search for.
7. The Burris Oracle X Weighs 30.8 Ounces in a Polymer Body
The Burris Oracle X weighs nearly two pounds and is 11.9 inches long, yet Burris builds it in a polymer body rather than an aluminum tube. The Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX has an aluminum tube and better glass. See the weight comparison.
8. The Burris Oracle X’s Display Times Out Too Quickly
Owners report the Burris Oracle X’s readout shutting off sooner than they’d like, so the range you just took can disappear while you’re still settling in behind the crossbow. Then you range again, which costs you movement and battery at the worst possible moment.
9. The Burris Oracle X Can Fail to Range in Cold Weather
Owners report this problem less often than the others. At least one owner had the Burris Oracle X refuse to return a range at temperatures below 30°F, sent the scope in, and got it back with a new battery and a note that Burris could find nothing wrong.
Late-season hunting is cold, so a rangefinder that fails in the cold fails when you’re most likely to use it.
What to Buy Instead of the Burris Oracle X
To get rangefinding, ballistics and an illuminated aiming point at a magnification that works at crossbow range, build this setup:
Your Shopping List
- Sig Sauer EASY6-BDX 1-6X scope: about $1,000
- Sig Sauer KILO2200 BDX rangefinder: $130
- Sightlok RF-1 rangefinder mount: $200
- Sightlok QD accessory: $90
- Sightlok polymer protective cover: $70
The build costs about $1,490. If you already own a Sig BDX rangefinder, you don’t need the KILO2200, and you pay about $1,360.
In the Sig BDX setup, the ballistic solver sits in the rangefinder, not the scope. The Sig rangefinder measures the distance, solves the firing solution, and sends the scope an illuminated holdover dot over Bluetooth.
Advantages of the Sig Sauer Build Over the Burris Oracle X
- At 1X, you can use the EASY6-BDX with both eyes open, like a red dot
- Much longer battery life, better glass, aluminum tube rather than polymer
- More elevation and windage adjustment, better reticle
- Higher resolution internal LED hold points
- Works with standard scope rings, and on both crossbows and rifles
Get the Burris Oracle X’s Features Without the 2X Problem
With the Sightlok RF-1, you can:
- Quickly detach the RF-1 from the rail when you want to range a target you don’t want to point your crossbow at, and reattach when you’re done, while maintaining an accurate co-witness between your rangefinder and scope
Is the Burris Oracle X worth it? Is the Burris Oracle X any good?
How far can the Burris Oracle X range?
Burris quotes 500 yards on reflective targets and 200 yards on deer-sized game. The 200-yard figure is far more than a crossbow hunter needs, so ranging distance is not one of the Burris Oracle X’s problems.
Why do I need a Sightlok RF-1 instead of a Burris Oracle X if I already have a scope and a rangefinder?
Because a handheld rangefinder in your pocket doesn’t help you at the moment of the shot. With the Sightlok RF-1, you mount your rangefinder on your crossbow and co-witness the rangefinder with your scope, so you range exactly where you’re aiming.
Who is Sightlok?
Sightlok publishes factual, unbiased reports and reviews on electro-optics gear, especially weapon-mounted laser rangefinders (WMLRF). We are the world’s leading independent expert on WMLRF options. We also design and build the Sightlok RF-1. We help you find gear that fits your needs and avoid gear that doesn’t.
Where does this information come from?
We base these reports on our own field experience with the products, on conversations with our customers, and on posts from respected members of forums like Snipershide, Rokslide and LongRangeHunting.
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The Sightlok RF-1 is a Picatinny / Weaver rail mount that turns the handheld rangefinder you already own into a weapon-mounted laser rangefinder.
