Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Focal Plane?

Relative to the target is all that matters here! A scope laying on the table in front of me looks a certain size. Put it at 100 yards and it looks smaller, despite it being the same size.

I'm a Pro FFP guy, but I also don't think an SFP scope sucks. Each have they're place. Shots at ranges under 250 yds give me SFP every time. Shots over 250 yds. FFP every time. Contemplating shooting at moving targets: FFP. Close Quarters Battle ranges (under 50 yds or so) for 2 legged or 4 legged critters: SFP.

This isn't hard, nor is it rocket science. It makes no sense to field a rifle, in the hands of a shooter that's capable of hitting and killing targets at 300 + yds, and saddling them with a scope better suited to shorter ranges (Like Most, but not all SFP scopes).

What most shooters and hunters don't really understand is that your cartridge, rifle, scope, mount, et al must function as a package together at the ranges they are intended for.

notice how the pro FFP guys say its the only scope to use and every other type is useless and sucks, and those using SFP don't know what they heck they are talking about. This is a hunting forum, the advice you get here will be slanted in that direction. Jordan says use the reticle as a ruler yada yada. thats because he is shooting multiple shots at the same targets on a gun range generally. That is why FFP is actually what you want if you are wanting a competition scope. There is a big difference in that use. for one its done in broad daylight typically and you need to take multiple shots at the same target. if I am competiting I would actually buy a FFP scope myself, huh imagine that. as mouthy as I am about this even I see a place and use for FFP, because there is.

I give the first light walk in story, you get up in the morning before light, you're walking to your hunting area, there is barely legal light, you see a giant bull flash through the quaking aspens 200 yards out. the objective is get a shot off as fast as possible, its point and shoot!!! this is how 90% of hunting in the mountains of the west happens. no one sees animals at 350 yards and thinks oh lets move back to 700 so I can use my fancy whizbang FFP reticle on it. even needing the features of a reticle, dialing for range, all that is only used WHEN YOU HAVE TO! a 3x9 scope with a duplex reticle gets the job done 90% of the time. what you want first is 1) can I see the reticle on low power in low light. remember 200 yards, elk flashing through the quaking aspens, I want the scope on low power, and I want the fastest shot gotten off possible. I need a bold reticle and I want low power! its only for 10% of hunting I need to dial or hold for wind. you don't give up the must haves (bold reticle, low power) for 10% of your hunting. The scope just needs to be able to hold for wind and dial only in limited situations.

if you need to shoot multiple shots at the same targets, rock chucks, P dogs, also hunting that is done in the middle of the day BTW, yeah maybe I see a good use of FFP. But even at that, I take a suppressed shot, which even that blows the shooter off target quite often and I say oh I was 4 inches low, I don't even give a crap to say I am 1.1 mils low, WTF, its like umm that looks like about 4 inches, BOOM!! that is what is so rediculous about all this measuring missed shots BS ruler crap. in practice its not like that. Its like umm that looks like 6 inches, I am adjusting my aim what I think is that much, BOOM. because your gun isn't sitting there aimed perfectly at the target with the reticle aim point still on the target after recoil when the [bleep] shot hits the rock 3 inches away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! holy crap this is dumb. its adjust 3 inches, boom the shot breaks and hopefully hits, in those cases you SWAG it. this isn't complicated.

I've literally shot steel out to a mile. I ran out of dial and used the reticle. Second focal... How far do I need to shoot before my SFP doesn't work? Lol

I've literally shot steel out to a mile. I ran out of dial and used the reticle. Second focal... How far do I need to shoot before my SFP doesn't work? Lol

I prefer FFP on higher magnifications, but don't care for them at all on LPVO's....seems the reticles become too small at 1-2x. Of course, this is when illumination becomes a big help, but that depends on the individual scope as some are not daytime bright.