Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics First Focal Plane vs Second Focal Plane Rifle Scopes

Yup. Unfortunately, this topic is usually dominated by people with limited experience with one style or the other. After plenty of exposure to, and field use with, various designs of both SFP and FFP reticles, I have seen that a FFP reticle can be designed to effectively cater to most use cases, including general LR hunting, though I concede that there is a niche in which SFP reticles are just as useful. Close-range woods hunting? The ability to increase the absolute size of the FFP reticle by dialing up magnification can be beneficial in low light (as mathman mentioned). LR hunting? Bold posts coming to about 4-5 mrad from center, with very fine graduated center lines and a floating dot enable bold posts to be very visible on low magnification (and out of the FOV completely when on high magnification), and very fine graduated aim points to be visible for precision shooting on high magnification. Shooting tiny POA at long, but known and constant, range? The relatively small subtension of a SFP reticle can be advantageous here, though a small FFP floating dot may give it a run for its money, depending on specific use case. Ultimately, preference plays a large role here, but there are solid arguments to be made for the strategic utility of a FFP reticle that is well-designed for the application at hand.

We've gone over the details of the various tactical advantages and disadvantages on this forum several times before. A search will likely result in plenty of good info.

one error in above video

SFP : the correct magnification is set by manufacturer and not shooter.

For what I do FFP isn't an advantage. I typically use a 3-9X40 or smaller scope. I zero the rifle at the highest magnification then confirm zero at the lowest magnification. If there is any POI change between those I've never noted it. I'm primarily a big game hunter, but also enjoy informal target shooting at the range up to at most 600 yards. I can do that with a 3-9X scope.

I hunt with the scope at the lowest magnification and most of my shots are taken at that setting. I'm good to 200+ yards with the scope at 2X or 3X and at 200 yards I don't need to use any other aiming points on the reticle. Not enough bullet drop to matter.

In the event I need to shoot farther, or for some reason just want more magnification I go straight to the highest magnification where everything is calibrated. I have NEVER set a scope for anything other than 3X and 9x. Of 1X and 4X. Never use anything in between highest and lowest.

If I were a serious target shooter and used scopes with a wide range of magnifications, (8-32X for example) I can see where there would be times where 8X isn't enough and 32X is too much. That is where a FFP scope is necessary.

I'm just waiting for Big Schtick to come along, berate everyone with unintelligible language, and post the same photos for the 100th time...

“Living” vicariously is as close as you will ever get. Hint.

Be SURE to start a Thread,if/when you fire your first Live Round of the year. Hint.

Just sayin’………..

I use both, depends on rifle and what I'm shooting at and don't worry about what others use. LOL

I'm surprised a covtard from Georgia would have any valuable input on the merits of FFP scopes.

I’ve killed a zillion animals with a SFP scope, I don’t know how a FFP could guarantee me more success..

reticles matter especially on ffp

A LRF and a SWFA 3-9 FFP scope have changed how I do business. Thanks to the 24 hr CF.


mike r

Geez JG, am I missing something here?

That's uncalled for...

This subject has been the most throughly beat horse in the history of optics. Ffp vs sfp. Umm use the search function. It’s been discussed here more often than I can count.

For close range timber hunting which is my preferred method of hunting a second is fine but a ffp is killer on low x’s if you hit the illumination. Makes nice lit up triangle on the scopes I have. For anything else a FFP is fine and makes zeroing a breeze. But most of my hunting is done with a fixed 6x so I don’t need to ponder the advantages/disadvantages.

To be fair ,you can’t count past ten without taking your socks off .

The truth hurts.

Take your personal and political bitterness back up to the Hunters Cesspool - it's not welcome on threads like this.

We only have time/space for posts that answer the question or provide insight like this, nothing personal:

If you can't see the difference between a little good natured levity and a nasty personal attack, there's no helping you...

You Professional Victims are funnier than fhuqk. Hint.

Just sayin’………….