FFP scope?

[azarcher10x]

Right I know it varies. That's why I specified 4x16. I do not like real high power scopes. All my hunting is done 700yds and in. With most shots under 300yd. The videos I've seen the retical is so small on lower power seems useless. Are the retical designs made where the rectical is in relationship to magnification power? In other words, if power is at 8 on 16 power max it would roughly equal retical size at 12 in 24 power? Or does the rectical just keep getting bigger in 24?

The reticle continues to zoom...

 

[65x55Shooter]

I'm like you…I generally use a SFP (4-12 or 4-16x) scope for hunting and carry it at the lowest power when I'm moving. The situation determines if I can or need to increase the magnification level. I do hunt with a (5x25x56) FFP scope on one rifle that I use in open hunting areas, out west. While the reticle is smallest on low power, it is the middle of that reticle where the bullet should go and if the animal is moving I just have to center the small reticle on the lungs. That said, in general I use SFP for hunting and FFP for long range hunting or target.

 

[skipglo]

I have a 4-32 and my typical setting is somewhere around 8ish.

X 2 ! I've switched most of my scopes now to FFP.....old eyes luv em' and you can range at any power with mrad.

 

[BigNate]

I hunt with mine on the lowest power, but have illumination on. The illuminated center makes quick close shots easy.
I won't be buying another sfp as once you get used to ffp it makes a ton of sense.
If you only shoot close shots the sfp would be fine.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

What they All said ^^^^^^^^.

I would recommend going to a sport shop that has a few that you can take outside and compare and see if you like FFP.
They are not for everyone depending on intended use.

 

[Bang4theBuck]

Right I know it varies. That's why I specified 4x16. I do not like real high power scopes. All my hunting is done 700yds and in. With most shots under 300yd. The videos I've seen the retical is so small on lower power seems useless. Are the retical designs made where the rectical is in relationship to magnification power? In other words, if power is at 8 on 16 power max it would roughly equal retical size at 12 in 24 power? Or does the rectical just keep getting bigger in 24?

In a first focal plane scope, the reticle changes in size throughout the whole range of magnification. I'm working on trying to get my ballistic app to spit out a screenshot of how a 4-16 would look

 

[Ftothfadd]

I use only FFP scopes. I keep them on the lowest power but never over 6 power. If anything pops up nearby it helps with a quick shot. If the target is more distant, there is usually a little more time to fidget with magnification, that is increase it to the desired level.

 

[Marine sniper]

I don't like FFP scopes for hunting, there will be power ranges where you will hate the size of the reticle.
For me; competition and military use: FFP, for hunting SFP

 

[tysonmax]

I have a 4-32 and my typical setting is somewhere around 8ish.

Same. With my Nightforce NX8's I keep it between 6-10x

 

[huntsd123]

FFP are nice until you need to zoom out to the lowest power range. You cant see the reticle at all. I stay away from them because I am shooting on full power and can use the windage markers. Or I am zoomed all the way while walking up to an animal i shot in case of a quick follow up. 99.9% no where in between. Last year in NV i shot a cow elk in the thick PJ at 50ish yards. FFP would have been no bueno

 

[OG10]

What part of Texas are you in I have several you could take a look through if you have time.

 

[dfanonymous]

i mean I know everyone's opinion is supposed to be equal and everyone who makes baseless claims just likes to end it with; "that's just what I do."

Right I know it varies. That's why I specified 4x16. I do not like real high power scopes. All my hunting is done 700yds and in. With most shots under 300yd. The videos I've seen the retical is so small on lower power seems useless. Are the retical designs made where the rectical is in relationship to magnification power? In other words, if power is at 8 on 16 power max it would roughly equal retical size at 12 in 24 power? Or does the rectical just keep getting bigger in 24?

This whole thing and every wild opinion is based on the disregarded fact that FFP is designed for people to use the reticle like a tape measure. That's what it is: a measuring device.

If you're at say 3 power, and it just looks like a cross hair, then your shot is so close that you are within max PBR in practical application. You don't need a big reticle. Not in hunting, not in the military and not in competition.

The SFP are matched where the magnification is best where the reticle is most accurate and that's why they do that.

Lastly, it still depends on the manufacture. If all FFP scopes where to use a similar reticle thickness commonly found in SFP scopes, it would be way to thick on the higher end. Thus the appeal is for people that don't use the reticle to the same degree.

That said, if you're maxed out on magnification on a FFP, then you're doing something wrong, or you don't have enough scope to do what you're trying to do.


Coke bottles at 750 on 12 power

 

[Rick Richard]

Most scopes come with "illumination". Learn how to use it and you won't have any issues when on low power with a FFP scope. Just saying.

 

[Teri Anne]

Well after reviewing all the comments above, here is what I do with my scopes. I was originally taught that keeping the scope on the lowest power level gave you the largest field of view. This is technically true, but is it required? What power scope you have and how you use it is a personal thing based on experience, but more so on the environment you are hunting. In dense timber and cover, iron sights reign superior to any scope. In heavy cover, a scope of any kind is a hindrance, Try to find an exact aiming spot on a deer for example, that is at 15 yards. All you see is a big patch of fur. With irons you have the entire animal to view, as well as knowing exactly where you are aiming. When dealing with scopes we deal with field of view. Lower power scopes have a wider field of view. A 6 - 24 x 50 may have a field of view of around 20 feet at 100 yards, but as power increases the field of view decreases, down to maybe 6 feet at 100 yards. In reality do I really need a 20 foot field of view? Maybe some do, others don't. I've heard complaints that hunters can't find the animal in the scope when it is set to higher settings. This might be true for some, others practice target acquisition with higher scope settings as well as set our scopes appropriately for the area we are hunting. My rifles are all scoped. I have either 6 - 24 x 50 or 5 - 25 x 56 scopes on them. The key is to set the scope to the terrain, as well as practice finding the target at different ranges with different scope settings. Everyone is different. In my case I mostly hunt out in the open. I set my scope to between 8 and 12 power, which gives me a wide enough field of view that acquiring the target is not an issue, and also allows me to either increase or decrease magnification as deemed necessary. There is the theory that you need to bring enough gun to the game hunted. It also follows with scopes. l would rather have a 5 - 25 x 56 and dial things down, than be stuck with a 3 - 9 x 40 wishing I could dial it up more.