First focal plain vs second focal plain
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gr8fuldoug
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If you are using this for hunting an FFP on low power will serve you no purpose as until you power past 8x you'll not be able (on most reticles) to see the details on the reticle
SFP the reticle size does not vary with power changes
SFP the reticle size does not vary with power changes
Wedgy
Well-Known Member
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- Feb 9, 2013
- Messages
- 3,276
There are literally dozens of threads on the subject;
Search results for query: first focal plane
There are literally dozens of threads on the subject;
Search results for query: first focal plane
www.longrangehunting.com
Agreed! Google and youtube are your friends.
Catahoula
Well-Known Member
I don't understand the craze about FFP. I have a Burris XTR II that I absolutely hate. Hope to get it sold & replace it with a Leupold. FFP is useless in my world.
Rich Coyle
Well-Known Member
FFP is a poor substitute for a range finder.
One is not better than the other. All boils down to shooter preferences. A FFP reticle can be difficult to see and acquire the center of the reticle on its lowest power settings.
PRS shooters tend to like FFP cause they shoot under time constraints and don't like to spend time dialing or being concerned with what power the scope is on. This works well for them because they are usually not shooting in low light/contrast conditions. Extreme precise shooting is not usually required as the targets are usually MOA or better.
Hunters often prefer SFP. They are not concerned in fast fire under time constraints AND often shoot in low light/contrast conditions. They usually have time to dial a solution (which can be more accurate at longer distances). Also, a SFP reticle is much easier to use in low light at close range, think deep woods in late evening.
Then again, for a hunter shooting running varmints at distance, a FFP would fit the circumstance better.
Really just depends on the type of shots you most often encounter.
Like the others said, TONS of opinions on topic can be found under with a quick search
aushunter1
Well-Known Member
There are literally dozens of threads on the subject;
Search results for query: first focal plane
But that would take some sort of effort
I have to disagree with the low power hard to see statements, it's definitely scope/reticle dependent. The leupold mk5hd ffp with pr1-moa reticle is clearly visible for duplex style use at lowest power in the 5-25x56 and 3.6-18x44, I have both. I personally like the 5-25 more as it's a little finer reticle than the illuminated 3.6-18x44. Also have a March 3-24x42 ffp and the reticle looks like a fine duplex @ 3x, and once you get up to 8x you can start using hold overs. Now my nx8 4-32x50 and Burris xtr3 3.3-18x50 they both are a bit hard to see at lowest mag, however the NF is illuminated and that helps. I've slowly been weeding out my sfp scopes, the only ones I have still mounted on rifles are a leupold vx6hd 3-18x44, and a swaro x5i 3.5-18x50, I wish the swaro was ffp I would own many as the glass is outstanding.
dfanonymous
Well-Known Member
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- Jul 16, 2016
- Messages
- 2,271
I reckon it's because you don't know how to use it, the reticle alone or why ffp mag and reticles compliment each other. I also reckon you dial and shoot and just wildly guess you wind hold. I ALSO reckon because you don't actually shoot long range (past 600y) for it to matter.
i only say all this because if the opposite were true, then it would mean you were using the reticle as a ruler, and logic would have it if you did that, you wouldn't have posted this post.
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Westernhuntr
Well-Known Member
I finally went ffp for LR hunting and won't ever go back, as others have said learn to use your reticle it's a game changer.
Don A Parsons
Well-Known Member
I was a sfp dude when I first bought one, one of the issues is that the hash lines only work on 1 setting or whatever power you choose to use when acquiring a target at X distance...
This was fine and dandy when I was at the shooting range,,, not so much in the feild when the critters show up in a seconds notice...
And yes the ffp retrical is small in the lower powers which makes it tricky seeing the lines,,, the trick to this is picking up the ffp reticle with illumination so you can adjust the light amplification depending on the lighting conditions out side...
Max illumination in full day light,,, click it the other way for the least at dark,,, 10 to 12 settings so you don't get to much retrical light feed back... Ha...
I'm a ffp optic shooter now,,, super fast target acquisition at the range and hunting...
Its all personal preference,,, either you like ffp or sfp...
Here's a simple link,,, check out a few to see what you like...
The illumination ffp retricals works for me,,, all I need to know is that line X is always for this distance,,, XXY is that range,,, one less thing to think about when things are happening fast...
If your interested in PRS,,, it might be worth your while going ffp since ranging targets is a lot of work especially if you need to dope the target then check the optic power to calculate which line is for what distance...
Its to much for me when I can use ffp and know that each ranging line is for this or that distance...
And again,,, take the time to check out the light-up reticle system,,, set on bright in the day light,,, crank it down in the dark evening skies,,, once you practic with them,,, you won't own anything but...
Only you will get to decide which system you want...
www.americanhunter.org
This was fine and dandy when I was at the shooting range,,, not so much in the feild when the critters show up in a seconds notice...
And yes the ffp retrical is small in the lower powers which makes it tricky seeing the lines,,, the trick to this is picking up the ffp reticle with illumination so you can adjust the light amplification depending on the lighting conditions out side...
Max illumination in full day light,,, click it the other way for the least at dark,,, 10 to 12 settings so you don't get to much retrical light feed back... Ha...
I'm a ffp optic shooter now,,, super fast target acquisition at the range and hunting...
Its all personal preference,,, either you like ffp or sfp...
Here's a simple link,,, check out a few to see what you like...
The illumination ffp retricals works for me,,, all I need to know is that line X is always for this distance,,, XXY is that range,,, one less thing to think about when things are happening fast...
If your interested in PRS,,, it might be worth your while going ffp since ranging targets is a lot of work especially if you need to dope the target then check the optic power to calculate which line is for what distance...
Its to much for me when I can use ffp and know that each ranging line is for this or that distance...
And again,,, take the time to check out the light-up reticle system,,, set on bright in the day light,,, crank it down in the dark evening skies,,, once you practic with them,,, you won't own anything but...
Only you will get to decide which system you want...
An Official Journal Of The NRA | First Focal Plane or Second Focal Plane?
A riflescope’s reticle is placed in either the first focal plane (FFP) or the second focal plane (SFP). The main difference between them is that an SFP reticle will appear to be the same size regardless of magnification. With an FFP reticle, the size of the reticle will appear to change as the...
That has more to do with the reticle design (subtensions/hashmarks) than the focal plane design. I have a few scopes with mildots and ranging retcicles that are SFPs.
I was a sfp dude when I first bought one, one of the issues is that the hash lines only work on 1 setting or whatever power you choose to use when acquiring a target at X distance...
This was fine and dandy when I was at the shooting range,,, not so much in the feild when the critters show up in a seconds notice...
And yes the ffp retrical is small in the lower powers which makes it tricky seeing the lines,,, the trick to this is picking up the ffp reticle with illumination so you can adjust the light amplification depending on the lighting conditions out side...
Max illumination in full day light,,, click it the other way for the least at dark,,, 10 to 12 settings so you don't get to much retrical light feed back... Ha...
I'm a ffp optic shooter now,,, super fast target acquisition at the range and hunting...
Its all personal preference,,, either you like ffp or sfp...
Here's a simple link,,, check out a few to see what you like...
The illumination ffp retricals works for me,,, all I need to know is that line X is always for this distance,,, XXY is that range,,, one less thing to think about when things are happening fast...
If your interested in PRS,,, it might be worth your while going ffp since ranging targets is a lot of work especially if you need to dope the target then check the optic power to calculate which line is for what distance...
Its to much for me when I can use ffp and know that each ranging line is for this or that distance...
And again,,, take the time to check out the light-up reticle system,,, set on bright in the day light,,, crank it down in the dark evening skies,,, once you practic with them,,, you won't own anything but...
Only you will get to decide which system you want...
An Official Journal Of The NRA | First Focal Plane or Second Focal Plane?
A riflescope’s reticle is placed in either the first focal plane (FFP) or the second focal plane (SFP). The main difference between them is that an SFP reticle will appear to be the same size regardless of magnification. With an FFP reticle, the size of the reticle will appear to change as the...
Agreed! 6 of the last 8 scope purchases are FFPs.
