Rifle Scopes First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

[tc_firefighter311]

Looking at picking up a Bushnell ELITE TACT 6-24X50 G2 DMR With the first focal plane. Looking to Put on my 7mm to shoot targets out 1000 yards for now. Im just learning. Then moving out further later. Would this be a good scope and the FFL. How would that help

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

In a few words, if the scope has a reticle with calibrated subtensions (like a mildot or an MOA scale), you can holdoff in elevation or windage at any magnification using the reticle. You can also estimate target range using the scope at any magnification. With a SFP reticle you must set the magnification to a specific value.

 

[fdkay]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

Thank God your limiting yourself to 1000 yards to begin with!
Some people get carried away and want to shoot long range right off the bat.

FFP takes some getting used to. There are only two real cons, tunneling at low power and the reticle is pretty small at lower powers.

IMO, the pro's far outweigh the cons and reticle size is just a concern of the scopes with a 2-4 power low end.

 

[tc_firefighter311]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

We have been shooting 500 yards now. Just plan in the next year to stretch out to 1000 yd slowly. So does the reticle change zero, when you change powers. Or does it compensate when you change powers?

 

[TallShot]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

The power infused with ffp magically calibrates.....

 

[vinsonr]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

A FFP reticle is in the same focal plane as the target so it will not get misaligned and POA/POI will not 'walk' as magnification changes.

 

[tc_firefighter311]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

Good Deal thanks guys.

 

[warbird2006]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tc_firefighter311</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looking at picking up a Bushnell ELITE TACT 6-24X50 G2 DMR With the first focal plane. Looking to Put on my 7mm to shoot targets out 1000 yards for now. Im just learning. Then moving out further later. Would this be a good scope and the FFL. How would that help</div></div>

If you will do only benchrest SFP is ok, otherwise get FFP.

 

[scudzuki]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

I have that very scope.
Great scope for the money.
That was the first FFP scope I owned and now FFP is all I buy.
The G2DMR reticle has very fine stadia in the center of the reticle; even at 24x it is thin enough for precision use.
Last time I checked grabagun had it for $804... can't beat the price.

Joe

 

[TRAAV]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

I have three if these and I think they are the best bang for your buck in the sub $1,000.00 FFP scope options.

 

[Coloradocop]

Re: First Focal Plane Whats the pros and Cons????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In a few words, if the scope has a reticle with calibrated subtensions (like a mildot or an MOA scale), you can holdoff in elevation or windage at any magnification using the reticle. You can also estimate target range using the scope at any magnification. With a SFP reticle you must set the magnification to a specific value. </div></div>

That pretty much sums it up for the advantages of a FFP scope:

If you look through the scope and view that your target is, say, 1 MOA/MIL on the reticle, you'll continue to view the target as the same size (relative to the reticle) as you zoom the power in and out. In other words, 1 MIL = 1 MIL at every power setting. That's the advantage.

The advantage can become a disadvantage too, depending on how you shoot. Since the reticle "grows" and "shrinks" as you adjust the power setting (to maintain the same size when viewed on the target), the reticle may appear very fine at low settings, or overly thick at higher magnification settings.

On my 3-20x S&B I certainly can't pick out the 0.2 mil lines at 3 power. I don't think the reticle is too thick on this scope at high power, but it is definitely thin at the lower end of the magnification range. Again, that's the tradeoff.

With a SFP scope the reticle size appears constant when viewed through the scope. But, that means that 1 MIL as viewed through the scope only equals 1 MIL at a certain magnification setting (often the highest magnification). As such, if you're using your scope for windage/elevation adjustments or ranging, it can get a bit tough if you aren't on the correct magnification setting.

For a tactical competition scope, people seem to overwhelmingly prefer FFP. Honestly, for strictly hunting use I'd probably prefer a SFP scope. Why? Well, when I dial down to 3x for the possibility of a close pop-up shot at an animal, the reticle of the SFP scope is still easy to spot. On a FFP scope that reticle might be a bit too fine to see in the woods at the lowest power setting.