Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear scopes??

looking at new scopes, could someone please explain to me about reticle in the first focal plane and the second focal plane. Which one do I want and pros and cons of each thanks

In FFP scopes the hairs get bigger when you crank up the power. In SFP scopes the hairs stay the same size when you crank up the power. The benefit of the FFP is if you have a ranging reticle you don't have to remember to turn to the power factor it was calibrated for to properly estimate the range to your target. The benefit of the SFP is that it allow more precise shot placement at longer distance because the hairs don't cover as much of the target as they do when magnified by the FFP scopes. If you plan to use it for hunting a FFP would be good. If you plan to shoot paper at known ranges, I'd get a SFP model

First focal plane reticles increase in size as you increase magnification. Second focal plane reticles size stays constant as you increase magnification. For low light hunting the First focal plane reticle is an advantage IMO because the reticle is easier to see since it be thicker at an increased magnification.

Actually the reticle always stays the same size on FFP. It just appears to get larger because you are increasing the magnification. They usually have a very thin center section and don't usually show up too thick to shoot targets at range.

Yes, technically they do remain the same size. However perception is reality. If it "appears" to get bigger when the magnification is increased the is does "get bigger" as far as the shooter is concerned. I got a great deal on a Swarovski because the owner bought it to put on a bench rest gun. It was an FFP with a standard duplex reticle. He didn't understand what he was buying and once he tried shooting at distance the x-hairs were too thick and covered the area he was trying to shoot.

Gonna disagree with ya when hunting in thick timber. You have to crank the power up and loose field of view to increase size of the FFP reticle. No place for that in the timber IMO. Quality low to mid range scope with heavy reticle in SFP works good in timber. I guess if ya could find a low power in the FFP, but most euro styles are dropping the low power variables, opting for waaaaay more scope than thick woods guys need.

They'd be some kinda fine hunting over fields, large plots, pine clear cuts, powerlines etc.

If you buy a FFP you have to be very particular about the reticle. I would want one with a very small center that has very thin crosshairs. That way, the thicker outside works great at close range without a power increase. You just bracket the target at close range. The extremely thin center doesn't get too large at distance.