Scope Info

[Mark M.]

Hey guys I'm looking for a varmint scope with good magnification and Clarity, something that has first focal plane with an illuminated reticle, sightron has something in the works but not coming out anytime soon, if you guys know of something that you would recommend please pass it along to me appreciate your time thanks

 

[powderbrake]

Why First Focal Plane?
When you increase magnification, your reticle gets very large and can block out the varmint on a FFP scope.
I believe a Second Focal Plane scope is better suited to varmint hunting.

 

[Larryh128]

I personally like first focal plane scopes. With the start of a cataract on my dominate eye, I see clearly thru them. With 2nd focal plane, I'm having issues. Someone will tell me that there isn't a reason, but I know what I see or in this case, what I don't. I don't know how much magnification you're looking for but 1 scope that I'm using a lot now is a Burris XTR II 1.5x8. Awesome glass and lighted reticle. Only hitch for some is going to be the fact that it has a 34 mm main tube that limits the mounts that are available. It has a dual focal plane which works awesome. I have it mounted on a 6.5 Creedmoor and haven't found the 8x to be a hinderance. Normally mine are more like 16x at the upper limit but so far, I love this scope.

 

[misfire]

Sorry Mark don't want to hijack your thread but I'm very curious could someone explain what a dual focal plane scope is and how it works never heard of such a thing

 

[AckleymanII]

Mark, what kind of Varmints hunting are you doing?

 

[Shooter13]

Sorry Mark don't want to hijack your thread but I'm very curious could someone explain what a dual focal plane scope is and how it works never heard of such a thing

Hope this helps
http://rifleopticsworld.com/first-vs-second-focal-plane-scope/

 

[msinc]

Sorry Mark don't want to hijack your thread but I'm very curious could someone explain what a dual focal plane scope is and how it works never heard of such a thing

I agree, never heard of such thing, but then I don't necessarily "hear" all there is to hear either.....use suggest either some sort of set up that enables both concepts to be utilized or a misunderstanding. Probably much more likely poor use of the English language. Dual, second, two, pair, twin, both, split, divided...all words that are similar, but have different meanings depending on use.
To the original question, I also don't care for first focal plane {FFP} scopes for small targets. The crosshair will obliterate a woodchuck if you have any power at all. 8X maybe not so much so. I like good optics and I have spent more than some third world deficits on glass, but all my varmint hunting is done in broad daylight so high dollar light gatherers are really not needed, plus I am not the easiest on gear when I am varmint hunting...I really like the Nikon Monarch line of scopes for this task. Not FFP, but I would seriously suggest that you try before you buy if you really feel like you just gotta have it.

 

[fyrewall]

I would check out the warranty on any illuminated reticle. I like 2nd FP scopes because the reticle size is constant and the targets are small. All that stuff inside my head goes easier with a fixed power scope of 12X or so.

 

[GSPV]

On a varmint scope, why worry about FFP. At any distance that you need to estimate range using mils, you are going to be using a high magnification and can use the one where the dots are true. That’s usually the highest.

 

[CaptainMal]

Burris Veracity. Lots of "pro" TV and writer hunters use them.

 

[sdbob]

Look at the NightForce SHV, great scope for the money with all bells and whistles you are looking for.

 

[284winner]

You'd have to look thru both to make your decision. Not in the store but in the field. For me hunting with a SFP works best on long range smaller critters. Not sure if the SFP scopes are clearer at the longer ranges or it's me. I own one leupold MK4 ERT FFP scope and I like it for bigger game animals. It seems less clear at the longest ranges vs my leupold MK 4 LRT SFP scopes. Many tactical shooters use the FFP scopes. Ranging works on all magnification unlike SFP. You must be in the highest power to range with mildot or MOA reticles. Like another mentioned above, when your varmint hunting, typically most are on the highest power so this isn't an issue.

 

[fredo]

To the original question, I also don't care for first focal plane {FFP} scopes for small targets. The crosshair will obliterate a woodchuck if you have any power at all. 8X maybe not so much so.

Must politely disagree with this statement, as it's just too generalizing of all FFP scopes.

When keeping reticle selection in mind, there are plenty of FFP offerings that are more than useable for varmints.

In short, FFP or SFP don't mean near much as picking an appropriate reticle (for either) does. Use the right reticle, and you'll actually have a MORE useable scope with FFP, as you can hold over for drop and hold off for wind, regardless of the magnification setting. Anyone who's shot thru mirage on a Summer bean/alfalfa field will see the value in that. If not, they're simply not using a tool to its full value...

 

[msinc]

Look at the NightForce SHV, great scope for the money with all bells and whistles you are looking for.

I have to say that when I first got my SHV I was initially disappointed with the low-light performance of the glass. However, if you have it adjusted it actually is not bad at all...I had to hit the optimum power and also play with the focus/parallax. Never was a big fan of NightFarce....and I still find it interesting that so many of them are continuously for sale....but when this one is adjusted right for me it works just fine and I am impressed. It also actually does track pretty good.

 

[powderbrake]

When I made my first comment re using sfp scopes , I was basing it on my experience in prairie dog hunting. I went from 10x scopes to 20x, then 25x, now 32x. I will probably move to 55x in the future. I read some of the comments regarding ranging, and I can see how a FFP scope may help in that regard. I range every shot with ranging binoculars, and I use a dot reticle on all my scopes, so I have no need for the ranging ability of a scope/reticle.

 

[Sniper338]

March, schmidt and bender pm2, steiner military. I got all 3. The steiner military line is german glass like the S&B.

Take your pick, all three are fabulous.

And yes FFP works fine for varmints, used them for years. SFP is better for targets.

only deal with FFP is most only go up to 25X, but 25x is plenty for any varmint caliber.

If you did go SFP, March all the way... highmaster... its a fabulous scope and very clear.

 

[markT]

Did the OP answer AMII's question on what critters / varmints he was going to be shooting?
To me, white-tailed deer are varmints..

 

[people]

I have several FFP scopes and I am not a fan with them. They are very nice if you are going to range with them but hunting I am not a fan. Most of the time when you really need to turn a scope way down it is getting dark. A small dot or stadia lines can be very hard to see.

With a variable illumination reticle it can be hard to keep from flaring on you and preventing you from seeing the target. It has gotten that I do almost all of my hunting right at sun up, the last hour of sunlight, or just at night. I much prefer to hunt at night.

If you are only hunting in the day then they are fine especially if you can manually adjust the brightness.

My farm day rifle is a AR10 rifle with a IR laser and a 2.5-10X NightForce scope on it. Being in straight sunlight then stepping into the woods I have being able to quickly adjust the brightness has been handy on a few occasions. The scope I used before was adjustable by removing a cover and it was always set too bright or too low. Now it is set without a battery.

It is up to the shooter to decide on what they want to use and why they want to use it. I just do not see a need for FFP scopes unless you are going to use them for ranging. That is a skill that needs constant training. One can use a known size target and a range finder to find what the scale is with a SFP scope. Granted if a person is not going to practice with one they won't do it for the other.

 

[CharlieNC]

Mark I prefer ffp scopes as well for hunting and field use; I learned to use them for tactical shooting matches where one must spot the miss and adjust for the next shot using the reticle efficiently. Not to mention using the reticle for holdovers at various distances vs dialing the turrets. Look at the Athlon scope line for a wide range of cost and performance in ffp with illuminated reticles. I have the top Cronus model (made in Japan) which is comparable to the Vortex Razor. Optically the Cronus is better than my Vortex GE which is used for Ftr. I've been shooting the lower grade Argos BTR on my trainer for over a year with good performance and reliability; made in China it will surprise you but optically it is not in the class of the higher price models. Like other brands Athlon has an unconditional warranty.

 

[K22]

I perfer Second Focal Plane scopes for all my hunting, especially varmint and predator hunting. I like the consistent size of the recticle especially on smaller targets such as ghogs.

You may want to consider the medium prices Bushnell Scopes. The have a few and they are very clear and hold zero. For varmint hunting I like the 4 x16 with a standard plex recticle.