First focal plane

[Whitebeard]

Difficult to use a rangefinder in the dark.

Difficult to use any light gathering optical device in the dark

 

[Estudiente]

I have both versions. My SFP have plex reticles as mildot would be useless. FFP is my favourite as one can measure amount of clicks need to zero, or for second shot hit at any distance. As for reticle covering, my ffp scope covers 2" at 1km meaning one could put it on a rabbits head at 1000m I think that is fine enough. For low light at low mag I have a illumination.
FFP scopes don't have a POI change at mag change, all SFP scopes do, some more some less.
edi

What he said , theres enough variables at LR without adding more.

 

[Lupus]

German hunting scopes in 1fp often have overly thick reticles, is is noticeable when you zoom up. Ok for slotting a pig in the moonlight but no good for longer range deer work. I like a p4l fein myself.

Thick or thin FFP reticules remain the same size RELATIVE to the target regardless of magnification. They do NOT increase in size RELATIVE to the target as was suggested by rem284.

Wolfie

 

[Estudiente]

Theres a good discussion of FFP and SFP here First or Second Focal Plane? - Riflescopes NV - UK Varminting

 

[Mr. Gain]

Difficult to use any light-gathering optical device in the dark.

Not really. All you need is a NV add-on. I use a FFP 3-15x50 with a Gen 2+ rear add-on. Even on minimum magnification the reticle is visible and the limitation is the resolution of the NV.

Difficult to use a rangefinder in the dark.

Standalone laser rangefinding in the dark is coming soon thanks to Nite Site, and rangefinding is already built into some Pulsar models.

Re. FFP/SFP in general. I'm a total convert to FFP in any variable power scope with a stadiometric or mil-dot reticle. If you don't need to range or aim off precisely then you don't need either FFP or a fancy reticle, but they go together naturally. Having to check that you are on the power setting your reticle is calibrated to before shooting, especially when that setting is often much lower than maximum (and maximum zoom is desirable at longer ranges), which is essential with SFP scopes, is unnecessary with FFP scopes.

It should also be obligatory for the units of measurement used to match. Whenever I see manufacturers selling scopes with MoA adjustments and metric (mil-dot) reticles I really wonder who buys them in preference to MoA/MoA and Mil/Mil models.

 

[straightpull6547]

Thick or thin FFP reticules remain the same size RELATIVE to the target regardless of magnification. They do NOT increase in size RELATIVE to the target as was suggested by rem284.

Wolfie

yes and they are often overly thick, relative to the target

 

[Estudiente]

yes and they are often overly thick, relative to the target

Not decent quality ones , have a look through a Kahles K624i.

 

[straightpull6547]

Not decent quality ones , have a look through a Kahles K624i.

I said german hunting scopes, meaning your typical 3-12x50. I use a pm2.

its not about quality, its about intended use. typical 3-12's are for fat unfit germans to shoot things offhand at close range in poor light. we do things a little differently here, and use bipods...

 

[enfieldspares]

Re Striaghtpull547 I've see some awful German 'scopes where the post became so thick it was, at high power, easily wider that two or three legs of a deer. These are, usually, Nickel Marburg 'scopes and some of the 26mm tube Zeiss stuff. The post reticule sight picture being, literally, as wide or wider than a fence post. Old German...either the make or the intended user (an old German) variables at high magnification on a small deer one, two hundred yards away could almost blot out most of the deer. I've seen many, cheap, secondhand on the continent. You think it's a good price, even with a 26mm tube, take it outside, crank up themagnification...and back inside the shop and back onto the dusty shelf it's lived on for the last ten years!

 

[Lupus]

Straightpull, are you my wife in disguise? Always has to have the last word.

Wolfie

 

[straightpull6547]

Straightpull, are you my wife in disguise? Always has to have the last word.

Wolfie

No i dont, you just dont understand me

 

[Sauer90]

I have a few ffp scopes, work well for me...

 

[The tramp]

I can see a coke can at 14x at 650 yards with my ffp vortex well enough to hit it. If your reticule is 'too big and covers the target', how small is the target ????