The glass on S&B variable scopes is excellent, however I find the first focal plane reticle is too thick for longer range work when at full magnifcation it will often obscure a small target such as a fox.
However, as a stalking scope they come into their own at first and last light as the light gathering properties are excellent and the thicker reticule allows you to shoot when finer reticules are invisible. There is of course the same trade off when lamping when you can see a thicker reticule.
A stalking friend who lamps a lot of foxes bought a big flashy Leopold varmint scope with a fine reticule in the 2nd focal plane. It was fantastic on a range and in broad daylight but when used on a deer in low light or with a lamp on foxes the reticle was invisible, so within a month he sold it!
The reticle of a variable-power riflescope may be located in the first focal plane, associated with the objective lens; or it may be in the second focal plane, associated with the ocular lens. The practical consequences of the design choice are immediately evident when using the scope. A first-image-plane reticle changes size in lock-step with the target image as you change the magnification setting. Increase the power, and the target and reticle grow simultaneously. Decrease the power, and they both shrink. Either way, the reticle always covers, or subtends, the same amount of the target.
When the reticle is in the second focal plane, changing power setting increases or decreases the size of the target image, but the reticle remains a constant size to your eye. As the target image is enlarged, the reticle covers less of the target. As the target image is reduced, the reticle subtends more of it, possibly obscuring areas you might prefer to keep in view.
Some of the new of Swarovski scopes are second focal plane and are excellent but with the current £ against the Euro exchange rates they're expensive. Have a look at several different makes and models of scopes in all light conditions before you buy.
