I know it stand for first focal plane, but what is it really? I hear a lot of people say no more guessing your holdovers.? Are they saying you can zoom in on whatever it is at whatever distance appropriate and still hit your mark with poi shift?
Ffp...what does that mean?
- Thread starter Topcat
- Start date
It's best to look this up on youtube. First focal plane vs second focal plane. You'll get a lot of explanations as well as videos illustrating those explanations.
Second focal plane - your reticle stays the same when you change your zoom. So, you need to re-calculate your point of aim appropriately. (Example 1 mil at 75y at 3x would change to 2 mil at 75y at 6x)
First focal plane - your reticle zooms, along with your picture, when you change your zoom. So, your point of aim at a given distance does not change when you change zoom. (example: 1 mil at 75y at 3x, 6x, 9x, 12x, and everything in between.
1 benefit of second focal plane is that the fine lines of the reticle stay nice and fine. FFP the reticle lines will get FAT at the high zoom.
1 benefit of FFP is that your point of aim at multiple distances will always be the same, no calculating.
Tom
Second focal plane - your reticle stays the same when you change your zoom. So, you need to re-calculate your point of aim appropriately. (Example 1 mil at 75y at 3x would change to 2 mil at 75y at 6x)
First focal plane - your reticle zooms, along with your picture, when you change your zoom. So, your point of aim at a given distance does not change when you change zoom. (example: 1 mil at 75y at 3x, 6x, 9x, 12x, and everything in between.
1 benefit of second focal plane is that the fine lines of the reticle stay nice and fine. FFP the reticle lines will get FAT at the high zoom.
1 benefit of FFP is that your point of aim at multiple distances will always be the same, no calculating.
Tom
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Many reticles have graduated markings, with known spacing and sizing. For example you might have ticks at 1 MOA.
On a FFP scope when you zoom the reticle zooms as well, aka its appears larger as you increase magnification or smaller as you decrease magnification. So if your reticle has ticks at 1 MOA, it will always be 1 MOA regardless of the zoom, rather you are at 10x or 80x.
On a SFP scope when you zoom the reticle does NOT zoom and stays the same relative size regardless of zoom. So the reticle might have ticks of 1 MOA, but it will only be accurate at one zoom power. So with a SFP scope you need a chart that gives you the tick values at different zoom levels or guess.
So when you shoot with a FFP, 1 tick is always what its stated as regardless of zoom, so if your holdover is 3 MOA, you can place you POA as 3 ticks rather you are zoomed to 8x or 80x.
On a FFP scope when you zoom the reticle zooms as well, aka its appears larger as you increase magnification or smaller as you decrease magnification. So if your reticle has ticks at 1 MOA, it will always be 1 MOA regardless of the zoom, rather you are at 10x or 80x.
On a SFP scope when you zoom the reticle does NOT zoom and stays the same relative size regardless of zoom. So the reticle might have ticks of 1 MOA, but it will only be accurate at one zoom power. So with a SFP scope you need a chart that gives you the tick values at different zoom levels or guess.
So when you shoot with a FFP, 1 tick is always what its stated as regardless of zoom, so if your holdover is 3 MOA, you can place you POA as 3 ticks rather you are zoomed to 8x or 80x.
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Ok.. I see now so with the ffp I can zoom away and not worry about my poi changing. And with the sfp say if I'm sighted in on 6x but need to zoom to 10x I then will need to know the change in poi due to the distance between the mildots changes? "To me all scopes should adjust accordingly to your zoom without losing poi!"
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You are not "losing poi" with a SFP scope. If you are shooting to zero at 6x, you will be shooting to zero at 10x as well.
On a FFP scope, any holdover remains constant when changing magnification.
On a SFP scope, holdover changes but it is not "guessing". The poi will change in a very predictable way.
On a SFP scope, holdover is proportional to the magnification. If you require 1.0 mil-dot of holdover at 10x, you will require 0.6 dots holdover at 6x.
On a FFP scope the absolute resolution of your aim points remains constant, regardless of magnification.
On a SFP scope the resolution is proportional to magnification. At high magnification, the aiming precision increases. That can be an advantage in precision shooting.
For hunting, I would lean toward FFP as being more advantageous. For target shooting, SFP. Though both can work in either situation.
On a FFP scope, any holdover remains constant when changing magnification.
On a SFP scope, holdover changes but it is not "guessing". The poi will change in a very predictable way.
On a SFP scope, holdover is proportional to the magnification. If you require 1.0 mil-dot of holdover at 10x, you will require 0.6 dots holdover at 6x.
On a FFP scope the absolute resolution of your aim points remains constant, regardless of magnification.
On a SFP scope the resolution is proportional to magnification. At high magnification, the aiming precision increases. That can be an advantage in precision shooting.
For hunting, I would lean toward FFP as being more advantageous. For target shooting, SFP. Though both can work in either situation.
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