Optic suggestion

[blackdog899]

The vector veyrons are good for the money. I have three 3-12, 4-16, and 6-24.
All are less than $250ish. Also have Athlons, Arkens, a 6-48 Vector Continental,
Hawk sidewinder 8-32, GPO compact, plus a few more. Most expensive is an
Athlon 15-60 at $1000. They all work fine for my needs.
First focal plane scopes irritate the sh t out of me, as you lessen the power for a wide
view the reticle gets tiny.

 

[JimD]

I pretty much agree with blackdog about the reticle in FFP scopes. But my Primary Arms 4-14 has a nice thick reticle that is clearly visible at 4X. It is not great for targets at 14X but I did manage a 198 on the 30 yard challenge with it this year. I could not see the 9 or 10 ring but I could still put the center of the reticle in the center of the target. I wish my EPL-4 Arken 6-24 has a little thicker reticle. Not as thick at the PA but maybe twice as thick as it has. I think it would be a better balance of what it needs at 6X while still working pretty well at 24X.

In my opinion a FFP with a really fine reticle becomes useless at the low end of it's magnification range.

 

[steve123]

Cavedweller swears his 2025 model FFP Athlon ETR 3-18 has a thicker reticle.

And so does the FFP Athlon G3 2.5-15 as well as the Helos G2 2-12.

Unless you have DFP you have to accept the downsides of either FFP or SFP. I prefer SFP for paper targets/BR, and FFP for most everything thing else.
Along with a recent appreciation for DFP applied to general plinking and hunting having a thicker reticle.