• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Focal planes

Horn

Horn

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2022
Messages
3,091
I'm in the market for a new scope, it's going to go on a Ruger American in 350 legend. Just curious if any one has tried FFP instead of the usual SFP.

I pretty much know what I'm looking for in a scope but I always appreciate input.

Thanks
 
Just my .2 cents man. For hunting and especially a .350 legend where you’re shooting 200 yards and under mostly? Main difference is your reticle in a first focal plane will change sizes when you zoom in. That’s nice when you’re using mil dots and what not. I’m doubting in most .350 hunting ranges you’ll be doing that. I’m not really suggesting one or the other just for that specific gun idk if I’d put a ton of thought into that. I’d probably go second focal plane for that gun but that’s just me. Any reason you wanted to looking into first focal plane? I’m new to this stuff so idk a ton about it!
 
So the 350 is a really bad example to ask about focal planes, that's true. I'm not going to shoot 200 yards but with the 350l that should still be point blank and it's getting out on the edge of the effective range anyway. It's the gun I'm shopping for a scope for at the moment though. I figured someone on here would have experience with them, just hoping for input from someone who with experience

Edit: it's probably going to get a 3x9, it's all I need, and it'll probably be sfp because they're easier to come across in store.
 
As mentioned, being that you likely aren't reaching out to extended distances with 350L, I would opt for SFP as well (something of the BDC flavor perhaps). I am new to the FFP scope game myself having just put together a budget long(er) range build because who doesn't love to shoot ammo at $4/round and what not and picked the wrong time to decide to start reloading!! :tearsofjoy:
Assuming most hunting will be done on the lower end of the power magnification range in the hunting woods, unless you have an illuminated FFP reticle, that smaller reticle can be hard to pick up (depending on the style) whereas your SFP reticle will be the same size throughout the zoom range and easier to see in the lower magnification range. That being said, if you have longer distances to shoot, and as @Bowtie747 mentioned, can use the hash marks (being it MIL or MOA) to adjust for elevation and windage.
Just because a little gun porn is OK now and then...
Savage 110 Ultralight with Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 FFP
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20220503-065309_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20220503-065309_Gallery.jpg
    208.9 KB · Views: 36
Last edited:
^^^^ All this is spot on, one more thing, the hash marks on a BDC style reticle on a first focal plane scope and what they represent in terms of holdover will remain constant through out your zoom magnification, on a second plane scope you pick a power, usually the highest and find your dope and stay with that power to remain constant, in his example probably 9x, 99% of hunters are better served with a second focal plane scope.
 
Don't overlook a fixed-4 scope for this application. 200yd and in it's certainly adequate, and never on the "wrong" magnification. I like to hunt with a fixed-4x, but also have a Nikon 2-7x shotgun scope on a single shot .444 Marlin.

More to your question, second focal plane is cheaper and more common. From what I've seen, first focal plane is more expensive, and geared more to the long-range crowd. I'd like to get one someday for that purpose, but probably not for hunting.
 
I ha
Horn said:
I'm in the market for a new scope, it's going to go on a Ruger American in 350 legend. Just curious if any one has tried FFP instead of the usual SFP.

I pretty much know what I'm looking for in a scope but I always appreciate input.

Thanks
Click to expand...

i have that gun, I put a vortex diamond back 4-12 on it. Way more scope than needed but it’s a tac driver.
 
I considered a fixed 4x and I looked pretty seriously at the 4-12 diamond back. I almost wish I would have went 4-12 but I put a Leupold 3-9x40 mark3hd on it. It's super clear glass, I'm not sure what's lines are comparable between Vortex and Leupold. This one is definitely nicer than a crossfire II i have, although I wouldn't complain about that scope
 
Horn said:
I considered a fixed 4x and I looked pretty seriously at the 4-12 diamond back. I almost wish I would have went 4-12 but I put a Leupold 3-9x40 mark3hd on it. It's super clear glass, I'm not sure what's lines are comparable between Vortex and Leupold. This one is definitely nicer than a crossfire II i have, although I wouldn't complain about that scope
Click to expand...

yea, admittedly, I’m a vortex fanboy for their warranty. Plus I’m a LEO and get 40% off. My uncles a leupold guy, you can’t really go wrong with either.
 
The Leupold came down to what my local store carries, If they had Vortex I may have went that direction. I'll probably still try an FFP someday when I have more money than I can stand in my pocket lol
 
Update for anyone who might care. Got to the range tonight, i sure like that whole setup! No problem, for me, switching to mils from moa. Almost wish I had went up to a 12x, but I'm very happy with it. Thanks for your advice!
 
Madgrad02 said:
As mentioned, being that you likely aren't reaching out to extended distances with 350L, I would opt for SFP as well (something of the BDC flavor perhaps). I am new to the FFP scope game myself having just put together a budget long(er) range build because who doesn't love to shoot ammo at $4/round and what not and picked the wrong time to decide to start reloading!! :tearsofjoy:
Assuming most hunting will be done on the lower end of the power magnification range in the hunting woods, unless you have an illuminated FFP reticle, that smaller reticle can be hard to pick up (depending on the style) whereas your SFP reticle will be the same size throughout the zoom range and easier to see in the lower magnification range. That being said, if you have longer distances to shoot, and as @Bowtie747 mentioned, can use the hash marks (being it MIL or MOA) to adjust for elevation and windage.
Just because a little gun porn is OK now and then...
Savage 110 Ultralight with Athlon Ares ETR 3-18 FFP
Click to expand...
That thing looks sweet! Carbon barrel? Caliber?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top