At what magnification does FFP really help?

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mainecoon

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I am looking at some 2-10x FFP scopes. Is FFP an advantage at lower powers, or does it need to be higher to make a difference?
 
I am looking at some 2-10x FFP scopes. Is FFP an advantage at lower powers, or does it need to be higher to make a difference?
It's not a matter of magnification so much as whether you want to use your ranging/windage/drop compensator reticle at different magnifications and potentially how it shrinks down (or doesn't) for close quarters shooting.

In general, FFP is preferred for long range scopes because they often get used at something less than max power to limit mirage etc.
 
I would only add, that ffp scopes save serious hassle on messing with zeroes/poi changes at different magnification levels in hunting applications. For example, for long range varmint plinking my .223 is sighted in on 16x, now if I happen to see a yote pop up at 45 yds.......the ffp keeps your poi/poa the same no matter what magnification you're on.
 
I dunno, I just stepped into FFP scopes with an Athlon 4 x 16 on an accurate .22 and what I have noticed is the grid is pretty useless to me at any thing less than full power. At low powers, the grid is so small it does not distract me, but the scope at that point is effectively a duplex.

Crank it up to full power, and the grid is useable and useful for hold offs and hold overs.

Maybe it's just this particular scope.
 
I dunno, I just stepped into FFP scopes with an Athlon 4 x 16 on an accurate .22 and what I have noticed is the grid is pretty useless to me at any thing less than full power. At low powers, the grid is so small it does not distract me, but the scope at that point is effectively a duplex.

Crank it up to full power, and the grid is useable and useful for hold offs and hold overs.

Maybe it's just this particular scope.

I agree, I can barely see the reticle on the two FFP scopes I own at low power. One of them, a Pride and Fowler, the reticle gets large enough at higher magnification it tends to obscure the target.

That said, I still have a Viper Vortex PST FFP on my Steyr .308 in the event I ever get to go hunt hogs. It really does simplify hold over regardless of magnification.
 
It's not a matter of magnification so much as whether you want to use your ranging/windage/drop compensator reticle at different magnifications and potentially how it shrinks down (or doesn't) for close quarters shooting.
In general, FFP is preferred for long range scopes because they often get used at something less than max power to limit mirage etc.

Exactly. However, in general I find that I can use the full magnification of a scope maxing out in the 8-9x range at any distances where you'd want ranging or compensation, so for me, FFP is useful on scopes with a maximum magnification of 10x and above. I have had FFP scopes that are 1-4x, 1-6x, 2.5-10x, and 3-9x, and in the 1-x versions I did not like FFP. The 3-9x scope is a SWFA SS 3-9x and they did a really good job on the reticle so for that one scope FFP works well, but the Viper PST 2.5-10x I had didn't work nearly as well with a FFP reticle.

Once your max magnification is 12x and higher, FFP tends to be very useful because the full magnification is often not practical in all lighting or shooting conditions. This is why I no longer own the SFP Nightforce NXS.
 
I am looking at some 2-10x FFP scopes. Is FFP an advantage at lower powers, or does it need to be higher to make a difference?

I consider FFP reticles to be multi-functional. On low power the reticle becomes nothing more than a quick and accurate aiming tool in the event of a target presenting itself that doesn't give me enough time to either dial corrections or change the magnification. Think of it as a duplex reticle on low power. On higher magnification, which usually means the target is further away, I have the option to dial in corrections if there's time, or use the reticle to hold over, under or off if there isn't. In addition, there's a chance I can make on the fly corrections using the reticle based on bullet impact. FFP reticles are a win/win to me, but that said, I hunt with RZ600 reticles in SFP scopes. Part of the problem is that people see all that useful information on higher magnifications and then assume that they should also see it and use on lower magnifications when it's not needed. For the record, I own and use FFP scopes from Nightforce, Premier Reticles, Leupold and Vortex ... six in all. I also have a number of SFP scopes.
 
If cost was not a factor, all mine would be FFP scopes. But for me an y-zX scope generally gets used at yX magnification for walking around and standing, sitting, kneeling shots or at zX magnification for range estimation (if it has a scale) and shooting prone or off a rest so its not really worth it for me to pay a lot extra for the feature. I do like the few FPP I do have very much.
 
I recently put a 1-8x FFP scope on a medium range rifle and couldn't be happier (my only other FFP is a much larger/higher magnification optic). It allows me to utilize the drop compensating reticle at any magnification and given the unique CQB style reticle actually makes it easier to acquire the target at lower powers whilst allowing for precise placement at the upper end of magnification. That said, it really shines for long range precision rifles utilizing relatively high powered scopes.
 
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