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In recent times, FFP or first focal plane scopes have gained a lot of popularity among the masses. This is because they are incredibly accurate and efficient for all ranges due to their shifting nature.
The scope you mount on your weapon holds immense importance; therefore, it’s important to choose the right one. This can be a difficult task if you aren’t aware of what to look for due to limited knowledge. This could translate in missing shots and targets due to having a bad visual on them.
Fear no more! We have the complete round-up of the best FFP scopes on the market. This would also include how to choose them, what makes them special, and some incredible product recommendations as well.
So, without further ado, let’s get right into it!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for FFP Scopes
- OUR TOP PICK: Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm
- RUNNER-UP: Monstrum G2 6-24x50
- BEST FFP SCOPE FOR THE MONEY: Nikon Monarch 3 SF
Comparison of the Best FFP Scopes
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What is FFP and What Does FFP Stand For?
FFP stands for the first focal plane. It is a type of scope which has the reticle placed at the focal plane between the image erector lens and the objective lens. This kind of scope displays an upright image view to the user. Not a lot of people are aware of its working though and whether or not it is right for them, which is unfortunate because it surely is magnificent. These are not as prevalent as the second focal plane.
FFP is wonderful for hunting and shooting as well since it provides great accuracy and efficiency. It basically is capable of estimating target distance and bullet drop connection accurately with the help of the reticle.
Characteristics of Our Favorite FFP Scopes
You may be wondering what exactly is it about a scope that makes it stand out from the rest of them. There are certain features of the products mentioned which really caught our attention and made them special, which is why these products are so near and dear to many other consumers and us. Let’s take a look at them:
Magnification
Magnification is a very important factor for any first focal plane scope. This will, however, differ from person to person. People shooting over longer ranges would need greater magnification, whereas those shooting over smaller ranges can get away with lower magnifications.
Lens Coating
Good quality lenses are coated with anti-reflective compounds that enhance light transmission and are capable of providing better and brighter visuals. Furthermore, they are fully coated and multi-coated as well to ensure the best visuals for the user.
Construction
The overall construction should be sturdy and well-built. Good FFP scopes mostly have Aluminum construction as it is incredibly durable and reliable and works under a versatile range of conditions.
Review of the Best FFP Scopes
There are plenty of units out there, but not all of them are worth investing in. It is very difficult to narrow down your options from the array for available products on the market. Therefore, we have a list of the best FFP scopes on the market, so you don’t have to look anywhere else.
Best Overall:
Primary Arms SLX 4-14x44mm
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very fond of this unit due to various reasons. The primary reason is that the product features very sturdy and solid construction, which makes it highly durable and reliable. Furthermore, it features an array of brightness settings to choose from. The overall design is pretty convenient as well for consumers.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product caught our attention due to multiple reasons. Firstly, it features an incredible warranty policy that makes it highly reliable and durable. Furthermore, the product has side-adjustable parallax and fast focus eyepiece, which provides a crisp and clear vision of the target. Plus, the incredibly durable aircraft-grade aluminum construction makes it very sturdy and heavy-duty.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is incredibly versatile and convenient for a large audience. It is capable of performing incredibly well in different weather conditions, as well as, it is waterproof and fog proof. It is also shockproof thus would do well with gun recoil as well. Furthermore, it offers 6 different brightness settings to choose from.
Bottom Line
Overall, this unit is great. The overall construction is heavy-duty and sturdy. It is very meticulously designed to provide maximum accuracy and efficiency to the consumer. Furthermore, it is incredibly versatile, as well as durable and reliable. All of these features, in combination, are what make this product a great investment.
Runner-up:
Monstrum G2 6-24x50
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent reviews tell us that customers are quite fond of the construction. They find it to be incredibly durable and reliable. The overall construction is meticulous and offers accuracy and precision. Furthermore, it provides clear and bright images to the user as well. All of this makes the product a consumer favorite.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We find this unit to be the best for a number of reasons. Firstly, it features an adjustable objective lens that allows a sharer focus of target, helps eliminate parallax, and makes range estimation easy. Furthermore, the overall construction is incredibly sturdy, thus reliable and durable, enhancing its longevity.
Who Will Use This Most
This product can be used by anyone. It makes range estimation and focusing on the target incredibly easy thus; it would be a great unit for beginners struggling with the scope. Furthermore, it has a very sturdy and durable construction, which makes it versatile to last under different conditions and increases its longevity, thereby making it a long-term investment.
Bottom Line
This unit is incredibly well-constructed, which enables them to be highly reliable as well as incredibly durable. It surely is a long-term investment and will prove to be a great one too. The product features multiple factors that make it super accurate and very convenient for use.
Best FFP Scope for the Money:
Nikon Monarch 3 SF
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
According to recent customer reviews, buyers find this unit to be highly reliable and durable as it is well-constructed and features an array of features that enhance the visuals of this product. Even though they didn’t find the manual to be very helpful, the product did work out incredibly well at last.
Why it Stands Out to Us
What makes this unit different than the rest is its impeccable design and multiple innovative features. It is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, which is why it is waterproof as well as fog proof. Furthermore, it has multi-coated lenses, enabling superior light transmittance, which allows it to have a superior quality visual.
Who Will Use This Most
This product works great under many conditions; thus, it is incredibly versatile and accessible to a much larger audience. It is shockproof; thus, you don’t have to worry about it not handling the recoil well. Furthermore, it is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, which makes it both waterproof and fog-proof.
Bottom Line
To put it simply, this unit is incredibly well-constructed and features a sturdy and solid design. It is made from superior quality materials, which enables a spectacular visual and allows it to be durable and reliable in the long run as well. All of these features, in combination, are what make it such a great investment.
Best FFP Scope Under $500:
Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
As per the customer reviews, users found this to be a great pick. Firstly, they find it to be very sturdy and heavy-duty. This promises its longevity and makes it a long-term investment. Furthermore, it carries incredible optics that ensure a superior quality visual, which aids in hunting or shooting greatly.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We included this unit on our list for a number of reasons. It is difficult to find a unit that is well-constructed and reliable. The overall construction is truly phenomenal. Furthermore, it features an ED glass and fully coated lenses that improve light transmission and provide a bright and clear vision of the target.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is great for those of you who want an advanced scope but are not willing to spend a crazy amount of money. This product carries all the features that most of its higher-end counterparts do and is comparable to them in functionality as well. But the unit has a much more modest price tag.
Bottom Line
All in all, this unit is incredibly well-constructed and features a stunning design that is very meticulous. The design carries incredible and innovative features that make its functioning smooth. It provides accuracy and reliability, which makes it highly convenient and worthy of spending on. One should definitely check it out.
Best FFP Scope Under $1000:
Athlon Optics 4.5-27 x 50
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers report tells us that buyers are very happy with this unit due to multiple reasons. Firstly, it is very well-constructed, which enables it to be a long-term investment. It is incredibly convenient to use and offers superior quality visuals. Furthermore, it is incredibly reliable and versatile as well, which makes it a consumer favorite product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us for a number of different reasons. This product is incredibly versatile and reliable. It has an O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged design, which makes it fog-proof and water-proof. Furthermore, the overall construction is solid and sturdy as it is made from aircraft-grade aluminum.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is great for those of you who are comfortable with more heavy-duty and slightly bulky products, as this tends to weigh more than what some of you may be comfortable with. Getting used to it is just a matter of time. Furthermore, it provides a clear image under various weather conditions; thus, it is highly versatile and reliable.
Bottom Line
To sum up, this unit is a gem. It features a stunning construction which is durable and hence highly reliable. The design is truly flawless, with so much attention paid to detail. The construction isn’t only stylish and aesthetic but also convenient to use and incredibly practical. All of this makes it a great investment.
Best FFP Scope Under $1500:
Maven RS.1 2.5-15 x 44 mm
No products found.
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are incredibly happy with this unit for a large number of reasons. The product is incredibly well-constructed, to begin with. The overall construction is durable and highly reliable, enabling it to be a long-term investment. Furthermore, it offers multiple features that enhance the visuals; thus, it is a consumer favorite product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product stands out to us for multiple reasons. It features top-quality optics made from premium class Japanese glass, which enables them to be highly durable. Furthermore, it features ED glass, which renders true to color and provides maximum light transmission for great visuals. Plus, it has excellent eye relief as well.
Who Will Use This Most
This product is great for those of you with a flexible budget as it is slightly on the higher end of the price spectrum. Furthermore, it is heavier than some scopes you might be used to working with, making it more suitable for those of you with expertise in the field. Beginners might find it uncomfortable.
Bottom Line
The bottom line on this unit is that it is truly a gem. It features an excellent construction that enables the unit to be incredibly reliable and durable. Furthermore, it carries a multitude of features that ensures superior visuals during hunting. Even though it is somewhat on the higher end of the spectrum, the product is worth splurging on.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying an FFP Scope?
When it comes to buying an FFP scope, there are certain factors one needs to take into consideration. These are crucial factors that make the entire buying process much easier and ensure that the product you invest in is up to par in terms of quality and performance, so it can be useful for you. Let’s take a look at them:
Durability and Reliability
This is a very important factor to consider. It is crucial to opt for a product by a reliable brand that offers a good warranty policy, so it is a long-term investment. Furthermore, make sure that the product you invest in is well-constructed and protected against water, fog, and shock so it can handle different weather conditions and gun recoil well.
Light Transmission
Invest in a product that has fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective compounds, so they ensure better light transmission, which allows brighter images. This will allow you to get better visuals of the target.
Size and Weight
It is important for a product to be lightweight as well as easy to mount. If the product is too heavy or bulky, it makes it uncomfortable and inconvenient for the user.
Conclusion
The scope you mount to your weapon is perhaps equally important as your weapon of choice. It gives you the visuals you need to capture a target. They are particularly important in shooting and hunting. The process of investing in a scope for a lot of people is rather daunting, given that it requires knowledge and understanding of the product and the conditions you’ll be using it in.
Hopefully, this post was able to help you in getting a better grasp of what to look for in a scope and also provided you with some incredible options to consider.
It is important to realize that one product isn’t going to work for everybody. The process of buying the perfect scope requires a lot of trial and error from your side as well. Thus, it’s important to invest in a product which is most suitable to the conditions you use it in.
People Also Ask
Buying an FFP scope is a complex and daunting process, given how technical things can be. This is why people often have a lot of confusion regarding it all. Therefore, we have taken the liberty of answering your most frequently asked questions in hopes it clarifies any queries. Let’s take a look at them:
Are Nikon Scopes First Focal Plane?
Nikon has expanded its range of products and added FFP scopes to its product range as well. This is an incredible addition as FFP scopes offer accuracy and efficiency at a longer range as well, deeming them incredibly convenient. The ones Nikon offers are of great value and quality. However, not all Nikon scopes are FFP.
Is FFP or SFP Better?
At the end of the day, it all comes down to which conditions you’re using the scope in. If you are working in ideal lighting conditions, then an FFP will be the better option. It’ll be quicker and more accurate, which will translate to more target hits. However, if you are working under low-lighting conditions then its best to use minimum magnification with the largest reticle.