Hunting is a challenging yet relaxing sports for everybody to join, especially adventurous ones. However, the game would lose all the fun if you miss your shots occasionally.
Have you ever wondered,
how to improve your shooting accuracy while hunting?
The most straightforward solution is the first focal plane (FFP) scope. First focal plane, or front focal plane, means the reticle lies in front of the magnifying assembly in the optics. As a result, the reticle size will change if you adjust the magnification levels. Meanwhile, the mil-dot values will remain the same no matter how you zoom in or out.
The FFP scope is a must-have item for hunters or snipers of all levels. Before making a purchase, take a look at our updated list of best FFP scopes below.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table
| Product Name | Product Detail |
|---|---|
Athlon Optics 6-24×50  Highlights • Fully multi-coated lenses for better light transmission • The illuminated and glass-etched reticle • 6061T6 aircraft grade aluminum tube • Argon purging for weatherproof and thermal stability | |
Vortex Optics Viper  Highlights • Adjustable illuminated reticle • Hard anodization for durability • Excellent clarity even in low light conditions • Perfect zero stop • Unlimited lifetime warranty | |
Bushnell AR Optics  Highlights • Multi-coated optics with 1-4x magnification • Illuminated, ballistically calibrated reticle • Quick power changes with Throw Down PCL lever • Rustproof and virtually scratchproof | |
Primary Arms Scope Highlights • An illuminated horseshoe and center chevron • Heavy-duty aircraft grade 6063 aluminum body and 30mm main tube • Waterproof, shockproof, and fog resistant • Clean and intuitive design | |
Monstrum Tactical  Highlights • Best scope for the budget • Easy-to-use rangefinder reticle • Adjustable objective lens for sharper focus of the target • Various handy additional items |
Best-loved FFP Scopes On The Market
#1 Athlon Optics, Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane (FFP)
Do not let your tight budget stop you from purchasing a top-notch optics. This Athlon FFP scope got plenty to offer at an affordable price point. Let’s see!
The scope is designed with high-quality coatings such as the Wide Band Fully Multicoated and Xtra Protective Coatings, providing a crisp view and crystal clear image.
Rest assured that the target will be visible in optimum brightness and true color thanks to the better light transmission.
It is surprising that Athlon managed to equip an illuminated and glass-etched reticle with this product. The glass will provide excellent backing support and shock resistance to recoil. Another luxury feature is the Argon-purged gas chamber, which contributes to weather-proofing and sealing your scope from damages.
However, you should expect no zero stop in this unit. A zero stop is a premium feature, so it is understandable that Athlon riflescope misses this add-on.
#2 Vortex Optics Viper PST First Focal Plane Riflescope
Vortex is among the respected names in the scope production industry with high-quality products, and this FFP Riflescope is a prominent example.
Tactical features include an illuminated reticle with ten settings from night vision to full daylight. There is an off position between each level, allowing users to reach the favorite one without clicking through all the settings.
The entire scope is coated with hard anodization to provide you a durable product. There is low-glare matte on the body, which aids in hiding the position of shooters. People from afar could barely figure out your location unless your sounds betray you.
Few products in the same price range can compare to this Vortex optics. The scope has enough magnification for both short and long range target shooting. What’s more? The optics is lightweight to carry along in your hunting game. The exact figure measures only 1.4 pounds.
The only issue we found out is the thin reticle at lowest settings. You would encounter some trouble at aiming the target in case you have bad eyesight.
#3 Bushnell AR Optics, FFP Illuminated BTR-1 BDC Riflescope
If you are looking for a well-built FFP optics to master every scenario, this Bushnell AR is for you. By releasing this product, the manufacturer promised customers extreme precision, ultimate reliability, and uncompromising performance.
This first focal plane scope features an illuminated bar reticle with a total of 11 settings. There is a BDC and a fast focus eyepiece to deliver maximum accuracy for your shoots in 600 meters range.
The magnification levels range from 1x to 4x. With 1x power, the reticle is basically a red dot while the 4x allows users to perform long-range shots. Rest assured that the image is always sharp and clear without distortion at any levels.
The entire scope is made of sturdy aluminum alloy with an anodized finish to increase the durability. It is rustproof and almost scratchproof; therefore, feel free to bring along the optics in any intense fight without worrying about physical damages.
Although this Bushnell is slightly heavier than its competitors due to the large ocular bell, we think the decent quality is worth the tradeoff. You can hardly find an optics with similar features at the same price range as this FFP scope.
#4 Primary Arms 4-14 x 44 FFP Rifle Scope
The fourth name in our list is Primary Arms Riflescope, a decent product designed with useful features and reasonable price.
This FFP tactical scope is built to last with an aircraft grade 6063 aluminum body and 30mm tube. It is shockproof, waterproof, as well as fog resistant. Therefore, you can have an excellent shooting performance with this optics in almost any weather conditions.
There is an illuminated reticle with six brightness settings, which works well in dim and bright light alike. On sunny days, the illumination remains crisp and does no distortion to the reticle.
However, the view might be tinted at dark settings, which is the biggest con we found out.
The Primary Arms is worth the long-term investment thanks to its versatility. Hunters can effortlessly engage targets at any ranges within 600 yards by levering the first focal plane. For close-in ones, the center chevron will support remarkably fast engagement. Miss no target again with this 4-14x44mm rifle scope.
#5 Monstrum Tactical 4-14 x 44 First Focal Plane (FFP) Rifle Scope
Last but not least, we need to mention this Monstrum FFP tactical scope. Its clarity, features, and controls are on par with much more expensive optics. So why bother spending tons of money on high-end scopes when you can get everything with this dirt cheap unit?
If you want to join long distance shooting, this first focal plane scope is the ideal partner to start with. The tactical riflescope comes equipped with 4-14x magnification, a 44mm objective lens, and an eye relief of 4-4.5 inches, allowing users to precisely aim targets of up to 800 yards.
The etched reticle performs well in low light environments, or even at night. To rapidly switch between illuminating settings, simply press the responsive touch-button on the side.
Note that the illumination may slightly flicker, however.
The product comes with various additional items, including a set of see-through lens covers, a pair of heavy-duty scope rings, and a bag for storage and transport purposes. There is also a detachable sunshade to reduce glare from your scope lens, thereby concealing your shooting position.
What Is The Best FFP Scope?
After careful consideration, we believe the Monstrum first focal plane scope deserves the first place in the list of best products.
This FFP optics got plenty to offer customers in an intuitive design, from the rangefinder reticle, the objective lens to the eye relief, not to mention a variety of additional items. Monstrum promises impressive shooting performance with this product.
Trust us; you cannot go wrong with a Monstrum FFP scope.
How To Choose A Quality FFP Riflescope?
In case you want to shop for the best scope items on your own, we got your back! Below is the detailed buying guide for a quality first focal plane optics.
Objective Lens
This is the front lens of the riflescope, measured in millimeters. The function of the objective lens is to adjust the quality of light transmission, which greatly influences your vision. Therefore, whether you can aim and hit the target precisely or not partly depends on this lens.
Typically, the larger objective lens will allow more light to enter the scope. However, you may suffer from discomfort with an overly broad lens as it requires you to keep your head above the rifle’s body.
You can find the size of the objective lens after the magnification figure. For example, a 3-9×40 scope has an objective lens of 40mm.
Magnification
Magnification refers to the power rating of the riflescope. For example, an object will appear four times larger than normal when viewed through a 4x scope.
There are fixed and adjustable magnification scopes. The latter allows shooters to switch between different levels to suit different shooting locations and purposes. Before deciding on the magnification, you should consider your playing area and the size of your common targets.
Reticle
Reticle, also called crosshairs, is the screen where you can see the lines, dots and, hash marks to aim the rifle at the target. There are a wide range of reticles on the market, each of which serves different purposes.
For example, the mil-dot reticle is extremely versatile. It can improve shooting precision, adjust for windage, and border on the range of the target.
Coatings
Almost every rifle scope comes with lens coatings for better performance. Generally speaking, the purpose of coatings is similar to the objective lens – to provide better light transmission. Coatings complete that mission by reducing light gloss and glare.
However, it does not necessarily mean that more coatings perform better than a lens with a single coating. The quality mostly depends on the glass and coating application.
There are four terms to describe different coating levels:
Coated – single layer of coating on at least one lens surface
Fully Coated – single layer on all glass surfaces
Multicoated – multiple coatings on at least one lens surface
Fully Multi-coated – multiple layers on all surfaces
The last term, fully multicoated, is the best one, which results in 90-95% light transmission. Users will get a bright and sharp image with a fully multi-coated lens.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is better, a fixed magnification scope or a variable one?
Both types have their advantages. As mentioned above, an adjustable magnification will allow more flexibility when hunting as you can switch between different levels. Meanwhile, a fix magnification will be more resistant to normal wear and tear.
2. What is the ideal magnification?
There seems to be no fixed answer to this question. I would recommend a 3-9x variable scope for fresh beginners. If I had to pick one magnification power, it would be either 8x or 10x.
3. Which riflescope reticle should I go for?
If you frequently go on a hunting trip, a plain reticle with few or no internal markings will be an ideal option. In other cases, my recommendation goes to the standard mil-dot reticle. Note that the reticle should match the turret system to avoid miss-hits in long-range shots.
4. What does MOA mean?
Minute-of-angle or MOA is a unit of measurement for scope adjustment. It is equal to 1/60th of a degree or approximately 1 inch of 100 yards. To put it simply, adjusting your scope 60 MOA is synonymous with moving the scope a single degree on the reticle.
5. What is the downside of the FFP scope?
The answer lies in the reticle, which becomes larger at higher magnifications. Therefore, it may obscure the target from long distance and lower the accuracy of pinpoint shot placement.
The Bottom Line
We hope that you can get yourself a decent FFP scope after reading this article. If the top 5 mentioned is not your cup of tea, feel free to make your own choice based on our detailed buying guide.
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