Of course, this means youll still spend hundreds of dollars on a scope but probably not thousands of dollars. What we hear is "ka-ching, ka-ching." Sniper has a special design for its turrets that allows you to lock them in place when you get them where you need them, which should help this scope hold zero better than other options. It really is that straightforward. Close to longer-range shots can be taken with precision. Use will increase the chances of taking down prairie predators, such as those hard to bag Elk and any other large game you may encounter. Those AR-platform or bolt-action rifle enthusiasts into either (or both) of these shooting disciplines are in the right place. With the Primary Arms SLx, it seems the windage turret has a little bit of play and doesnt quite seem as tactile as the elevation turret. FFP scopes have the reticle situated towards the front of the scope. Also, as you zoom in your overall field of view decreases as well, so a scope that might need to be used at close range or to track game should also have a fairly low base magnification so that you have the option to use it as a spotting scope as well. Regardless of whether your target is 100 yards, 1,000 yards, or anywhere in between, it still provides excellent accuracy assistance. Built using quality aluminum, it will perform in any harsh hunting environments you find yourself in. Check out the lens coating of each scope you are looking at. That glass proves to be important because it offers unparalleled quality throughout the entire power range especially so at max power. Top 10 Best First Focal Plane (FFP) Scopes To Buy In 2023 Reviews, Best First Focal Plane (FFP) Scopes Buying Guide The Key Factors to Look Out For. Our testers reported no problems, but its unclear how much time youll need to spend re-calibrating the zero on the Monstrum over time. Are you a fan of long-range shooting? With this ability to use the bullet drop compensator or other reticle features at differing magnifications also comes a general increase in precision. Eye relief on this scope is also quite good at 4.5 inches. You zero an LPVO at the average distance you expect to shoot. Or how about reviews of the Best M4 Scopes, our Best 1000 Yard Scope Rifle Optic Reviews, the Best Scopes for 30 30 Lever Action Rifles, our Best 1-8x Scope reviews, our Best Slug Gun Scope Reviews, the Best Long Range Rifle Scopes under 1000 Dollars, or the Best Night Vision Scope for AR 15 you can buy. For even less money than the Sniper ZT, you get a front focal plane scope that honestly offers features and construction on par with might higher-dollar scopes. The first image is from the $500 4-1444 Atibal Apex. Quality glass is a must, but that needs pairing with quality lens coating. It's no wonder ATACR scopes are expensive, no detail left overlooked, and no expense spared. Model Name Blackhound Emerge 2-12x44 FFP MIL Rifle Scope Illuminated Reticle, Zero Stop and Parallax with 34mm Rings, 44mm Hood and Mounting Bubble Levels : Color Black 2. The larger the zoom ratio, the more versatile one scope can be. The latter factor is particularly important when using heavy caliber ammo. Picture Information. Simply use the easy access push button controls to get a clear target shot. Tactical features include an FFP illuminated reticle with the MOAR style crosshairs. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25X50 FFP EBR-2C MRAD, comparing this system with SFP (second focal plane), How to Sight In A Scope & How To Mount A Scope (Includes Videos), Nikon ProStaff 4-12X40mm Black Matte Riflescope (BDC) - Model 6729, Nikon Monarch 3 4-16x42mm BDC Rifle Scope with Side Focus (Model 6770), Nikon Prostaff 7 4-16x42 BDC Riflescope w/ 30mm Body (Model #16324), Simmons 8-Point Truplex Reticle Riflescope 3-9x40mm (Model 510513). This is a common feature among all first focal plane optics, and if thats the kind of thing you value in a rifle scope, then this category of optics is what youre looking for. Buy Arken Optics SH4 6-24X50 GEN2 FFP MIL VPR with Zero Stop - 34mm Tube: GunBroker is the largest seller of Gun Scopes Scopes, Sights & Optics All: 973455855 . Set and Forget Zeroing or count your clicks. We say almost because the Argos does it. The SVIII 5-40x56 ED FFP LRM includes the following: Scope. This quality optic has been tested to exacting military standards and protocols. There are Tenebraex flip-up covers, a cleaning Fob/Cleaning Cloth, and a Multi-Tool. With its front focal plane, you can focus on the target without any distractions. With the popularity of these scopes, you dont need to aim for something that costs as much as a new riding lawnmower to get a high-quality scope. One such scope is the Ares BTR 4.5-27x50. They come with a Zero Reset feature, and shooters will benefit from precise 1/10 MIL W/E (Wind/Elevation) adjustments. What's the cheapest 34mm FFP scope with zero stop turrets that you're aware of? You can then add to this the mentioned Power Throw Lever or similar, sunshade, windage beauty ring, stickers, and a comprehensive owners manual. Finally, I spend some time considering the aesthetics of the optic and how theyll fit in with the rifle. Are you constantly putting your targets out further and further? An Argon-purged gas chamber is a luxury feature that outdoes nitrogen gas when weatherproofing and sealing your scope. These 0.1 MIL click adjustments are both precise and repeatable. Learn from our expert Jerimiah Alexander to ensure the best zero while shooting.. Then, you do a holdover for shots farther and a hold-under for shots closer in. Once youve decided that you want a first focal plane optic in general, and determine the price point and application is a good fit, the thing I look for next is the kind of reticle that it comes with. Magnification: 6-2450 mm. Diamondback products are known to be the economical choice with tons of value, but the Diamondback Tactical FFP scope is where the buck stops. Tuned to deliver accuracy, whether rapidly acquiring close quarter targets or moving out to mid-range, it gives the ability to achieve fast, accurate hits out to 800 yards. Many FFP reticles are laser-etched onto glass further adding to the expensive costs of a scope. We may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links. You can have a T-MOA, TMR, CCH, Impact-29 MOA, Impact-32 MOA, and an Impact-60 MOA. Trijicon are renowned for the quality glass used in their scope manufacture. Some shooters like the be a little closer, while others prefer more distance between their eye and the scope. 3-inch Sunshade. When you're trying to save a buck without compromising on quality, Athlon gets it done. But, if that's the only complaint we have (if you can call that a complaint), you know it's a buy we highly recommend. The ATACR scope is heavy. Athlon Optics, Argos BTR, Riflescope Some rifle owners found Athlon Optics Argos BTR comparable to Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II and Primary Arms 4 to 1444 in terms of features. This is a tactical feature that hunters appreciate for its unbreakable ruggedness. It's no wonder ATACR scopes are used by the U.S. military. Investment is certainly a consideration with the Mark 5HD 5-25X56mm optic. The RS.4 has Japanese ED glass and components and is assembled in Japan. Exit pupil is between 8.2 and 2.1mm (0.32- and 0.08-inches). It also has an illuminated center grid to provide fast target acquisition during low light or when the reticle is in the lower power range. The Athlon Optics Ares BTR is a great option for anyone who wants an alternative to Leupold or Vortex. It has an exterior XPL coating to protect the glass from all the nasties from being out in the field. They both feature modified Christmas-tree designs with red LED illumination and abundant (and really smart) windage and holdover references. If you want FFP for a steal of a price, you're lucky Vortex has the scope to fit the bill. Show up the guys in the next shoot with your FFP rifle scope that'll be sure to impress. Theres an old shooter adage that essentially says you should spend as much on the optics as you did on the gun. Hitting steel at 1000 yards plus is nothing for this long-ranging machine. Measuring in at 13-inches in length, it weighs 25.2 ounces. The Diamondback Tactical family of scopes is. Allen wrench for knob and zero stop adjustments. This allows for a lot of precision in shot placement, but might not be the fastest to acquire with the eye. There's a time and place for either type of reticle in the hunt or in the tactical world. Things like aircraft-grade aluminum, an illuminated reticle, a sealed housing, and plenty of holdovers on the reticle or a mil-dot reticle can be indicators of a good product. Having this variability is nice, and lets you choose the setting that best fits your lighting conditions. We will go so far as to say, for the price, it's the best money you'll ever spend if you want quality and performance for the field without breaking a financial sweat. The side adjustable parallax feature allows instantaneous adjustments while allowing you to keep your shooting position. Best Overall: Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II Best Value: Sniper ZT Most Affordable: Monstrum G2 Best Build Quality: Leupold VX-3i LRP Easiest to Use: Athlon Optics Ares BTR FFP Scope Reviews 1. First off, FFP stands for First Focal Plane or Front Focal Plane. All those who purchase this quality scope will also receive a sunshade, lens covers, and cleaning cloth. The popularity of the Vortex Optics Viper PST Generation II FFP rifle scope family comes through the choice of magnification and reticle choices. It also features capped windage adjustments and marked parallax adjustment. One thing that our testers werent crazy about was the eye relief of the Viper. This means you need equipment that is robust and durable to match. Magnification Not Everyone is a Trained Sniper! As is typical for many FFP scopes in the affordable end of the price range, it lacks a zero stop. Zero Stop: No; Lens coatings: Fully multi-coated . Using top-quality glass, this riflescope gives sharp, crisp imaging throughout the magnification range. Configuration: 3-1850 and 5-3056; Reticle Options: Both scopes are available in either Mil or MOA versions. You get between 1-8x variable magnification, a 24mm objective lens, and a high strength, heavy-duty 34mm main tube. It measures 15-inches in length and weighs in at 27.2 ounces. This scope is going on a rig where you're in a prone position and a bipod is holding you steady anyway. There's nothing to nit-pick about here. High quality coatings such as the Wide Band Fully Multicoated and Xtra Protective Coatings explain why image quality is as crystal clear as it can get. Mil-dot reticle, Zero Reset, Side Focus, 30 mm tube, 1/10th MIL clicks, 3-year warranty, Extreme Long-Range, Competition, Low Light Use, Long-Range PRS Matches, Precision Shooting. This is particularly the case for longer range and more difficult shots. This is because the reticle has been designed to adapt to whatever zoom level you currently have it set on. Thankfully, optic prices have been coming down for the past few years. This second offering from Vortex Optics jumps up the price scale but also offers enhanced quality and features. If so, you should keep that in mind when buying a scope. Mid to high power ranges are typical in FFP scopes. finally, two years ago, they came out with an SIII in mil/mil ffp. Trijicon provides this through crisp and precise windage/elevation adjusters that require no tools. To justify a generous budget for an FFP scope, you should also look for other features and overall quality that will support your shooting requirements. As for the non-illuminated Ballistic Plex E1 FFP reticle, this gives hunters the ability to accurately compute target distances at any magnification while also providing trajectory and windage reference points. What loyalists love about the brand is that they're extremists. Fahrenheit. Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen II Leveled and Zeroed. DISCOVERYOPT HD 5-30x56 FFP First Focal Plane (FFP) with Red Illuminated Reticle and Parallax Adjustment, Zero Stop Rifle Scope Brand: Discovery Optics 1 rating Currently unavailable. This means that all future adjustments are readily tracked. It will work for hunters and it will work for long-distance range shooting or competition shooting. Again, regardless of the reticle chosen, you will benefit from high functionality, intuitive use, and detailed hold points. Best AR-15 Scopes Under $500 Bushnell AR Optics (1-4x24 mm) w/ Drop Zone .223 Reticle . Magnification range on the scope is 6.5-2050. Get Our Latest Guides & Field Tests Straight to Your Inbox. First focal plane optics are an excellent choice for this because of the reticle placement in relation to the lens. It's difficult to ever justify spending more on your rig when you can complete it with a high-power, long-ranging scope with high-end features to boot for under 500 bucks. Copyright 2023 American Firearms LLC. Surprisingly, there havent been many complaints, if at all, about reticle visibility at low 4x power. Quality glass is used during construction, and the lenses have been Hi-Lume Multi-Coated to provide clarity of image view. Robert has over 15 years in Law Enforcement, with the past eight years as a senior firearms instructor for the largest police department in the South Eastern United States. The FFP R-Grid 2B Red LED illuminated reticle is powered by an included CR2032 battery. Vortex offers the Viper PST with two different reticle options. With its magnification range above 10x, it features a side focus and a fast focus eyepiece for maximum reticle sharpness for your vision. If your scope is defective, fails to perform, or suffers non-cosmetic damage that affects its function, during normal use - we will replace your scope at no charge to you! Check Price. No problem at all, just check out our reviews of the Best Scope for M1A M14, our Best Scout Scope Reviews, the Best 300 Win Mag Scopes, the Best 223 Scope for the Money, the Best Armasight Thermal Imaging Scopes, or the Best Scope for AR 10 on the market in 2023. The most basic, and usually cheapest, kind of first focal plane scopes youll likely find have adjustments for windage, elevation, and magnification, but not much else. Athlon has built up a solid name in the scope world. The 9 Best New Hunting Binoculars Put to the Test The 8 Best New Spotting Scopes Put to the Test 1. The result is sure to please avid hunters. Vortex Optics claim to fame is its VIP warranty. The Mueller Target Rifle Scope is a great 1000-yard scope with a solid magnification of 8-32x, giving a great field of view at well over 1000 yards. Click values come in either .250 MOA, or .1 MRAD steps, and parallax adjustment ranges from 45 yards to infinity. Then comes the easy access exposed tactical turrets and side parallax knob. Some reported they would have liked to see the eye relief be a little longer. The feature you need is an FFP reticle. The difference in models relates to non- and illuminated options with a wide reticle choice. From the outset, decide on a sensible upper price limit of what you are prepared to pay. Two excellent benefits of this highly effective reticle are: When on lower power magnification, you are sure of quick target acquisition. This becomes even more important for those who go on extended shooting sessions. Its strategic design extends to the thick 34 mm tube body that provides an extremely wide 120 MOA elevation and 80 MOA windage adjustment travel. Exit pupil runs between 2.5 and 12mm, and linear field of view at 100 yards is between 5.5 and 26 feet. Those new to the world of rifle scopes have a tendency to go for top-end variable magnification that is too high for their needs. While you can certainly buy more expensive FFP scopes, theres little chance youll actually need the incremental features of a more expensive option. The reticle is often etched or attached to the glass lenses in many modern scopes. 5:1 zoom ratio, and 0.1 mil clicks just add to the premium design and high-performing setup of the Leupold scope. It's much easier to do this when you can actually see the marks and dots on your crosshairs. You can be assured it is ready to handle harsh weather conditions as well as heavy recoil. Both can be easily setup for zero stop elevation. Riflescope Optics Planet Price This 3-18X50 Primary Arms riflescope features a 50mm objective lens with a variable zoom that ranges from 3x to 18x. Meaning, it depends upon the amount of light entering the lens as well as the ability of the lenses to transmit light. Not only will that give you peace of mind, but it will also narrow down your choice to that upper price point. We got our hands on one to physically test out in the field. Leupold says it's good enough to survive past 5,000 rounds worth of recoil 3x that of a .308. These optics come in many different models and from a host of manufacturers. Specializing in Active Shooters, Counter-Ambush, Low-light, and Patrol Rifles, he has trained thousands of Law Enforcement Officers in firearms. With a background like that, there's a scope that fits every shooter's needs, including yours. Neither one is inherently better than the other, although, some shooters may swear by one system for their purposes. A U.S Air Force combat veteran with over 25 years of service specialized in small arms and tactics training. Coming in black with a matte finish, the scope has a length of 14.1-inches and weighs in at 30.3 ounces. Any shooter looking for a premium-grade recon optic will appreciate this model. Field of view at 100 yards ranges between 18.7 and 4.9 feet, while the exit pupil varies between 8.3 and 2.3mm. Founder & Licensed Concealed Carry Holder. The Zero Lock dial, throw lever. A $3,000 scope on a $300 gun will never realize its true potential, so use this as a friendly rule and youll always get about the right mix of scope features for your firearm. Ease of access to this function means it can be achieved even when shooting in pitch-darkness. Also, our testers did note that this scope may not hold up as well as more proven brands over time due to the general build quality. The explosion in quality lens technology in recent years has lead to a tremendous number of these scopes hitting the market which can make choosing the right option a little daunting. Leupold certainly does not stand still when it comes to offering customers choice. Athlon is a welcome brand to many shooters who need high quality without being ripped off in the process. The advanced reticle design also promotes set and forget zeroing to make life easy. The heat-treated one-piece 30mm tube is constructed from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. About this item Everything from the matte black finish to the turrets is engineered with the shooter in mind. If you are in this category, then I am with you all the way! This scope has been purpose-built for tactical shooters, those into competition, and keen hunters. Bench rest shooters may not be too concerned about the optimal weight a scope will add to their weapon. This versatility ensures close, mid, and long-range shot accuracy. Keen hunters know just how important ease of scope adjustment is during those crucial hunting sessions. Discovery Optics ED 3-15X50 FFP SFAI . With approximately 35 MILS of long-ranging elevation travel, a huge 35 mm main tube, and an FFP reticle, it's a shooter's complete scope to hit steel at ranges once unachievable. Our testers came in a little skeptical of the scope due to its low price but found the glass, reticle, and turrets to all be of high quality for the price. It offers 120 MOA or 35 MRAD of total elevation adjustment and 80 MOA or 24 MRAD of windage adjustment. Therefore, you benefit from a brighter image than normal single-coated lenses offer. Every hunter is familiar with Vortex and especially their Diamondback line of optics. But, to help you narrow down what qualities you want at the top end of your priorities when it comes to FFP reticles, here's what you need to keep in mind. The included fast-focus eyepiece complements reticle use to allow fast, easy target focusing. Shooters can opt for variable magnification of 2-10x, 3-15x, and 5-25x. This is because they are generally far more robust and durable than SFP scopes and are ready to withstand the most testing of hunting conditions. There are, however, plenty of great options out there and we have pulled together a list of the best FFP scopes for the money. The downside? As would be expected from a premium riflescope, this NightForce ATACR model comes with some excellent features. This article contains affiliate links. Weighing in at 1.42 lbs, its dimensions are 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1-inches. When talking about FFP and SFP scopes, this refers to where the reticle is situated. The options have grown for the sub-$1000 and the $1500-plus categories, but it's a little thin in between those two price points. With FFP scops the basic idea is that the reticle changes size along with magnification: as you zoom in these optics, you also zoom in the reticle.