First Is Best: Finding Clarity on the Focal Plane Debate

I knew the difference between first and second focal plane optics, but I couldn’t remember which was which, until I started using that phrase “first is best”. Of course, this is my opinion, but at the end of this article, I’ll tell you a true story that might bring you over to my way of thinking.

Before we get to that story, let’s explain the difference between first and second focal plane optics.

First Focal Plane (FFP)

In a first focal plane optic, the reticle is physically located toward the front end of the optic, or as I like to say “beyond the magnification system.” Because of this, when the shooter increases magnification, everything beyond the magnification system is magnified: the target and the reticle.

 

The reticle and the target grow in correlation to one another.

As shown in the example above, the reticle’s apparent size increased proportionally with the target as magnification increased. In this case, the distance from the deer's back to its brisket measures 8 MOA, regardless of magnification.

This is very important when measuring targets or planning to hold MOA or MIL stadia lines (hash marks) for wind or elevation.

FFP Pros:

• The stadia lines can be used for wind/elevation holds at any level of magnification. This is great, as I like to shoot at low magnification so I have a wide field of view for spotting impacts, and to make it easier to reacquire my target after recoil.
• Reticle is fine/crisp in order to make surgical placements of shots.
• Not all, but most FFP scopes come with the option of illuminated reticle.

 

FFP Cons:

• The reticle gets very fine and hard to see at very low magnification, especially in low light or wooded areas, but an illuminated reticle helps offset this challenge.
• The only reason you’d need a first focal plane optic is if you intend to use stadia lines. Some people don’t want stadia lines in their optics. “It’s too busy” is the common phrase. They prefer simple duplex style reticles. If you never plan to use stadia lines, there’s no need for a FFP scope.
• FFP scopes tend to cost more than second focal plane scopes.

 

Second Focal Plane (SFP)

This is going to sound redundant, but pay close attention. In a second focal plane optic, the reticle is physically located toward the back end of the optic, or as I like to say “before the magnification system.” Therefore, when the user increases the magnification, only the target grows/magnifies. The reticle does not.

With a SFP scope, the reticle will remain the same size regardless of magnification.

As you can see in this example, the target grows in size when magnification is increased, but the reticle remains the same size. This is very important to take note of, because if you’re planning on measuring or holding for wind or elevation, the value represented by the spacing of the stadia lines changes depending on the level of magnification.

You can see that the user would get two totally different measurements depending on magnification. Just for example, let's measure the deer from aim point to brisket.

10x: Roughly 1 stadia line.

20x: Roughly 2 stadia lines.

So, when are the stadia lines true to their actual value (example: each line = 1 MOA or .2 MIL) in a SFP scope? Only at maximum magnification. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some optics have an indicator on the magnification ring that identifies where the stadia lines are at true value.

Example: You may have an optic that is 5-25x, but the optic has a dot marked on the magnification ring at 20x. This can mean that your stadia lines are true to value at 20x, and only at 20x. As a result, you would do all your measuring or holding MOA/MIL at 20x with that specific optic.

By and large, most of the SFP optics on the US market feature a reticle that’s true at maximum magnification.

The key takeaway is that the reticle in a FFP scope is true at any level of magnification, while SFP scopes feature a reticle that is only true at a specific magnification.

SFP Pros:

• The reticle is thick and easy to see no matter the magnification.
• Generally less expensive than FFP scopes.

 

SFP Cons:

• You must have your magnification set to the correct power for the stadia lines to be true. This is ok, but you have to be very disciplined.
• If you are shooting small targets or a have small aimpoint, the reticle can be so thick that it obscures the target.

 

The last thing to cover on this topic is the question you hear many times after explaining the difference between first and second focal plane. “How do I know which one I have?!”

That’s simple. Point your optic at the ground or target and change the magnification. If the reticle grows and shrinks with the magnification, then you have a FFP optic. If the reticle remains the same size, you have a SFP optic.

Now, on to the story I promised; the one I said may convince you that FFP is better!

Mark (that’s what we’ll call him, anyway) was a younger gentleman who was very excited for his Dall sheep hunt in Alaska. After months of hard work and preparation, he made the trip and met the outfitter, eager to set out in search of such a marvelous animal.

Greg was his guide - one of the best. The two hunted for a few days with no luck due to fog and rain. Mark was feeling the creep of the last day approaching, and of course he didn’t want to go home empty-handed. On the last day, only a mile from camp, Greg found a sheep, a beautiful mature ram amidst a few other smaller rams.

The wind was howling from left to right, so Mark knew he’d have to compensate for it. Mark had a second focal plane optic on his rifle, so he had to max out the magnification in order to hold correctly for wind. With the scope set to its highest power, Mark could see every hair blowing on the sheep and the perfect crease behind the front shoulder to place his shot. The wind was still pushing from the left, so Mark held 2 MOA into the wind.

BOOM! His first shot hit, but Greg called out, “Hit him again! He’s the one in the back!” Mark lost the ram in his optic due to recoil and shooting at high magnification. He frantically searched to find the ram again. Greg called out a second time, “Hit him again, he’s still up!”

Mark found the ram and quickly held 2 MOA to the left again and slammed another round into the sheep just before the group of rams went over the peak of the mountain. Greg saw the first impact that Mark shot, but wasn’t sure he saw the second. After giving the ram a few minutes, Mark and Greg anxiously climbed to see if it had perished just over the peak. When they crested, both their jaws dropped. Mark had placed two perfect shots…on two different rams.

How did this happen? Mark had a second focal plane optic. His training had taught him to shoot at maximum magnification in order to use the stadia lines in his optic to hold wind. But, being zoomed in so far also meant that he had a very small field of view. When Greg called out, “He’s the one in the back!” Mark found what he thought was the back ram, and fired his second shot.

What Mark didn’t see was that the ram he originally shot was even further to the left, just outside his field of view. On the second shot, Mark hit the ram second from the back.

Imagine the horror and sick feeling in Mark’s gut when he crested the mountain and found two dead Dall sheep. It was an honest mistake, but a big one. Now, I’m not saying that it was the scope’s fault. Mark could have decreased his magnification to see the entire group, then increased it back to max power to hold 2 MOA left, but that takes time, and discipline. If he’d have had a first focal plane optic, he could have decreased his magnification to take his first shot and had a much bigger field of view in order to find the same ram. In fact, the ram might never have left his field of view when

the rifle recoiled. FFP scopes simply require less thinking and less discipline, which is a massive bonus when adrenaline is high.

This is why I shoot with first focal plane optics, and why I say “First is best.”