Please help before my brain explodes!!!!

[etisll40]

There's an awful lot of SFP out there and many people that use them exclusively. Check out some video of people demonstrating SFP and FFP side by side, Vortex has one on youtube or at their sight. Get a feel for what you like when the magnification changes. Everyone is different. No bad choice on planes.

[WildRose]

I'm not a big fan of the FFP. Save the 200.00 and put it towards a good range finder.

The Vortex Viper series scopes though are extremely good scopes for the money.

Another worth considering is the Zeiss Conquest with the rapid Z reticles which work well if you set them up properly.

[roninflag]

SKY- prior to shooting at the longer ranges i had shot some very accurate rifles. My biggset frustration was when i was shooting a rifle that was not capable of the accuracy needed. once i had a rifle that was capapble of less than 1 moa at the longer distances ; my brain and self were much better.

[ToKeepAndBear]

You can mil or moa the range with a first or second focal plane scope. The ffp can be used to mil or moa the target at any magnification. The sfp usually needs to be at max mag for ranging targets. I personally prefer ffp because wind or elevation holds are the same at all magnifications.

You will still want a rangefinder regardless of which focal plane scope you buy. Ranging targets is somewhat time consuming and difficult skill even when you know the exact size of the target you are ranging. A small error in your estimate of the size of the target in inches/mils and you may be MANY yards off on your range estimate. It takes a lot of practice to get good at range estimation with your reticle. And how do you evaluate your estimate, with your laser range finder of course.

Buy something with reliable turrets and practice. Don't sweat it too much, it's supposed to be part of the fun! Vortex, Nightforce, SWFA SS, Bushnell ffp scopes, S&B, Premier, Hensoldt, Kahles, USO, ETC are all popular long range scopes.

Good luck!

TKAB

[Trever]

Accurize your rifle, develop load and get a huskemaw.

[Joe King]

Originally Posted by ToKeepAndBear

You can mil or moa the range with a first or second focal plane scope. The ffp can be used to mil or moa the target at any magnification. The sfp usually needs to be at max mag for ranging targets. I personally prefer ffp because wind or elevation holds are the same at all magnifications.

You will still want a rangefinder regardless of which focal plane scope you buy. Ranging targets is somewhat time consuming and difficult skill even when you know the exact size of the target you are ranging. A small error in your estimate of the size of the target in inches/mils and you may be MANY yards off on your range estimate. It takes a lot of practice to get good at range estimation with your reticle. And how do you evaluate your estimate, with your laser range finder of course.

Buy something with reliable turrets and practice. Don't sweat it too much, it's supposed to be part of the fun! Vortex, Nightforce, SWFA SS, Bushnell ffp scopes, S&B, Premier, Hensoldt, Kahles, USO, ETC are all popular long range scopes.

Good luck!

TKAB

Good advice!
I learned reticle range back when LRF where just showing up on the civilian market, and far to expensive for the average person, so I'm going to tell you to learn reticle ranging well, but get a good LRF also. Reticle ranging can work very well as a backup system to a good LRF. As for which focal plain to go with I usually go with SFP and save the money though I have both, at the end of the day I don't really see enough of a difference between the two to make the extra cost of one justifiable.

[phorwath]

Originally Posted by ToKeepAndBear

You will still want a rangefinder regardless of which focal plane scope you buy. Ranging targets is somewhat time consuming and difficult skill even when you know the exact size of the target you are ranging. A small error in your estimate of the size of the target in inches/mils and you may be MANY yards off on your range estimate. It takes a lot of practice to get good at range estimation with your reticle. And how do you evaluate your estimate, with your laser range finder of course.
TKAB

Bingo! If you're going to shoot at 400 yards and farther, you should plan on purchasing a good laser range finder, no matter which scope you settle on. If you don't have the range down pat, it won't matter which version or model scope you purchase. Buy a Leica 1200 range finder if you're content with limiting your shots to ~ 800 yds. Buy a Leica 1600 if you want to range and take shots out to ~ 1250 yds.