First focal plane scopes (or FFP Scopes) are rapidly gaining in popularity among hunting and shooting communities. Why?
Well that’s something I’ll get more into below.
You may have had a hard time trying to find the best first focal plane scopes and that’s because they are not that common.
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best ffp scopes in all different categories and narrowed the list down to our top 6 first focal plane scopes.
Read on for our first focal plane scope reviews and images later in the article.
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Best First Focal Plane Rifle Scopes 2024 – Top 6
There really aren’t a lot of articles to find surrounding first focal plane rifle scopes.
FFP scopes are uncommon, but as more and more people learn about FFP scopes, you will start to see a shift from the more common (SFF) second focal plane scopes to first focal plane scopes.
You will find the top 6 FFP scopes below. We hope you enjoy the list.
| Best First Focal Plane Scopes | Rating | |
| Bushnell BTR-1 1-4x20mm
(Editor’s Choice) |
4.3 / 5 | Check Price |
| Primary Arms 4-14×44 Tactical | 4.5 / 5 | Check Price |
| Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50mm | 4.6 / 5 | Check Price |
| Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50mm | 4.9 / 5 | Check Price |
| Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm | 4.7 / 5 | Check Price |
| Primary Arms 4014x44mm ACSS | 4.1 / 5 | Check Price |
What is First Focal Plane?
First Focal Plane scopes have the reticle installed toward the front of the scope or forward of the magnification lens.
This makes it so the reticle increases in size along with the image you are looking at when magnified.
If you are unsure on whether you should use a first focal plane scope, you need to determine what you are planning on using the scope for.
FFP scopes are a great choice for tactical and long range shooters. The reason why is that they provide constant Mil dot / MOA values through the entire power range of the scope, allowing for more flexibility in different shooting situations.
The Difference Between FFP and SFP
There is a huge difference between first focal plane scopes and second focal plane scopes.
Let’s Talk Second Focal Plane First
Second Focal Plane (SFF) scopes are by far the most common design and what most scopes are equipped with.
Basically with SSF, as you magnify the image in the sight picture of the scope, the image gets bigger, but the reticle stays the exact same size.
The size of the reticle in relation to the target (known as the sub tensions) are constantly changing.
With second focal plane scopes, if the reticle is a BDC, Mil dot or other ranging reticles, the scope will need to be set to a specific magnification setting to be used most efficiently.
An advantage of the second focal plane reticles is that the reticle will stay relatively thin at high magnifications which is ideal for shooters taking long range, precise shots at very small targets.
Now for First Focal Plane Scopes
Like we mentioned above, FFP is far less common but is getting more popular.
First focal plane (FFP) scope reticles grow and shrink with the scope as it magnifies and de magnifies in relation to the target.
This means the sub tensions in the reticle will always remain constant no matter which magnification setting you choose to work with allowing you to easily estimate range or use correct hold over point to take a long range shot while using whichever magnification setting you have chosen.
FFP rifle scopes are the preferred choice for shooters who are going to utilize sub tensions and quickly changing high stress shooting scenarios whether they be hunting or tactical
Best FFP Scopes Pricing
First focal plane scopes are usually more expensive than second focal plane scopes.
The reason why is because they are less common than second plan rifle scopes and also the way that they are designed.
You can expect to pay $200 and up for a good ffp rifle scope. Anything cheaper and you start dealing with durability and longevity issues.
However, you can find some budget ffp scopes under $100 that will do a good job, just remember that you may have to replace the ffp scope more often over time.
The sweet spot, if you are looking for the best ffp rifle scope for the money would probably be between $200 and $300.
Don’t be surprised to find some of the best ffp scopes over $1,000. Tactical shooters, such as snipers, primarily use ffp scopes and need very high quality made ffp scopes to meet their high usage needs.
Best First Focal Plane Scopes Reviews
First focal plane scopes reviews coming soon…
1. Bushnell BTR-1 FFP 1-4x20mm – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope For The Money 2024
2. Primary Arms 4-14×44 Tactical FFP – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope Under $300
3. Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50mm FFP – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope Under $500
4. Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50mm FFP – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope Under $1000
5. Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50mm FFP – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope Under $1500
6. Primary Arms 4-14x44mm ACSS Reticle – Best (FFP) First Focal Plane For 308
Bonus 1 – Bushnell Elite Tactical XRS 4.5-30x50mm -Best (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope Under $2000 (High End Users)
Bonus 2 – CVLIFE Tactical 1-4x24mm FFP – Best Budget (FFP) First Focal Plane Scope (Budget Users)
Final Thoughts – Best First Focal Plane Scopes 2024
If you are on the hunt a good ffp scope, hopefully you came to your final stop.
Yes, first focal plane scopes are more rare and a little more expensive than SFF scopes, but if you are a long range shooter and hunter that needs a quality reticle that fluctuates in size as you magnify the image, an ffp scope is definitely for you.
Thanks for read our top 6 list of the best focal plane scopes in 2024. Hopefully you found what you were looking for
Stay safe and happy shooting!