Best Overall
Vortex Optics Viper PST Scope
Extremely functional and reliable.
- Value: 10/10
- Performance: 9/10
- Cost: 9/10
Best on a Budget
Primary Arms SLX 4-16X44mm FFP Rifle Scope
Gets the job done at an affordable price.
- Value: 10/10
- Performance: 7/10
- Cost: 9/10
Best for Precision Shooting
Athlon Optics Argos
Highly durable and offers a wide range of focus adjustment.
- Value: 9/10
- Performance: 9/10
- Cost: 8/10
First focal plane scopes are best for quick-paced high-stress shooting scenarios with widely varying engagement ranges. With a first focal plane scope, the reticle changes in size with magnification relative to the target, so the sub-tension remains constant on every magnification setting. This allows you to use the correct holdover point when taking long-distance shots and estimate range efficiently no matter the magnification.
A Quick Comparison of the Best First Focal Plane Scopes
Features to Consider
Magnification
Decide on your riflescope’s magnification first. Since you’re looking for a first focal plane scope, you’ll most likely be using it for competitions (such as 3-gun competitions) or long-range precision shooting. A scope with adjustable parallax is also a big plus for shooting long distances.
If you’re regularly engaging targets at a wide variety of ranges, get a scope with variable magnification so you can use it for close-range and long-range shooting.
Budget
Price plays an important role in a consumer’s decision-making process. Like what we always tell our readers, if you’ve got money set aside for your shooting gear, splurging on premium brands is best since you’ll likely keep and use it for a lifetime. But if your budget is limited, there are also a lot of budget-friendly but reliable scopes to choose from, such as the Primary Arms SLX FFP scope below.
Construction
A scope’s quality is defined by its material and construction. Get a scope that’s been impact-tested so it can survive heavy use. We also suggest choosing a scope made of aircraft-grade aluminum or its equivalent to survive drops and bumps, as well as stay dry in rain and snow. Above all, clear glass, precise adjustments, and a rock-solid point of aim are critical.
Application
First focal plane scopes are perfect for long-range shooting. They are very effective in firing rapid and precise follow-up shots. Plus you can easily spot misses and impacts for corrections.
Best First Focal Plane Scopes
Best Overall: Vortex Optics Viper PST
The Vortex Viper PST II takes pride in its exposed laser-etched turrets that offer easier drop and wind compensation adjustments. Plus, it has a fiber optic rotation indicator for more precise turret position tracking.
This scope is equipped with an EBR-7C MOA reticle, a reticle that’s designed to optimize long-distance shooting opportunities by efficient range determination, moving target leads, and windage corrections. Also expect adjustable parallax and the zero stop guarantees that you can keep track of your turret position with ease.
Pros
- Illuminated reticle
- Lifetime warranty
- Low-glare matte finish
- Adjustable parallax
Cons
- Not much eye relief
What Customers Say
It does everything it’s supposed to. Very nice reticle and sight picture. If anything goes wrong you can’t beat the Vortex guarantee.
Joe
Shooting match grade 6.5 creedmoor rounds 147 grain. I was able to get back to back hits on a 12 inch target at 850 yards. I have not been to a range offering the distance required to question this capabilities of this scope. Based on its performance so far – I would recommend it to anyone wanting to reach out past 500 yards.
Charlie
Best Budget: Primary Arms SLX 4-16X44mm FFP Rifle Scope
The Primary Arms SLX FFP riflescope guarantees smaller and more consistent groups despite its affordable price. Its controls, features, and performance are almost similar to its pricier rivals. It comes with an ACSS HUD DMR 308 reticle that offers moving target holds out to 600 yards, plus ranging, bullet drop, and wind holds out to 1,000 yards. This Primary Arms SLX scope is calibrated for the .308 Winchester and is compatible with some .223 Rem loads.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Easy to Use
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Could be shorter
What Customers Say
Great Primary Arms ACSS. Clear glass, excellent features and rugged build quality. Lightweight, and great features.
Stan in KS
I like the reticle design,very easy to use.The 300 yard line was spot on.I expect it to be the same at 600 yards. I just wished it could be 2-3 inches shorter.
Manuel D.
Best for Precision Shooting: Athlon Optics Argos
We recommend the Athlon Optics Argos Riflescope if you want a scope that will let you hit targets consistently up to 1,000 yards. This scope will let you estimate target ranges easily at any magnification, most especially if you know your target’s size. It’s also very easy to zero and holds zero well. Plus it provides accurate elevation and windage adjustments.
With the Athlon Argos riflescope, images at high magnification don’t get blurry at high magnification settings, unlike other low-priced scopes.
Pros
- Compact design
- Affordable
- Shockproof and fog proof
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- It’s heavy
- Illumination is not bright enough for daylight use
What Customers Say
“First off the box it came in is really nice and sturdy. Not just cheap cardboard that I’ve seen on my other scopes. Really nice clarity. FFP is a nice touch at this price point especially. Turrets don’t lock, but they are resettable. One turret has really nice definitive clicks. The other is not quite as nice but I’ve seen a lot worse. They seem to track up and down left and right and not lose zero. Illumination is nice but not bright enough for daytime use even on max. Doesn’t bother me. Reticle is very crisp. Tons of focus adjustment if needed. Flip caps work nice and they fit really snug on the scope tube. I ordered a sunshade separately for mine and the cap fit that perfectly as well. I’m using UTG 6-screw rings. I’m running this on a 338winmag 700 Remington. No issues so far. Athlon customer service assured me if i manage to break the scope due to recoil, it would still be covered under warranty. Great product. Awesome price. And lifetime warranty. I’m happy with it”
JDubya
“Purchased this scope for the FFP feature at a very competitive price. I have this on a PCP air rifle for pest control, and the combination is deadly. The parallax is dead on as far as range goes. The glass is very good. For those complaining about the glass, I guess you’re used to $2K super optics. Frankly, I can’t tell the difference in most instances. Eye relief is not too shallow, which I really appreciate. My only complaint is the weight, but I knew that when I purchased it. I’m generally bench or sticks rested when using this rifle, so it is not much of an issue. All in all, a great scope for hunting/pesting if you are using different magnifications as various ranges.”
Michael
Best Premium Option: NightForce SHV 4-14x50mm F1 Illuminated Scope
You will never regret spending extra with our next pick because everything you’re looking for in a rifle scope, the NightForce SHV 4-14x50mm F1 Illuminated Hunting Scope will deliver – fantastic illumination, outstanding durability, and top-tier performance.
The glass in this rifle scope is one of its remarkable features as it offers exceptional clarity no matter the weather. That plus its first focal plane performance and its wide magnification range, you can’t go wrong with the Nightforce SHV illuminated hunting scope.
Pros
- Easy return to zero
- Comes with MOAR or MIL-R reticle
- Fast focus eyepiece design
Cons
- It’s very expensive
What Customers Say
Great scope. If you have ever wondered why NF is so hyped, this is a great way to find out. You do get what you pay for with these.
James Murray
I own top tier optics. Swarovski, Schmitt and Bender, this NightForce is well worth the money, I’m using mine for prairie dogs and predators on a 224 valkerie. Very happy.
Liz Powell
Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44mm M5C3 FFP Riflescope
This Leupold rifle scope is equipped with a reticle that works perfectly with its dusk-to-dawn gathering feature. Its reticle utilizes hash marks instead of dots for improved ranging and holdover precision. As expected, the glass quality is top notch and the dials offer firm, audible clicks. It’s also 20 ounces lighter than other riflescopes in the same class.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Lifetime warranty
- Great tracking
- Waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
Cons
- Short eye relief
What Customers Say
I love the CCH reticle. I had no experience with it prior to purchasing this one. But, for hunting applications it is great! The holds are excellent for moving targets. It is a super tough scope that is crazy light in weight. Glass is clear, bright and I love it. Mounting it on a 6.5 Creedmoor from 2A Armament for my go to Elk gun for this upcoming hunting season.
Kyle Sweet
Scope was easy to set up used the Vortex matched 35mm rings 35mm 0.95″ height., Vortex 35 mm bubble level. After bore scope and had a three shot zero, easiest ever. This combination was great from the get go, was breaking in the barrel and was shooting through the same hole after the zero. Was able walk 1″ horizontally and vertically with the elevation and windage adjustment, tracking was dead-on. The scope is light at about 26 oz, not too long. The reticle is not busy and is functional. The optics are very clear as you would expect. I will look at another Mark V in the future.
James
Vortex Optics Diamondback First Focal Plane Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical First Focal Plane Riflescope delivers incredible precision at long distances. We love the Vortex Diamondback for long precision shooting because its side parallax knob and exposed tactical turrets make adjustments hassle-free.
It also guarantees smooth magnification changes even in the worst weather, so it’s a great hunting companion. If you’re looking for a scope that gets the job done but doesn’t break the bank, the Vortex Optics Diamondback won’t disappoint. Plus, Vortex’s lifetime warranty has really set the bar in the industry.
Pros
- Fast-focus eyepiece
- Extra-low dispersion glass
- Shock-proof, waterproof, and fog-proof
Cons
- No parallax adjustments past 300 yards
What Customers Say
“Very good scope for the money. Love the warranty and so far it’s very accurate for my skill level. Sighting my 6.5 hells canyon in I could clearly see my groups and while at max zoom short-range objects can get a bit out of focus it’s still full stars for me.”
Cryptos
“Beautiful piece of glass. Most are intimidated by 6-24 but it is such a good range of zoom. The parallax settings were spot on and the reticle is very eye-friendly. Not too long for most rifles even with sunshade. The eye relief is more than adequate to prevent scope bite. Very happy there is finally a high-quality FFP scope out there at a budget rifle price point.”
Mark M.
FAQs
Is a first focal plane scope better?
If you’ll be shooting at extremely long distances and you want precision, then yes, a first focal plane scope is better.
If you’re interested in second focal plane scopes, here’s where you can find out which is better between a first focal plane vs second focal plane scope.
Do military snipers use FFP or SFP?
Since military snipers’ jobs entail shooting precision over long distances, they usually use first focal plane scopes (FFPs).
What is the best FFP scope with an illuminated reticle?
The best FFP scope with an illuminated reticle is the Vortex Viper PST Gen II because of its rock-solid features and combat-proven performance.
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product API
