reticle in first focal plane...

the benefit is that you get the ranging reticle (mildot, in particular) at all magnifications

what are the disadvantages of this design for a scope?

who else offers it besides the weaver tacticals and springfield scopes?

alot of euro tactical scopes have 1st plane rets... alot of people dont like them because the cross hair's appearance changes... as u power through the mag range... i think that is the only disadvantage.... if it is indeed a disadvantage to u.... i guess it depends on preference...

The reticle gets larger as you move up in the power ranges.  Depending on the size of your target, it is conceiveable that the reticle could block the target out.

 

ranburr

One serious advantage of the Springfields 3rd generation is that on low power the correction system is not visible in the field at the lower power. This makes fast shots on non-stabilized target shots easy. The measuring system is set up for the highest power, which works very well and is calibrated for 168 gr. BTHP at 2600 fps. I'm really not sure to do with what is in between (at least with the one I have). The green reticle works well in dark (it is battery operated) and the leveling bubble is visible in low light.

I sure like the flexibility the 2nd focal plane reticles provide. They allow u the option of recalibrating the reticle for ranging as well as downrange zeroing at any magnification.

could I have more examples of scopes that offer these options?

HORUS SCOPES - Just about anything from US OPTICS are 1stFP. Some Russian stuff offer nice 1stFP reticles. Schmidt&Bender - NikelSupra offered it but seems to have been dropped this year. Premierreticles converted Luepolds with the GEN2Mildot are 1stFP.

 

A decent 1stFP will not block the target. Mildot MIGHT IF YOU SHOOT SMALL TARGETS. But tickmark reticles ime dont. I've a 24mag 1stFP Mildot where the dots are rings and not dots which makes aiming almost better - it's like a target diopter.

 

As for recalibrating using 2nd - well it is a theoretical advantage in my opinion/experience. Unless the zoom ring is EXACTLY in the same position if you go to anther mag and come back - You have to REALLY recalibrate every time. 2nd FP offers serious advantages in fixed mag & high power scopes as it's easier to make the marks VERY fine indeed without needing special etching systems as the reticle is physically MUCH larger.

 

MY OPINION - reticles in general are only REALLY useable in a 3* ZOOM RANGE. Mildot imho needs at least 6 mag (better still 8) to be any real use for holdover etc. It can go to about 30 and still be all visible - but frankly 20 is about useable tops.

 

I'm sold on 1stFP - I find the zoom is used more whereas on 2ndFP the tendency is to pick one mag value and stay there.

The new XOTIC USS 4-16x56 will have a 1st plane mil dot reticle and should be available soon.

thanx, gentleman

nodark wrote: the benefit is that you get the ranging reticle (mildot, in particular) at all magnifications what are the disadvantages of this design for a scope? who else offers it besides the weaver tacticals and springfield scopes?

fwiw,
The real benefit, imho, is that you can use your reticle for wind and movers without worrying about having it set on the right power. The chief disaadvantage is that you are likely to loose the
reticle in low light. On a SFP scope you turn the power down the reticle appears to stay the same size, however, it's actually getting larger relative to the target. A ffp reticle appears to shrink while
it is staying the same size relative to the target.

I used a Premier Reticles Gen 2 LR M1 on my fox calling rifle last year and learned first hand the two edge sword of a FFP Mil-Dot. I actually had to turn the scope up and deal with a dimmer image
and smaller FOV.

That said I think the finest "tactical" scope in the world is the Schmidt & Bender PM II GEN III 4-16x50, 34mm Tube, Double Turn Turret, Zero Stop, .25 MOA click, with a P-3 Mil-Dot(or better yet a
Klein Reticle). That said there are better scopes to shoot varmints & thumbtacks with...(grin)

Regards, Matt.

Great assessment of what a tactical scope is, Matt.