Your reticle scales seamlessly with every magnification change. That’s the core promise of first focal plane, or ffp scopes, and it’s a total game-changer for precision shooting. No more holdover guesswork when you zoom in or out. The reticle’s subtensions stay true, so your aim points are always accurate.
It makes you a more confident shooter at any distance. Whether your dialing for elevation on a long-range shot or needing a quick hold in a tense moment, the math is just built right in. Once you get used to that consistency, it’s hard to go back to anything else, trust me.
Product Comparison Table: 9 Best Ffp Scopes
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
 |
Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope, Dual Illuminated Green Horseshoe/Dot M249
|
9.8 |
Read Review |
 |
Wheeler Scope Mounting Combo Kit with FAT Wrench, Alignment…
|
9.5 |
Read Review |
 |
Bushnell Sentry 18-36 x 50mm Porro Prism Waterproof/Fogproof Spotting…
|
9.2 |
Read Review |
 |
Vortex Optics Razor HD Spotting Scope 22-48×65 Angled
|
9.0 |
Read Review |
 |
Celestron – Regal M2 100ED Spotting Scope – ED…
|
8.7 |
Read Review |
 |
Celestron – Regal M2 80ED Spotting Scope – ED…
|
8.4 |
Read Review |
 |
Celestron – Ultima 100 Angled Spotting Scope – 22-66x…
|
8.2 |
Read Review |
 |
Tasco World Class 20-60×60 Zoom Spotting Scope w/Mountable Tripod…
|
7.9 |
Read Review |
 |
TASCO World Class 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope
|
7.6 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 9 Ffp Scopes
Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope, Dual Illuminated Green Horseshoe/Dot M249
The Trijicon ACOG 3.5×35 Scope, Dual Illuminated Green Horseshoe/Dot M249 is a magnified combat optic built for absolute reliability and fast target engagement. Its defining feature is its battery-free illumination system. The reticle uses a combination of tritium and fiber optics to gather ambient light, automatically adjusting its brightness from dawn to dusk.
You never have to worry about a dead battery at a critical moment, which is a huge advantage for a tool you depend on.
This durability extends to its construction. The scope’s housing is forged from 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, making it incredibly rugged and nearly indestructible. It’s built to withstand the harsh conditions of field use and the recoil of sustained fire. This isnt just marketing talk; the ACOG is combat proven.
More magnified optics have seen use in real-world military engagements than any other, a testament to its trusted performance when it matters most.
Despite its 3.5x magnification, the ACOG is designed for rapid shooting at close quarters too. Its “both eyes open” design allows you to maintain full situational awareness.
Wheeler Scope Mounting Combo Kit with FAT Wrench, Alignment and Lapping Bars, and Storage Case for 1 Inch and 30mm Rings and Scope Mounting
The Wheeler Scope Mounting Combo Kit is a comprehensive toolkit designed for the serious shooter who wants to mount their optics correctly the first time. Proper scope installation is about more than just tightening screws; it’s a precise process that directly effects your rifle’s accuracy and consistency.
This all-in-one kit provides the specialized tools you need to achieve a professional-level mount at home, ensuring your scope performs as its engineered to.
At the heart of the kit is the F.A.T. Wrench (Firearm Accurizing Torque Wrench). Over-tightening or uneven torque on scope ring screws is a common mistake that can damage your scope or cause shifting zero.
This wrench allows you to apply the exact manufacturer-recommended torque to each fastener, which is critical for a secure, repeatable hold without risking damage. It comes with 10 bits to fit a wide variety of screws. For ensuring your crosshairs are perfectly level, the Level-Level-Level system and the PRLS Reticle Leveling System work together.
Bushnell Sentry 18-36 x 50mm Porro Prism Waterproof/Fogproof Spotting Scope with Tabletop Tripod, Black
The Bushnell Sentry 18-36x50mm is a versatile spotting scope built for clarity and durability in the outdoors. Its core feature is the 18x to 36x magnification paired with a 50mm objective lens. This gives you the flexibility to zoom in for a detailed look at distant subjects, while the larger lens gathers ample light for a bright image even in lower light conditions.
Optical quality is a key focus here. The scope uses premium prism glass and fully multi-coated optics.
This combination works to reduce glare and light loss, delivering views that are sharp, clear, and rich in contrast. Whether your tracking a bird in a shaded forest or observing detail on a landscape, the image stays crisp.
It also has a relatively close minimum focus distance of 20 feet (about 6 meters), which is handy for looking at closer objects like butterflies or flora with great detail.
Built to handle the elements, this Bushnell Sentry is constructed to be 100% waterproof and fogproof. The internal optics are sealed with O-rings and then purged with nitrogen gas.
Vortex Optics Razor HD Spotting Scope 22-48×65 Angled
The Vortex Optics Razor HD Spotting Scope 22-48×65 Angled is built for serious observation, whether your focus is on distant wildlife, competitive shooting, or scenic landscapes. Its core promise is exceptional clarity and reliability in a package designed for real-world use. At the heart of this scope is its high-end optical system. It uses a Triplet Apochromatic lens combined with high-density, extra-low dispersion glass.
This technical combo is all about eliminating color fringing and delivering true-to-life color and razor-sharp resolution. The XR Plus anti-reflective coatings on the lenses push maximum light transmission, giving you a bright, clear image even during the critical low-light hours of dawn and dusk. A built-in sunshade pulls out to further reduce glare when you need it, protecting your view in harsh sunlight.
The 22-48x magnification range offers great versatility, letting you zoom in for fine detail or pull back for a wider field of view. A smooth helical focus mechanism allows you to dial in that perfect sharp focus quickly and precisely. The design keeps the body trim for easier packing, and the locking collar lets you rotate the angled body to find the most comfortable viewing angle for you, whether your standing, sitting, or using a tripod.
Celestron – Regal M2 100ED Spotting Scope – ED Glass for Birding and Outdoor Activities – Phase and Dielectric Coated BaK-4 Prism – Fully Multi-Coated Optics – Dual Focus – 22-67x Zoom Eyepiece
The Celestron Regal M2 100ED Spotting Scope is a high-performance optical tool designed for serious birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers. Its core is built around a 100mm objective lens made from Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass. This specialized material is crucial because it combats chromatic aberration, that color fringing you sometimes see around high-contrast edges.
The result for you is a view that is exceptionally sharp and rich with true-to-life color, even in challenging light conditions at high magnification.
To ensure you get the brightest possible image, Celestron has applied their premium XLT lens coatings to every air-to-glass surface inside the scope. These are the same coatings used on their professional telescopes, and they work by maximizing light transmission.
This means your view remains bright and clear during early morning or late evening outings when wildlife is most active. The prisms inside are BaK-4 grade and treated with both phase-correction and dielectric coatings, which further enhances image contrast, resolution, and overall fidelity.
One of the standout features is the versatile viewing system.
Celestron – Regal M2 80ED Spotting Scope – ED Glass for Birding and Outdoor Activities – Phase and Dielectric Coated BaK-4 Prism – Fully Multi-Coated Optics – Dual Focus – 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece
The Celestron Regal M2 80ED Spotting Scope is a high-performance optical tool designed for serious birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers. Its core is built around an 80mm objective lens made from Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass. This specialized material is key because it significantly reduces chromatic aberration—that color fringing or purple haze you sometimes see around high-contrast edges.
The result is an image that is exceptionally sharp, with true-to-life color fidelity, enhanced contrast, and resolution that brings distant details into clear veiw.
To ensure you get the brightest possible image, every air-to-glass surface in the M2 80ED is treated with Celestron’s proprietary XLT fully multi-layer coatings. These are the same coatings used on their professional telescopes, and they maximize light transmission through the entire optical path.
This means better performance in low-light conditions, like at dawn or dusk. The prism inside is a high-quality BaK-4 type, further treated with phase-correction and dielectric coatings for optimal brightness and image contrast.
The scope comes with a versatile 20-60x zoom eyepiece, giving you a wide range of magnification for everything from scanning a landscape to zeroing in on fine feather details.
Celestron – Ultima 100 Angled Spotting Scope – 22-66x Zoom Eyepiece – Multi-Coated Optics for Bird Watching, Wildlife, Scenery and Hunting – Waterproof & Fogproof– Includes Soft Carrying Case
The Celestron Ultima 100 Angled Spotting Scope is a high-performance optical tool designed for serious outdoor observation. With its 100mm objective lens, it gathers a significant amount of light, which is crucial for achieving a bright, clear image. The 45-degree angled eyepiece design offers a more comfortable viewing experience, especially during extended sessions, as it reduces neck and back strain compared to straight-through models.
This scope is built to be your reliable companion in the field.
Its core feature is the integrated 22-66x zoom eyepiece. This gives you incredible flexibility, allowing you to start with a wider 22x view to locate your subject—be it a bird in a tree or a deer on a distant ridge—and then zoom in up to 66x for intricate detail. The large focus dial is responsive and precise, letting you achieve sharp focus quickly before your subject moves.
The eyepiece also has a built-in T-adapter thread, making it ready for digiscoping so you can attach a camera and capture your observations.
Optical clarity is paramount, and the Ultima 100 utilizes full multi-coated optics. Every glass surface has multiple anti-reflective coatings. This technology minimizes internal light loss and glare, which directly translates to veiws with better color fidelity, higher contrast, and a noticeably brighter image.
Tasco World Class 20-60×60 Zoom Spotting Scope w/Mountable Tripod & 45 degree EP
The Tasco World Class 20-60×60 Zoom Spotting Scope w/Mountable Tripod & 45 degree EP is a serious tool for anyone who needs to see the details from a distance. Whether your watching birds, scouting a hunting area, or enjoying a day at the races, this scope brings the action closer with clarity and stability. Its built to handle the elements and provide a reliable viewing experience wherever your interests take you.
At the heart of this scope is its variable 20x to 60x magnification.
This wide zoom range gives you incredible flexibility. You can start at 20x for a wider, brighter view to locate your subject, then zoom all the way in to 60x to study fine details like feather patterns or antler points. The 60mm objective lens is the front glass that gathers light; a larger lens like this means better image brightness, especially in lower light conditions like dawn or dusk.
The field of view, which is how much you can see side-to-side, is 87 feet at 1000 yards on the 20x setting. It narrows as you zoom in, which is normal, but it helps you track and frame your subject effectively.
Image quality is enhanced by the fully coated lenses. This coating reduces internal glare and increases light transmission, resulting in a sharper, more contrasty view for you. The scope is also both waterproof and fogproof.
TASCO World Class 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope
The TASCO World Class 20-60x60mm Spotting Scope is built for those who need to see the fine details from a distance. Whether your tracking game in the field or observing a rare bird in its natural habitat, this scope brings the action closer with remarkable clarity. Its core purpose is to be a reliable, high-performance optical tool that stands up to real-world use.
At the heart of this scope is its 20-60x magnification paired with a 60mm objective lens.
This means you have the flexibility to zoom in for a wide-field view at 20x power or pull distant subjects incredibly close at the full 60x. The larger 60mm lens is key here, as it gathers ample light to ensure your view remains bright and clear, even in lower light conditions like dawn or dusk.
This versatility makes it adaptible to various scenarios, from scanning a mountainside to focusing on a single feather.
The quality of the view is paramount, and TASCO ensures this with fully coated optics and BK7 prisms. These components work together to enhance light transmission and reduce internal glare, which is what delivers that stunning HD clarity they mention. You’ll notice images are sharp, with good color fidelity and minimal distortion around the edges.
Ffp Scopes Buying Guide
Maintain reticle utility at any magnification setting. That’s the core promise of a first focal plane (FFP) scope. Unlike other designs, the reticle grows and shrinks with your target as you zoom. This means your holdover marks and mil-dots stay accurate, whether you’re on low power for a wide view or cranked up to max for a precise shot. It’s a huge advantage for tactical shooting or long-range hunting where quick, correct adjustments are everything. Let’s look at what makes a great FFP scope.
Reticle Design & Illumination
Since the reticle is your primary tool, its design is critical. A cluttered reticle on high magnification can obscure your target. Look for a clean, intuitive layout with useful markings like Christmas trees or simple mil-dots. Illumination is a major plus for low-light conditions, but ensure it has multiple brightness settings. The best ones offer a super-bright daytime setting and very dim levels for night use without washing out your vision.
Optical Clarity & Glass Quality
All the fancy features don’t matter if the glass is poor. You need bright, sharp, and color-accurate images, especially at dawn or dusk. Look for scopes with fully multi-coated lenses; thay maximize light transmission and reduce glare. Better glass often means a higher price, but it’s worth it for the confidence it provides when you need to identify your target clearly at distance.
Turret Performance & Feel
These are the dials you’ll be turning under pressure. They need to be precise, tactile, and reliable. Exposed tactical turrets with audible and tactile clicks are standard for quick adjustments. Check that they track accurately—meaning a click truly moves the point of impact the advertised amount. Also, a solid, zero-stop feature is invaluable. It lets you return to your original zero quickly after making long-range holds, without having to count clicks in the field.
Build Quality & Durability
Your scope has to handle recoil, weather, and the occasional bump. A robust, one-piece tube construction (usually 30mm or 34mm) is a sign of strength. It also allows for more internal adjustment range. Nitrogen or argon purging prevents internal fogging, and quality O-ring seals ensure it’s waterproof. Don’t forget the warranty; a company that stands behind their product for life speaks volumes about it’s durability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ffp Scopes
What does FFP mean on a scope?
FFP stands for First Focal Plane. In an FFP scope, teh reticle (the crosshair) is in the front part of the scope. This means the reticle grows and shrinks when you change the magnification. It’s a key feature for precise shooting at different ranges.
What’s the advantage of an FFP scope?
The big advantage is that your reticle’s markings are always accurate. The holdover points for wind or distance stay correct no matter what zoom level you’re on. This is super helpful for long-range shooting where you need to make quick adjustments.
How is FFP different from SFP?
SFP, or Second Focal Plane, scopes have the reticle in the rear. The reticle stays the same size while the target image zooms. The markings on an SFP reticle are only accurate at one specific magnification, usually the highest setting.
Are FFP scopes good for hunting?
They can be, but it depends. For most big game hunting at moderate ranges, an SFP scope is often simpler. An FFP scope’s reticle can get very thin at low power, making it hard to see in low light. For varmint or long-range hunting where you take precise shots, FFP is excellent.
Is an FFP scope harder to use?
Not really harder, just a bit different. The main thing to get used to is the reticle changing size. Once you understand that the markings are always true, it becomes a very intuitive system. Many shooters find them easier for making fast, accurate shots.
Why are FFP scopes generally more expensive?
The manufacturing process is more complex. Getting the precise etching on the front lens element and ensuring perfect performance accross all magnifications requires tighter tolerances. You’re paying for that advanced engineering and consistency.
What should I look for when buying one?
Focus on good glass clarity first. Then, choose a reticle you understand—simple is often better. Check the turrets to ensure they track accurately. Finally, consider the magnification range to make sure it fits your typical shooting distances. Don’t forget to budget for quality mounting rings too, they’re crucial.
Wrapping Things Up
First Focal Plane scopes offer distinct advantages for the shooter who values speed and precision at varied distances. They simplify the process, letting you use your reticle for holdovers and windage at any magnification. This means one less thing to think about when your target isn’t at a perfect, known range. For dynamic shooting or hunting in changing terrain, that consistency is a real benefit.
Ultimately, the best optic is the one that fits your specific needs and feels right to you. If your shooting involves quick adjustments at unknown ranges, the functionality of ffp scopes is hard to beat. Consider your typical scenarios, try a few models if you can, and you’ll find the perfect tool for your rifle. That confidence behind the glass is what really matters.