AR Sponsor
Posted: 5/19/2014 4:30:03 AM EDT
| I am sure there is already a few of these but I could not find any. I am trying to choose between 1st & 2nd. The optic will be a Vortex Viper PST 4-16 on an 5.56 AR. The rifle will be used mostly for target with the occasional hunting. Please throw those opinions at me. I might be able to get some more info from all of you than I have found. Thanks. |
|
My opinion is that FFP is for easier ranging. SFP works fine for most purposes. I do like FFP for combination reticles, like the one found in the SWFA SS HD 1-6X. At 1X it's a big, red, round circle, with a little aiming point in the middle. At 6X the aiming point grows into a mil ranging reticle.  I have one of these on my main defensive carbine. It's really pretty awesome. I have a 10-50X fine crosshair (SFP) reticle on my F-class gun. Why? Because I don't have to range the target, and I want the reticle to remain constant. I have a Nightforce 2.5-15X (FFP) on my DMR Grendel. Why? Because I do need to range the target. |
| I prefer FFP. Take a look at this, it covers some of the basic information between the two. FFP vs SFP |
|
With the availability and accuracy of laser range finders, using reticles to range very seldomly occurs anymore. Any shooter that chooses to be as quickly effective as possible will use the reticle for hold overs, elevation and windage. FFP has an extreme benefit here, regardless of the magnification, the sub tensions or hash mark values never change.
For paper shooting at static targets the SFP optic would perform just fine however. |
|
There are two reasons to choose SFP over FFP. 1. Cost. usually SFP scopes are cheaper than their FFP counterparts. 2. The second reason is more complex. The thickness of the cross hair. As you change magnification on a FFP, the crosshair thickness changes too. If the reticle is super fine at max magnification (16x) then it will be 1/4 as thick at 4x. So if it's REALLY fine at 16, you won't be able to see it at 4x. vice-versa at 4x if it's visible, it becomes 4x larger and thicker at 16x. #2 is why dual style reticles, like the 1-6x SWFA are important in FFP. That little crosshair is visible, but just barely at 1x. You mostly aim with the Donut. But that donut gets REALLY thick at 6x, but thankfully it is just outside the scope picture at 6x, and the crosshair becomes very usable. SFP @1x and 4x Reticle remains the same.   FFP at 1x, 4x, and 6x    |
|
Quoted: There are two reasons to choose SFP over FFP. 1. Cost. usually SFP scopes are cheaper than their FFP counterparts. 2. The second reason is more complex. The thickness of the cross hair. As you change magnification on a FFP, the crosshair thickness changes too. If the reticle is super fine at max magnification (16x) then it will be 1/4 as thick at 4x. So if it's REALLY fine at 16, you won't be able to see it at 4x. vice-versa at 4x if it's visible, it becomes 4x larger and thicker at 16x. #2 is why dual style reticles, like the 1-6x SWFA are important in FFP. That little crosshair is visible, but just barely at 1x. You mostly aim with the Donut. But that donut gets REALLY thick at 6x, but thankfully it is just outside the scope picture at 6x, and the crosshair becomes very usable. SFP @1x and 4x Reticle remains the same. FFP at 1x, 4x, and 6x |
|
Quoted:
I am sure there is already a few of these but I could not find any. I am trying to choose between 1st & 2nd. The optic will be a Vortex Viper PST 4-16 on an 5.56 AR. The rifle will be used mostly for target with the occasional hunting. Please throw those opinions at me. I might be able to get some more info from all of you than I have found. Thanks. For the magnification range you're looking at, FFP is the obvious & best answer. In fact, I like FFP scope for anything 6x and up. When dealing with High Quality and Durable optics, you'll find far more options with FFP t5hen SFP; and there is a reason for that. 
|
AR Sponsor