First Sight

The case for putting a first-focal-plane scope on your hunting rifle

- John B. Snow

FOR THE LONGEST time, American hunters wanted nothing to do with first-focal-plane scopes. They were a European thing—like monarchies, futball, and bidets—and as such were suspect and best avoided if at all possible. Long ago we developed a preference for simple duplex reticles in the second focal plane in scopes with magnification ranges of 3X–9X, or if we wanted to shoot longer distances, 4X–12X. Until about seven years ago, these scopes accounted for approximately 90 percent of the hunting market. But in order to take advantage of the improved accuracy of everyday rifles and ammunition, more hunters are putting FFP scopes on their deer guns.

The first time I mounted an FFP scope on a rifle was around two decades back. It was a Kahles 1X–6X with a thick duplex. When the magnification was cranked all the way up, that reticle filled the viewfinder. Referring to the reticle as “crosshairs” didn’t capture its essence. It was more like a pair of crossed 2x4s dominating the sight picture.

For someone not used to that, it was unsettling. The biggest gripe I’d hear from hunters was that the reticles were clunky and less precise at higher magnifications, which is exactly what you don’t want for distant targets.