First or Second Focal Plane for FT scopes, newbie HELP

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C

CBS101

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Oct 20, 2021
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NY, United States
Hi all,

OK, so I'm a newbie so pardon my ignorance. I've purchased an Air Arms TX200 MK3 and am looking for a scope for FT competition. Budget is around $1000 US.

The big question for me is should I go with first focal plane or second? It seems there's a plethora of 2nd focal planes out there with great magnification, up to 50x.

I've shot a powder burner out to 1000 yards and used a first focal plane for dialing yardage and loved that. It seems this is a completely different animal though. 

Logically, the first focal plane makes more sense but I clearly don't know about the intricacies of the sport yet so I need HELP!

Anything you folks could help with would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Much,

Chris
 
You pretty much answered your own question, well sort of! You’re on the right track.😆 Both FFP & SFP are great for their intended purposes. I choose to use FFP scopes with top magnification of around 24x, 26x or maybe even 29x. Or, when I need ranging & estimating capabilities to be quick & easy(SFP scopes can be used too). In simple terms, for me, the higher the top end of the magnification range, like 10-40x56, 15-60x52 or 5-50x56, I go with SFP scopes so the reticle doesn’t obscure my view when cranked up. I love having a quality, high magnification scope on my air guns, so most of mine are SFP. Some love high magnification, SFP scopes, some don’t. Others will certainly chime in with their feelings. There are obviously other factors but for me, the reticle getting too huge on high magnification is my main determining factor. Everything about scopes is so subjective!

Stoti
 
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It truly just depends on what you get used to using. For my personal preference I only use FFP scopes on all my guns including my springers. I know that a lot people say they don’t like the reticle size on a FFP when on the lower end of the magnification. Though I don’t shoot FT with air guns I do shoot 22 matches(NRL22,PRS22 and outlaw). I’ve shot targets from 25yds to 450yds and shoot 99% of the time on 10x. Never going lower and very seldom going above. Either one will do what you want. 
 
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What FT class will you be shooting in? Most tend to start out in Hunter (bucket and sticks) with a 16X scope mag. limit. The reticle on some big (5-40, 10-50x) ffp scopes is pretty small and fine when cranked down to 16X. The best advice that I received when I was in your position is to go to a FT match. Ask questions, ask to look thru some different scopes, find out as much as you can about the game and the equipment being used BEFORE spending any money. Uj
 
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For Hunter field target, the magnification limit of 16x means the FFP scope reticle is set at 16x. (obviously) A Second focal plane scope with a 20x or 24x reticle will give you a larger reticle that is easier to (for me) to estimate the hold overs that land between the mil dot hash marks. Your TX200 will give you hold overs mostly less than 1.5 Mil except for the closest target ranges and the 50yd+ ranges. That means you will be in a position to estimate a .3, .4, .5, .6, .7, .8 mil etc. hold points which will be between the hash marks of the reticle. I find it easier to estimate them with a larger reticle. So I have chosen to use a SFP scope.

My Element Helix 6-24x SFP scope has a 24x reticle and runs about $400. My Hawke Sidewinder 8-32x SFP scope has a 20x reticle and runs $630 ish and has an illuminated reticle for low light targets in the shadows.

Another consideration is that you will be using the parallax wheel to estimate the target range. Some scopes (like the Element) will adjust from 10 - 55 yds over a 180 deg rotation of the parallax wheel- giving more space between the range markings on a parallax wheel. The Hawke goes from 10-55 yds over about 90 deg rotation so it is a little easier to misread the target range on the longer distances which are also the most crucial to get right. (because the hold over changes more per 1 yard of change).

UglyJohn's advice to attend a match to see what is being used is very sound. Often, someone will have brought a gun set up for visitors to use so they can shoot a course. People love to talk about their setup and share lessons they have learned. If I had done that, I would not have purchased a non illuminated reticle scope (because our FT course has targets in shaded areas that are very difficult to see without illumination) My current dilemma is whether it is better to have illumination (Hawke) or better range estimation (Element).

Good luck, Curtis




 
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Hey Folks,

Thanks so much for the replies, I appreciate all of your comments. I have gone to a match a couple years back and did find everyone there very helpful. There is a local (Rochester NY) club that I'll be shooting at. I am working with the match director there to pick his brain about scopes and take a look at a couple to. 

Feel free to keep the advice coming, I'm really enjoying all your comments and experience.



Greatly appreciated,



Chris
 
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If shooting in open or WFTF I'd use a high magnification scope, like a SFP 10-50, etc, because ranging using the side focus with a big wheel attached to it is easier on high magnification. 

In Hunter at 15x-16x I'm not sure what has been decided as most forgiving. If the scope has a shallower depth of field and a longer rotation in the side focus that would help determine range. It's the 40y to 55y targets that are harder to range. Some of the better shooters have gotten good at using their reticles to help determine distances.

I prefer FFP but SFP is the go-to for most FT shooters. The only time I felt like I might have had a slight advantage using FFP was when I used my reticle to help determine distance using the reticle or when it was really windy when I had to aim off a couple mils.
 
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Not sure you saw Camera Land Inc has the Hawke Side winder 8-40X56mm marked down from $899.95 to $549.99. It was designed for FT shooting and full-bore target. I just bought my second Arken which is a FFP scope. Couldn’t pass on it when I saw a code to save a hundred dollars on it on this forum. Thinking about the Hawke. But have a Barra 12-60x56mm already. It has Japanese glass. And the clarity is amazing. 
 
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I have and use both. Illuminated reticles easily solve the problem of lower powers and thin reticles when using FFP. It's a non issue for me.
SFP is not always accurately calibrated. It is only true on one power in the power range. FFP is accurate on any power.
Here is a briefly discussion about this First vs second focal plane from where i learnt alot of things.
 
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