First Focal Plane vs. Second Focal Plane Reticles

So, you’re in the market for a riflescope.

Maybe you’re a casual bench shooter who wants to shoot tight groups or a hunter wanting to stretch your range. Maybe you want to step into the world of competitive shooting. Or perhaps you’re simply looking for an optic for your new rifle.

The great news is you have more scopes to choose from than ever before, including from Swampfox. But before you buy, you’ll first need to decide what type of riflescope you need – more specifically, first focal plane (FFP) or second focal plane (SFP).

Also referred to as front and rear focal plane in reference to the position of the etched reticle lens in relation to the optic’s zoom mechanism, FFP and SFP each have a place on the range, at home, and in the field. However, each also have pros and cons that may or may not suit you and your shooting needs.

First Focal Plane

In an FFP riflescope, the reticle is located between the front objective lens and magnification assembly, positioning it further from the shooter’s eye. When zooming in and out, the reticle will grow and shrink with the observed image, allowing ballistic measurements, or subtensions, to remain constant at all magnification levels.

Example: Imagine you’re shooting a target 300 yards away. Your rifle is topped with a Swampfox Warhorse 1-6x FFP LPVO, whose Dragoon MOA reticle has markings to adjust for bullet drop over distance. Since the reticle and target are both magnified, your holdovers will stay the same no matter if you are zoomed in at 1x, 3x, 6x, or anywhere in between.

Second Focal Plane

In an SFP riflescope, the reticle is located between the rear ocular lens and magnification assembly, positioning it closer to the shooter’s eye. This enables the reticle to stay the same size while the target grows and shrinks with magnification. When shooting, an SFP reticle’s ballistic and distance measurements will change when zoomed in and out, often requiring the use of DOPE charts.

Example: This time, you’re ranging on a target at 200 yards. Your Swampfox Arrowhead 1-8x SFP LPVO has markings on its Guerrilla Dot MIL Long reticle that help adjust for wind but are only accurate when zoomed in fully at 8x power. If you zoom out, the target will get smaller, but the reticle will remain the same size, impacting the accuracy of your windage readings and shot.

Like firearms, consider use case when deciding between FFP and SFP optics. Whether hunting, competing, or shooting recreationally, consider how you'll be using the riflescope.

If you're going to be shooting at varying distances and need to make quick adjustments – like when big game hunting – an FFP optic might be better. However, if you're primarily going to be shooting at known distances, like an established 50-yard outdoor range, or if you're on a budget, an SFP scope may be a better choice.

Because first focal plane optics offer better accuracy at varying distances, FFP scopes are best used when long-range precision matters, such as big game hunting, competitive shooting, and military/tactical applications. Second focal plane scopes, however, are often lighter weight and simpler to shoot, making SFP optics ideal for close-range hunting, tactical, and defensive applications. Either FFP or SFP can be used for basic target shooting at the range.

First Focal Plane

Advantages of FFP:

• Constant subtension allows for accurate ballistic holdovers at any magnification
• Magnified reticles improve visibility of enlarged holdover markings
• Potential for increased accuracy at higher powers

Disadvantages of FFP:

• Reticle may appear too small at low magnification or too large at high magnification
• Magnified reticles may cover small targets at high power
• FFP optics are usually more expensive than SFP scopes

Second Focal Plane

Advantages of SFP:

• Easier to aim, as the reticle stays the same size regardless of magnification
• Less complicated internals often mean SFP scopes are lighter weight than FFP optics
• SFP optics are generally less expensive than FFP scopes

Disadvantages of SFP:

• Subtensions change with magnification, requiring more quick math when shooting
• Reticle markings are only accurate at one specific magnification setting, usually the highest
• SFP optics are prone to parallax error, though this can be corrected on optics with parallax adjustment dials

Swampfox offers both first focal plane and second focal plane optics across our series of LPVO and precision riflescopes. Whether you’re military or law enforcement, a hunter or competitive shooter, or just a recreational range goer, we have the scope for your every need.

FFP Optics:

• Warhorse LPVO
• Kentucky Long Precision Riflescope
• Patriot Precision Riflescope
• Warhawk Precision Riflescope

SFP Optics:

• Arrowhead LPVO
• Tomahawk LPVO (Legacy)
• Tomahawk II LPVO

Try Swampfox optics risk-free with our money-back satisfaction guarantee. If FFP or SFP isn't right for you, simply return your scope within 30 days and exchange it for the other or a full refund.

Is FFP or SFP better for hunting?

There's no correct answer here, and anyone telling you otherwise is oversimplifying.

Hunting engagements are typically much closer than competition or long-range target shooting, which makes holdover accuracy less relevant in the first place. At the distances most hunters actually shoot, the subtension difference between FFP and SFP is not what decides whether you tag out.

What does matter for a lot of hunters is the sight picture. SFP reticles stay the same size regardless of magnification, which many hunters prefer because the reticle stays clean and readable at any power. FFP reticles get finer at low magnification and thicker at high magnification, which can be a real annoyance depending on the reticle design and lighting conditions. Many hunters find the SFP presentation easier to work with for that reason alone.

SFP also tends to be lighter and less expensive at the same spec level, both real considerations on a hunting build.

If you're hunting open country at genuinely long ranges where holdovers matter, an FFP scope's consistent subtensions have value. For most hunting applications, the choice comes down to which reticle presentation you prefer and what fits your budget.

How do you use a first focal plane scope?

The same way you use any variable-power scope, with one difference: you don't have to be at a specific magnification for your holdovers to work. Set your power for whatever sight picture you need, more magnification for distant targets, less for fast or close ones, and the reticle marks stay accurate at every setting. For ranging, use your mil or MOA marks at whatever magnification gives you a useful image. For holdovers, the hash marks and dots on your reticle are correct at any power.

The one thing worth knowing is that FFP reticles can get very fine at low magnification. On a 1-6x or 1-8x, the reticle at 1x may be difficult to pick up quickly, especially in low light. Make sure your reticle illumination is strong enough for the low-power work you plan to do.

How do you zero a second focal plane scope?

The same way you zero any other scope. Pick your zero distance, shoot a group, and adjust your turrets until the point of impact matches your point of aim. Magnification does not affect your zero — point of impact stays the same regardless of what power you're on.

What does change with magnification on an SFP scope is the accuracy of your reticle's holdover marks. Those are calibrated at one specific power setting, almost always maximum, so if you're using the reticle for holdovers rather than dialing, you need to be at the calibrated power for those marks to be correct. But that has nothing to do with how you zero the scope.

What does FFP mean on a scope?

FFP stands for First Focal Plane. It refers to the position of the reticle inside the scope, specifically that the reticle sits in front of the magnification assembly rather than behind it. Because of that placement, the reticle scales with magnification: it grows as you zoom in and shrinks as you zoom out. The result is that subtensions, your windage marks, holdover dots, and ranging lines, stay accurate at every power setting. When you see FFP on a spec sheet, it means the reticle behaves this way. SFP, or Second Focal Plane, means the opposite: the reticle stays fixed while the image changes.

Is a first focal plane scope worth the extra cost?

If your shooting requires accurate holdovers at variable magnification, yes. If it doesn't, probably not. The FFP premium is real at every price tier. That cost buys you subtension accuracy across the zoom range, which matters for precision shooting, hunting at unknown distances, and any application where you need holdovers that work regardless of your power setting.