Another SFP vs FFP post

[Jpsmith1]

And I would agree, if I can’t see the center aiming point on low power, the scope doesn’t make any sense to hunt with.
However, I would put the Swfa reticle up against any sfp reticle I’ve used as far as how useable it is at low mag.

It's not that I can't see the crosshair. I see it. I can't really make out the hashes at lowest power, but I see the whole thing

It's entirely mental on my part. I am not seeing the crosshair that a deep, conditioned part of my brain WANTS. It WANTS a standard duplex reticle. The same duplex reticle it has seen 10s, if not hundreds of thousands of times either just peeking through a scope when I was young and dumb and didn't carry binos or taking a shot in practice or hunting.

This is why I'm asking if there is a benefit worth working to recondition my brain for.

I'm sure the scope is fine in the right hands, I'm just not sure mine are

 

[rookieforever33]

Full disclosure I have not taken the s2h class or any that in depth. But I have taken a couple 1 day classes at local clubs years ago to learn some basics. As well as a couple summers shotting tactical 3 gun matches for fun. I would say if you are thirsty for knowledge, want to improve your skills, and can find somethingthat fits your budget, go for it. Even if you trade a little hunting time for it. It is still outdoors, it is still hunt related, it still builds skills, and you will probably be able to either use or shoot different equipment you never have used before.

 

[43.6N]

It's not that I can't see the crosshair. I see it. I can't really make out the hashes at lowest power, but I see the whole thing

It's entirely mental on my part. I am not seeing the crosshair that a deep, conditioned part of my brain WANTS. It WANTS a standard duplex reticle. The same duplex reticle it has seen 10s, if not hundreds of thousands of times either just peeking through a scope when I was young and dumb and didn't carry binos or taking a shot in practice or hunting.

This is why I'm asking if there is a benefit worth working to recondition my brain for.

I'm sure the scope is fine in the right hands, I'm just not sure mine are

All good man.
To paraphrase my original post, you’ve clearly thought it through, and a ffp scope doesn’t have much to offer right now. And that’s ok.
It’s not some status symbol to show others that “you’ve arrived” as a hunter. It’s a tool like any other. If you’re not in a situation where you think it gives an advantage, then go with something that will.

 

[schmidty3]

It's not that I can't see the crosshair. I see it. I can't really make out the hashes at lowest power, but I see the whole thing

It's entirely mental on my part. I am not seeing the crosshair that a deep, conditioned part of my brain WANTS. It WANTS a standard duplex reticle. The same duplex reticle it has seen 10s, if not hundreds of thousands of times either just peeking through a scope when I was young and dumb and didn't carry binos or taking a shot in practice or hunting.

This is why I'm asking if there is a benefit worth working to recondition my brain for.

I'm sure the scope is fine in the right hands, I'm just not sure mine are

SFP with CAPPED turrets is ideal for what you are doing.

You arent missing anything as long as you stay doing what you are doing. I really like my older vx6 2-12 for woods stuff. And for woods, you'll never dial. Dont have that failure mode and get something with capped turrets.

FFP reticles come into play when we start shooting past 300+ consistently, and really become necessary for wind holds. Really need a lot of rounds through that system to be competent and confident with it.

Someone mentioned a 6x swfa. Ive been in too many situations where 3x was too much to think that would be relevant. Personally I'd want my scope to start with 2x.


You gotta remember most of the guys on here are really trying to maximize their ability to kill stuff further and out west. Doesn't make it right for the woods.

And maybe youre just an old dog...i put THE maven on my dads new gun. "So the 1 means 100 and the 2 means 200 etc". No dad. The caps being exposed has me worried with him too . Its just too much going on for an old codger.

 

[flyfisher117]

You gotta remember most of the guys on here are really trying to maximize their ability to kill stuff further and out west. Doesn't make it right for the woods.

I’ve been noticing this a lot in here lately. Western vs Eastern hunters telling each other they’re wrong because they use different skills/gear in different ways. There’s also the odd few trying to make them selves change their system because a few guys that live thousands of miles away say that it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[Jpsmith1]

I’ve been noticing this a lot in here lately. Western vs Eastern hunters telling each other they’re wrong because they use different skills/gear in different ways. There’s also the odd few trying to make them selves change their system because a few guys that live thousands of miles away say that it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

For myself, I wanted a "better" optic. My old glass was a 1978 Redfield 4-12x with the "accu range" reticle which is a really clever use of subtension in a SFP scope.

I had some non-negotiables such as a larger objective lens (50mm or larger) and a 30mm tube, variable power with a 2x or 3x bottom end and a moderate upper end. I ended up with a 3-15x variable but a 2-10x or a 3-9x is just as good. I did NOT want a crazy tacti-cool 'christmas tree' type reticle just for hunting nor did I want fancy sniper knobs to get messed up busting through brush. Capped or lockable turrets are great but exposed knobs were a hard no.

I wound up with the Burris Veracity MAD 3-15. The glass is pretty good. I like the capped turrets. I can't with the reticle without a lot of practice.

I think I'm going to wind up putting a Maven or mid-level Vortex like a Viper on the rifle.

Thank you to everyone for their input. This has been a great conversation

 

[Jpsmith1]

SFP with CAPPED turrets is ideal for what you are doing.

You arent missing anything as long as you stay doing what you are doing. I really like my older vx6 2-12 for woods stuff. And for woods, you'll never dial. Dont have that failure mode and get something with capped turrets.

FFP reticles come into play when we start shooting past 300+ consistently, and really become necessary for wind holds. Really need a lot of rounds through that system to be competent and confident with it.

Someone mentioned a 6x swfa. Ive been in too many situations where 3x was too much to think that would be relevant. Personally I'd want my scope to start with 2x.


You gotta remember most of the guys on here are really trying to maximize their ability to kill stuff further and out west. Doesn't make it right for the woods.

And maybe youre just an old dog...i put THE maven on my dads new gun. "So the 1 means 100 and the 2 means 200 etc". No dad. The caps being exposed has me worried with him too . Its just too much going on for an old codger.

I do have goals to climb a mountain and chase an elk. They're 'stretch' goals and, between my age and the ever-escalating costs they may never materialize.

I am a bit of an old dog, but I'm mentally pretty flexible. I understand external ballistics pretty well, but I also understand that Murphy of Murphy's Law fame love to hang out on the sides of hills and in the middle of laurel and rose thickets, poking his fingers where they don't belong and simple works a lot better than fancy. I don't like things that fail easily.

I, too, am a touch skeptical of the fixed 6. I had a deer standing a whopping 6 feet behind me that I spun and shot with a 3x and all I could see was brown.

I think I'm going to play with my rifles a bit and set up 2. The 7 Mag, which is the rifle this topic surrounds, with a decent SFP scope and a light straight wall with a red dot for urban deer.