A new first focal plane scope has arrived, and Mike Morton checks out this feature-packed 5.5-25×50 sight from Aztec Optics
Aztec has had a second focal plane 5.5-25×50 model in its line-up for some time now, but has just built a first focal plane version.
This means the spacing between the aim points on the reticle remains constant throughout the entire magnification range of the optic, so there’ll be no difference in holdover and holdunder, regardless of what mag setting you’ve chosen.
Key Specs
Manufacturer: Aztec Optics
UK distributor: Xabla Accessories (www.xabla.co.uk)
Model: 5.5-25×50 FFP
Price: £549
Tube diameter: 30mm
Objective lens: 50mm
Magnification range: 5.5-25
Reticle: DYND-1 (MOA)
Turret adjustments: ¼ minute of angle
Focus: Side focus
Parallax: 10 yards (nine metres) to infinity
Field of view: 19.1yds to 4.2yds at 33yds (17.5m to 3.8m at 30m)
Eye relief: 3.54” to 3.94” (8.9cm to 10cm)
Length: 14.38” (36.5cm)
Weight: 25.4oz (720g)
Illumination: Red and green, each with five levels of illumination
Resettable turrets: Yes
Features: Sidewheel, lens covers, sunshade
Aztec took on board some feedback from airgun shooters around the world when it built the FFP, which is part of the company’s Emerald series. It features extremely clear glass, and is capable of focusing down to 10 yards, making it perfect for airgun use.
The saddle features low-profile tactical turrets that are easy to operate – just pull them up and adjust point of aim, then push them back down to lock them.
This scope features Aztec’s DYND-1 (MOA) reticle. The crosshairs here are far finer than many similar FFP scopes I’ve looked at, which should give a boost to precision at higher magnifications. This reticle is based on minute of angle subtensions, a measurement that is based on degrees and minutes.
There are 360 degrees in a full circle and 60 minutes in a degree, making a total of 21,600 minutes. What’s more useful for the shooter, however, is the fact that one minute of angle represents 1.05 inches at 100 yards, or 0.525 inches at 50 yards.
Crucially, each turret click will adjust the shot by ¼ MOA, so if you need to make a half-inch adjustment at 50 yards, that means four clicks.
Aztec’s 5.5-25×50 FFP comes with side focus parallax correction, and is shockproof, fogproof and waterproof. The reticle is illuminated in red and green, with five levels of brightness for each. The package also includes both elasticated bikini-style lens covers and push-on flip-up covers.
If you are using the latter, use the fast-focus eyepiece to adjust the reticle before slipping it over the ocular bell. Included with each unit is a large sidewheel, a sunshade, a lens cloth and a CR2032 lithium 3v battery. The scope comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and it is distributed by Xabla Accessories
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