How many of you prefer rifles with back up irons as well as optics?

I practice using the irons on my Ruger GSR .308, gets to be a challenge though, I'm over 60 and shoot cast bullets standing.(occasionally with success)
Glad I have the Leatherwood/Hi-Lux 2-7 on it in Leupold QD mounts, for when it counts.
 
I've never found irons to cause any problems with snagging, etc. I like the look of them, and I like using them if possible...but that becomes less possible with every passing year. I have reliable QD rings on virtually all of my serious hunting rifles, and in addition to the irons most of the time I have a pre-sighted-in back-up scope in the truck/camp/whatever. When I get a new rifle, I always make sure the irons are sighted in before mounting a scope.

I have needed the back-up irons exactly once in 45+ years of hunting. I have also needed an emergency medical kit (once), a fire-starter (a few times), a pair of dry socks (way too many times...), spare eyeglasses (once), a knife (virtually every trip)...and I've always had those things with me. So...of course I want irons!
 
Much like some others here, my 48 year-old eyes don't like irons much anymore. That's why all my rifles have scopes.

BUT my Rem 760 in .308 is equipped with Leupold Quick Release mounts so that the scope can come off on days like the one this past November when it was snowing fat wet flakes and I was dogging deer through snow laden fir swamps. Under conditions like this clearing snow and moisture from the lenses is a constant battle. The irons worked just fine, even with my eyes, to drop the deer when it ran by at 15 yards :)
 
In 60 years of hunting I never have had an occasion where my scope failed. So for me iron sights on a hunting rifle are as useless as tits on a boar. I have removed them for the last 35 years...
 
If you down a moose and have telescope sight only, it can become a challenge to line up a mercy shot from 10 feet behind. I have both on my Remington 760 30-06, but scope only on Remington 700 35 Whelan. Would prefer to have both.
 
A rifle looks naked without irons. I had one scope fog on a deer hunt. I didn't have a back-up rifle, and no open sights either. I had to muddle through the rest of the week with a fogged scope. Same thing happened to my brother a few years later, but at least he had iron sights as back up.

I'm not saying I would never hunt with a rifle with only the scope and no irons, but I do like them being there.
 
I like my scout with irons. But it's really my only gun so going from scope to irons is nice for me as I can hone both skills with one rifle. When I hunt it wears a scope and has not failed me yet
 
The only rifles I do not remove the irons from are full stock carbines as they just don't look right "slick".........like Dennis, I have removed the sights from all other rifles for the past 40 years and I don't recall ever having a scope failure. When I hunt abroad I always take a spare quality scope already in rings and set up and sighted on my rifle. IF I ever do have a scope failure I will be back in serious form again in minutes and after a couple or three shots to assure POI/POA the hunt shall resume.
I can still use irons but it has never been my choice for serious hunting and I can't see inhibiting my capabilities by going backwards 50 years, when I own more than 100 scopes and taking a spare for each rifle is no big inconvenience.
The only thing sights do is to stop the barrel from slipping completely from blood covered hands when the ammo runs out..........
 
All but one of my rifles have sights, and I prefer them for Ontario shooting conditions. My T3 Battue has a MaSi QD mount with a 1.25-4x20 firedot VXR. My Howa 1500 does not have sights, but I wish it did. That rifle is so excellent, I got over it. It wears a 1-4x20 VX-2.
 
Slamfire said:
Essential ornaments on full stock carbines for aesthetic reasons only.

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.416 Remington Magnum Zastava LKM70 Custom Full Stock Carbine with Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5x20mm
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Click to expand...

100% agree, I love the look of my CZ's & Rugers with irons and full stocks - only have 4 but infatuated with the look, all sport optics tho ;)

About a 60 / 40 split with irons on the 40 side. Run Talley QD's on the .416 and .375 but everything has a scope for the failing light and eyes. Was pleasantly surprised at the range making sure that the irons where on the mark that even with 50+yr eyes that they would be perfectly acceptable in a pinch but that was in full daylight....

Dirk
 
Ruger No.1's also look right with iron sights. I'm ok with using these out to 50 meters or so. I like the idea a lot. Beyond that not so much.

Maybe something to put on the to-do list is to use iron sights when hunting Moose since the shot will be close up anyhow with Bullwinkle called in. ;)

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7.62x39 Ruger No.1-A with Leupold VX-1 2-7x28mm

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Thanks for the feedback.

Glad to see others don't like having all their eggs in one basket when you are miles away from your home.

Did a count on my guns and my sighting options, all but one has a scope only. Most have QD scope mounts, some flip up irons, peep, or ramp sights, with peep sights being my fav. But then again the ghostrings on my slug gun are so easy to use.

My kids have been spoiled using MilDot scopes, and had a tough time in Army Cadets getting back to the basics when qualifying with peep sights. :(
 
I've removed all my iron sights on scoped rifles starting way back in the 70's.

Never had a single time where they were required.
 
I actually added a front sight to my Ruger M77 stainless rifle and carry a spare NECG peep sight for it when on remote wilderness hunts. I have irons on my dangerous game rifles, along with QD mounts for the scopes. I have smooth barrels on a few rifles, but prefer to have back up irons. I have actually used them to shoot game on two or three occasions, and have hunted in driving sleet with the scope removed a few times. Some of my rifles, like a couple of lever actions and muzzle loaders, will never wear a scope. but I have peep sights on them, because my eyes can't use open rear sights very well any more.
 
I mount my optics low, never did like see thru after my first set on my first rifle a win 94. Last few years , since 41 my or going. So scopes seem to be outfitting my rifles. Most are low power, 5 or under. Buy the best optic you can. Plan on going higher power on my 22 S , 24 power possibly, 221 fireball, 22 hornet.
 
I like using peep sight system for back up on my rifles. I have a few dedicated rifles that have scope and peeps on that I use mostly
 
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