Weaning yourself off of optics?

Eagle160

Eagle160

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So I am a self professed optics hunter. I began with irons like you should and as soon as I got my first scope I never looked back at open sights. I love the ease of telescopic sights and prefer to have them when I go afield.

Here's the dilemma. I am really starting to obsess about the new Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle and think I'd like to purchase one. Problem, I hate the scout scope forward set up and would prefer to use the ghost ring irons deal over using the standard rear mount position either.

Does anybody who used to be an optics only/mainly hunter now go mainly/exclusively with open sights where the majority of shots are 100-250 yards for Whitetails? My eyesight is still good so I don't have any excuse to be forced to use a scope.

Just curious if I'm going to be in a world of regret to sell my T3 with optics and kick it old schoo again?
 
Personally, I'm an Iron guy under 100 yards, and Optics over 100, unless I'm hunting varmints, then it's irons preferred at any range, but if Optics are there, I won't comlain.

I take my hunting seriously, and I'll take any advantage I can at making the first shot the last shot.

I'f I'm punching paper though, I've been known to drop the scope and fall back to Iron's just to "test" myself. It is nice to know that if I screw up a scope on a hunt, I could fall back to my Irons and still make a Minute of Whitetail shot at 150 to 200.
 
mbogo3 said:
I'd need a double eye transplant to turn back the clock........Harold
Click to expand...

How true!! LOL! If I can use irons, I use them as there is something about still hunting jumpers with a good 'ole .30-30 with irons. Sometimes is just isn't possible though, and so the scoped rifle comes along for the ride.
 
i love irons, i only have 2 guns with scopes. my 223 for yotes and my 308 fo moose. i use my ruger 77/44 on deer 200 yards and under and on small game with 44 spls. i have a cz 455 and ruger 10/22 for just plain fin! all irons. ruger 77/44 is by far my favorite gun! just a great gun!
 
I suppose all is not lost as te Gusite haas a couple of scoping options anyway. I'd sure hate to miss the buck of a lifetime without an optic, LOL.
 
I use an aperature sight on all my lever guns as i'm fairly trajectory limited anyways.
My "serious" bolt action rifles have scopes.
As long as the ghost ring is threaded to accept a standard apreature, you shouldnt have a problem making 150+ yrd shots with a little practice. I find the ghost ring to be a little large when there is no insert in it.
Just my opionion.
 
I'm sure that there is, I dont know it though. I just have a couple and swap em around for fun at the the range and hunting.

Just do it. It will be fun, and you can always get a scope later if you feel like it. This way you save a few hundred at the beggining.
 
I once had an A bolt 270 with a peep sight on it that I could consistantly either break or be very close to a clay pigeon size tagret at 200 yards. More than adequate for a deer rifle. My present 99F in 300 sav groups around 1.5" at 100 yds and I wouldn't pass up a decent 200 yd shot on a deer size target. Both use the standard arperture that comes with the Williams Fool Proof sight.
 
Nice! If I can shoot that well at 150 yards than I'll likely not put a scope on it. I guess it's all about the practice and being comfortable with the fit of the rifle. Good eyes will likely be aan asset aas well.
 
I had a rifle with a scope about 20 years ago. I sold it and have stuck with irons ever since. I practice out to 200 yards.
 
Yep, eliminating the optics will also eliminate the issues with wet and snowy conditions and not having to worry about that extra bump knocking things awry.
 
I'm split between irons and scopes on my rifles and have used both over the last few years to punch my tag. It adds a new dimension to the stalk and the overall hunt that I enjoy. I agree that it would bite to miss the buck of a lifetime due to not having a scope but I still enjoy carrying an unscripted rifle.
 
Dusk and dawn are critical times for hunting, good clear bright binoculars and rifle scopes it is important to me. It will also help to see what is beyond my target for safety reasons. (ie: another hunter, house, livestock, etc.)
 
I think about the irons once in a while, reasoning that brush ranges are short, accuracy is adequite and the guns are sure handy and light. For that specialty use it appears to make sense.

Then I try it.:( Turns out the light is low, the thick brush makes it darker and shooting between the trees works better than trying to plow through them. Then theres the situations where you can't tell head from tail and bull from cow without optics. The plan falls apart before the range gets long.
 
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