For close quarters bush hunting, nothing replaces good Iron sights

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Home3

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For a year now, I have been trying to improve upon my Battue 308's open sights (with Truglo fiber optics). I hunt in an area where the average shot is at 30-40 yards and the length of time between a deer emerging out of the dense bush, crossing the trail and walking into the bush on the other-side, is usually less than 5 Mississippi's. Specially, when there are dogs around. So it is all about fast target acquisition and accurate shooting under that kind of duress.

I quickly set aside Red Dots. I was disappointed with Eotec's ineffectiveness when following a moving target on a background of orange-red maple leafs, in daylight. For that reason, I did not bother with Aimpoint or VX.R. which were also on my list. (Note to self: Red Dots are made primarily for tactical shooting, not hunting!)

Next I tried a few fixed/low mag. scopes that I could get my hands on. Nothing special, the run of the mill 2-7 or 4 X fixed Redfield and Bushnell's. Again, did not gain any speed or accuracy over the open sights. Some better than the others, but not getting any closer to the Squirrels I was using as target...(don't worry, didn't hit any :( ). Hence, the title of this thread; For close quarters bush hunting, nothing replaces good Iron sights.

Also, I now realize that, this kind of hunting requires a completely different set of skills than...say hunting from a stand. I will appreciate any comments, both pro or against.
 
"For close quarters bush hunting, nothing replaces good Iron sights"

Agreed. However, with age, eyesight fails and scopes have their place in the open areas. As a result, two of my hunting guns sport quick-detach mounts. Scope comes off when in bush (or if fogged,) and goes back on in cut blocks. To me, quality mounts are now more important than the scope... .
 
I've been a scope guy for years.

This year, I bought my first muzzleloader, and with funds a bit tight I decided to run with the factory irons it came with. This is the first time I've ever used irons while hunting deer. I have to agree with the OP. I find them much quicker to aquire the target when you are presented with a short time to do so.

I won't be taking the scope off my rifle anytime soon, as I still think I'm better off for long shots with it, but I don't think I'll be putting one on my ML as my shots will almost always be within 100yds.
 
I have to agree. Tough to beat open sights that you are use to.
I was speaking with a colleague at work about a deer he lost this fall. I sad topic for any hunter.
He was telling me how this deer ended up right in front him in thick bush, he up fired and it disappeared as quick as it appeared.
He shoots a .270 wsm with a 3x9 for moose and deer. He said "ya know I've shot this thing at 100, 200 and 300 yards and know exactly where it shoots at these ranges but I have no idea of where it shoots at 20 yards". I think he'll be checking that now...

That being said, nothing like a nice scope when you're sitting.

A
 
Great if your eyes can see them. My older eyes can't. I recently put a 1.5 - 6X that has a 30 mil tube and a 40 mil objective on it. This gives it a huge exit pupil on low power and it also has a German style reticle (3 bold posts). Very easy to pick up a target quickly.
 
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scientifically and physiologically speaking you're wrong. Reddot sights or low power conventional scopes are faster than iron sights. The need to align 3 focal planes with irons does not lend itself to rapid work. This problem is eliminated when you remove one focal plane and use a reddot or low power scope.

The variable brightness of a reddot and/or the naturally centering reticle style of the German number 4 with left right and bottom posts also greatly aid the eye in finding the center of the reticle for faster times on target. Incidentally both systems allow for greater accuracy or rather precision placement of shots due to their finer reticle dimensions over irons.

Tdc
 
Its all about what you are used to using and what system you have trained more extensively with. Under 50 yards I find it makes no difference to me. I bring the rifle up and fire as soon as the front sight is on, rear peep takes care of itself, focus on the front sight only. I can just as easily do it with a red dot.
 
Home3 said:
I quickly set aside Red Dots. I was disappointed with Eotec's ineffectiveness when following a moving target on a background of orange-red maple leafs, in daylight. For that reason, I did not bother with Aimpoint or VX.R. which were also on my list. (Note to self: Red Dots are made primarily for tactical shooting, not hunting!)
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I've tried all kinds of different red dots. I agree, Eotechs are not my cup of tea either. Aimpoint's are pretty good, though getting up there in size for some models. Keep in mind you can choose different size "dots". I'm currently using a Docter Red Dot for short range coyote,etc. on my Rem 7615 pump. Works awesome!
The only advantage iron sights have over the good red dots is the fact they don't require batteries. For close range running/moving game, red dots are far superior to irons.
 
The battue sights are great. Are you using a tikka? The ramp is fantastic to use for quick moving shots. I'm thinking of seeing if I can add after market battue sights on one of my 6.5's
 
Yes it is a Tikka Battue in 308, and I agree with you, their open sights are great. That's why I started looking at these guns in the first place.

Malheureusement ;), like others mentioned, my eyesight has started to betray me. Once that starts to happen, it doesn't matter how good your open sights are. That is why I keep coming back to this subject.
 
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J996 said:
Its all about what you are used to using and what system you have trained more extensively with. Under 50 yards I find it makes no difference to me. I bring the rifle up and fire as soon as the front sight is on, rear peep takes care of itself, focus on the front sight only. I can just as easily do it with a red dot.
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Exactly right. Its usually a training issue that leads some to discredit one system over another. That being said, irons will never be as user friendly or as fast as a reddot optic. I suspect the OP did not or has not spent a sufficient amount of time running a reddot. Another common problem is the incessant belief that the reddot must be centered in the window to make hits and the hangover trait of closing one eye.

TDC
 
Of all the guns I take to hunt camp, the one I grab 99% of the time is equipped with a scout scope.
Shoot both eyes open and comes up just as fast as my ghost ring equipped guns.
My biggest issue with reddots has been they mount so much higher than my scope/ irons that you have to do a lot of modifications to get a proper cheek weld.
It comes down to preference but with any sight you need to have a stock that will put your eye behind it without searching.

Cheers.
 
falconmst said:
Of all the guns I take to hunt camp, the one I grab 99% of the time is equipped with a scout scope.
Shoot both eyes open and comes up just as fast as my ghost ring equipped guns.
My biggest issue with reddots has been they mount so much higher than my scope/ irons that you have to do a lot of modifications to get a proper cheek weld.
It comes down to preference but with any sight you need to have a stock that will put your eye behind it without searching.

Cheers.
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scout scopes are great. They offer the same speed as a reddot but without batteries which usually means no illumination not that you really need it.

What reddots have you tried? An aimpoint t1/h1 sits as low if not lower than most optics. Cheek weld isn't necessary with a reddot but I prefer to use one. A cheek weld that is.

Tdc
 
Hey TDC, you sound experienced with red dots, can you spare some more knowledge with someone just trying them out now? I have a nice Baush and Lomb 3x9 x40 on my 300 win mag but am trying red dots now on my norc m305 semi auto. Tried the battle sights only this year but had a hard time seeing them in the bush..

TDC said:
Exactly right. Its usually a training issue that leads some to discredit one system over another. That being said, irons will never be as user friendly or as fast as a reddot optic. I suspect the OP did not or has not spent a sufficient amount of time running a reddot. Another common problem is the incessant belief that the reddot must be centered in the window to make hits and the hangover trait of closing one eye.

TDC
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I can't use open iron sights but I can if I replace the rear sight with a ''bulls eye''ghost ring-they cost about $17 and work well in conjunction with a drop of orange flourescent nailpolish on the front sight.The other option is to solder a washer on the rear sight-does the same job.Makes a world of diference
 
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