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

randyhub

randyhub

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I have been slowly changing my .223 Savage Hog Hunter over the years.

Went with a Savage Accustock (cost was 50.00) as the original tupperware stock was not as rigid and could not accept a detachable magazine.

Found magazine and DBM for 80.00 off EE, and extra mags are only 40.00 locally.

Tried the big scope with sunshade route, and removed the irons, but as this is a field gun as well just felt having backup irons with QD scope rings and a smaller scope made more sense.

Yeah I know the recoil pad is not needed but had it kicking around and between the .223 round and weight, my kids can shoot it all day like their .22 rimfires. :)

Anyways what are you guys running with both irons and optics?







The old tupperware stock.
 
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I have a few Ruger M77-RS MKII rifles, in both blued and stainless... I like the thought of back-up irons and I like the "look" of Ruger factory irons, but to be honest, I have never once, in forty years, had to resort to the iron sights... as a result, I more often than not, use a rifle with a bare barrel when hunting... but I always bring at least 40 rounds on a hunt, if there is an accidental rifle drop or scope knock, I will shoot a few to confirm POI and rezero as necessary.
 
The .223 Savage Hog Hunter is a cool rifle for the money. Decent adjustable trigger and is quite accurate with the right load. Picked mine up new on sale for 5 notes and change a while back. Installed a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x40mm scope. It's a real nice range toy.

Absolutely no use for the factory iron sights, or for iron sights on any other rifle I own. Haven't ever had to resort to using iron sights because of scope failure.

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I won't buy a gun without iron sights.... even if I mount a scope I want a room sight model and I will either shoot with them or mount a scope around them.
 
Thanks, I love my irons on my AR, and have AR type sights on my 10/22 SBR, but both also have optics.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
I like the concept of backup iron sights but in 4 decades of hunting I have never had to resort to them, plus my eyes are not that great with open sights anymore. My hunts are usually not to far from the camp or truck anymore so if I have a scope problem I just switch to the back-up scoped rifle. The nice thing of a rifle barrel without sights is that brush does not catch on the front sight, it just slides right off. WK
 
I too like the look of Irons on a rifle, but the only rifles I realistically use them on are rimfires and lever actions.

I do enjoy shooting the 200-300y gongs with my Scout using the irons, but they don’t see use while hunting.
 
All depends on what I am doing and what terrain I will be hunting - I have had to use back up irons once (dropped rifle, took scope off and shot my deer with irons at 75 yds - no need to check zero or go back to camp, just used irons and got closer). If I'm in thick brush or it's snowing or raining, I prefer irons or a low power optic (irons don't ever fog or ice up, not an issue 95% of the time though). I always take a back up rifle hunting if possible - but if I can only take one, it had better have irons.
 
I suppose I'm the opposite, half the time I remove the iron sights as they get in the way of the scope. If I was serious about having the iron sights I would be buying quick detachable rings. And yes, i always have a back up rifle along.
Due to my eyes, only peep open sights work for me.
 
ndallyn said:
All depends on what I am doing and what terrain I will be hunting - I have had to use back up irons once (dropped rifle, took scope off and shot my deer with irons at 75 yds - no need to check zero or go back to camp, just used irons and got closer). If I'm in thick brush or it's snowing or raining, I prefer irons or a low power optic (irons don't ever fog or ice up, not an issue 95% of the time though). I always take a back up rifle hunting if possible - but if I can only take one, it had better have irons.
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I'm in the same boat. Most of my main hunting rifles have irons. I've used both irons/ scopes and it all depends on the terrain I'm hunting. My eyes are still young plus I love the challenge and rewarding feeling of taking game with irons, especially with military surplus.
 
Like many, I can't see irons like I could 25 years ago. I have passed on animals I couldn't see properly because I didn't have optics. As you approach 50, irons on a hunting rifle become a cool accessory, like a 20yr old girlfriend. Nice to look at, but mostly just in the way.
 
I get that, black on black sights especially - there are a lot of very good high vis options out there for open sights (fibre optics, peep sights with a large aperature, etc.).....if all else fails, borrow some red nail polish from your 20 year old girlfriend (if you can afford her, you can probably afford better sights though!). Scopes definitely provide an advantage - but if it worked 100 years ago, it will still work in a pinch today.
 
Most of my rifles are plain bbl models with optics.
If I need a back up I have rifles with iron sights.
My hunting is usually within a few miles of camp so if need be I will switch rifles.
But as of yet I have not had too in more that 30 years.

David
 
My father's 30-30 that I use(rarely now) has the see through scope mounts, the irons are easily used. The scope height is... ok.
My mini has a qd scope with irons still on it. Unlike the marlin setup, it doesn't compromise anything - so it can't hurt.
 
emerson said:
Like many, I can't see irons like I could 25 years ago. I have passed on animals I couldn't see properly because I didn't have optics. As you approach 50, irons on a hunting rifle become a cool accessory, like a 20yr old girlfriend. Nice to look at, but mostly just in the way.
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Yes! :agree:

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

All you young CGN bucks stop laughing .........you to will get old one day.......if your lucky!!

Merry Christmas All!!!
 
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