Iron Sights - worth their weight?

Buckmastr

Buckmastr

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
BANNED
Rating - 100%
378   0   4
Location
Alberta
Most of my rifles that came with iron sights have had them removed. I cannot think of use for them in a hunting situation where a low powered scope is an alternative. Guys running these quick detach rings- have you had to detach and continue hunting with irons?

Are irons even worth installing on a custom rifle build?
 
Seem to be just ornaments on my rifles that have these. I like the idea of iron sights I only wish I could shoot accurately with these past 50 meters. I have a Mosin-Nagant rifle that's lots of fun and challenging to shoot with iron sights.
 
I myself ,am not behind the glass curtain.All my rifles have iron sights.Have nothing against scopes.Used them on a couple of .308 rifles I had in the past,just like the iron sights better.
 
For most people, the irons might as well not be there... they usually mount a scope right out of the box and never shoot with the irons... they have no idea how to frame the sight picture or what the POI is...

On my rifles however, I shoot first with the irons, I zero them and get comfortable with the sight picture and shooting with them in various field conditions... THEN I mount a scope and zero it... with the intention of never again using the iron sights... however, if in the field and an accident occurs or the scope craps out, all is not lost... I remove the scope and continue hunting with confidence.
 
Buckmastr said:
Most of my rifles that came with iron sights have had them removed. I cannot think of use for them in a hunting situation where a low powered scope is an alternative. Guys running these quick detach rings- have you had to detach and continue hunting with irons?

Are irons even worth installing on a custom rifle build?
Click to expand...

on my 35 whelen I've taken my scope off (Warne qd) last November when I was in the thick bush blood trailing my whitetail. luckily he only went 20 yards and never need my back up irons. I put irons on my rifle for bears mostly when tracking or checking trail cams.
 
I zeroed my recently acquired 223 first with the iron sights. Not sure why because I really have no intention of using these. But nice to know I have back up sights just in case.

I've hunted with a Marlin 45-70 with an aperture sight. Works great hunting in timber except in twilight. Only problem was having to pass on long range shots in clearings if I couldn't stalk close enough.
 
I shot a few service rifle matches with irons (Matches 1-12, 100-500m) and didn't do too bad. Quality iron sights are useful to any distance.

I have hunted with iron sights, but never had to remove a scope and use irons sights as a back up. If I have a rifle with iron sights you can bet I have confirmed they are zeroed.
 
I still can't fathom how, after a certain range like about 100 meters, I would have a hope of accurate shot placement with the bead blotting out the target completely. With more practice I suppose. Or line up on bigger targets like the broadside of a barn. :)
 
I am aiming to put irons on all my bolt guns. Currently looking for Tikka and win70 irons. If you have ever removed those and had no use for them please pm me
 
I learnt how to shoot with iron sights cause that's all my dad and grandpa ever used. Once I started buying my own rifles everything ended up getting scoped. Now 20 years later I thought why not try open sights again so I put a Williams rear peep and Lyman front globe sight on my bl22 Im actually having a lot of fun shooting it. Kinda enjoy going back to how I was taught to shoot. Don't get me wrong all my hunting rifles will stay scoped but I do like the irons for plinking just for something different
 
I like irons for plinking for sure, or is it I just like plinking....
I've always been surprised how accurate I can shoot an aperture sight at 100 yrds but by no means is it as accurate as a scope when it comes to hunting.

Nice set up there buckbrush!
 
Slamfire said:
I still can't fathom how, after a certain range like about 100 meters, I would have a hope of accurate shot placement with the bead blotting out the target completely. With more practice I suppose. Or line up on bigger targets like the broadside of a barn. :)
Click to expand...

Just like scopes, some sights are great for fast aquisition and short range, some are great for long range precision.

Plama matches are shot at 800, 900 and 1000 yards with iron sights.
 
Last edited:
buckbrushoutdoors said:
on my 35 whelen I've taken my scope off (Warne qd) last November when I was in the thick bush blood trailing my whitetail. luckily he only went 20 yards and never need my back up irons...
Click to expand...

One time I had a fixed 6x on my rifle with QD mounts and shot an Elk that subsequently ran into the thick timber. I removed the scope and proceeded to go find it which I did. Nowadays I prefer to use low power variables, like a 1.5-5x and set it on 1.5x for such occurrences.
 
Last edited:
Buckmastr said:
Most of my rifles that came with iron sights have had them removed. I cannot think of use for them in a hunting situation where a low powered scope is an alternative. Guys running these quick detach rings- have you had to detach and continue hunting with irons?

Are irons even worth installing on a custom rifle build?
Click to expand...

When I carry my lever rifle around with me while up at the cabin through out the season I trust the iron sights for 50 yards or less for quick acquisition on large targets and I don`t need to worry about bumping a scope while hiking around on our property.

Come hunting season and I`m sitting in my treestand or ground blind I mount a scope.
 
I'm a big fan of iron sights. To me, they're the same as a kickstarter on a motorcycle or having a manual transmission in a car (both of which I have.) Great for back up. Iron sights make it more fun at the range, because you can switch between the two, and if used with see thru rings, I can zero my irons at 50M, and scope at 100M for versatility.
 
woofer2609 said:
I'm a big fan of iron sights. To me, they're the same as a kickstarter on a motorcycle or having a manual transmission in a car...
Click to expand...

Or you could always push start your bike. Regarding manual tranmissions, a shaft broke in the gearbox of my F150 and it skidded to a stop rather abruptly. Not exactly reliable or safe. You would think pushing down on the clutch pedal would make it coast but it didn't. :eek:
 
My lever action rifles use only iron open sights.
It's interesting how some assume that because the sight picture at 100 yards "blots out the target" that they must be useless.
Yet, our forefathers used them quite successfully to decimate the buffalo and harvest big game at this range and greater.
The reality is that you won't be shooting squirrels or gophers at this range with your typical .30-30 or .30-06 moose and deer gun.
If you are shooting same, then you must either have exceptional eyesight or will be using a scope on a bolt action varminter.
For ordinary targets, or big game however, the target is large and quite visible to the naked eye.
Yes, open sights will cover up a large portion of the animal or target, but you can place the front bead in the center of the paper or kill zone without difficulty.
Further, you can sight in so that the actual area targeted sits on top of the bead (A six o'clock hold) to gain more visibility.
But, as they say, the proof is in the results.
My 100 yard targets are usually just an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of white copy paper which is large enough to see clearly and to center the sights on.
From the bench I could achieve groups that were 3 inches or less in diameter with an accurate rifle, as a younger man.
Even now, I can still group around 4 inches with old eyes and a fuzzy target.
I have one target shot with a then brand new 1894 Marlin in .44 magnum, using hand loaded 270 grain JSP bullets, where the group measures 1" wide by 4" high.
The elevation dispersion likely due to the front barrel band affecting the impact because it was a little tight as the barrel heated up with each shot.
I also recall a 100 yard target shot with a never-issued Polish-made Mosin Nagant carbine, which measured about 2 1/2" in diameter, shot with military ball.
Also, I recall repeatedly shooting 6" groups off-hand at 100 yards, using an AR-15 A2 with military peep sights.

Certainly, if you can group 4" off the bench at 100 yards, then you will get your deer or moose as certainly as any MOA scoped rifle at that range.
In the end, there is no shooting bench in the field, and it comes down to the shooting skills of the hunter, which can only be attained by practice.

Certainly, if you are shooting at 150 yards or beyond, a scope becomes a practical necessity.
 
Last edited:
^^

I'm impressed by those who can shoot well with iron sights. Well done.
tu.gif
 
I prefer my rifles to have open sights even if they don't get used much. Scopes are still relatively complicated, delicate instruments in comparison, and they do fail occasionally. In heavy rain or snow it can be a pain trying to keep the glass clear.

The other aspect is that intentionally limiting yourself to iron sights puts the hunt back in hunting. No more sniping at 3-400 yds.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom