Question about your main go to rifle.

I would not buy a rifle with iron sights on it as for me a scope is so much more accurate. It takes quite a whack to put a good quality scpoe out but invariably, if I bump it, I will pound a round out of it just to make sure. If I was really concerned about it I would have a spare scope.
I usually have my compound with me so if I had to resort to open sights I would use my bow.
 
I don't worry about it, as most of my hunting rifles carry irons but no scope!!:D

However, on an extended trip I usually have an extra rifle.
On a one day or an afternoon with a scope I don't pay any mind to it.
Cat
 
When I bought the .280 that became my go-to rifle, I couldn't get one with irons unless I ordered and waited. I wanted the irons, but even using cheap scopes in Northern Alberta, I've never had a scope problem. Mind you, I nearly always hunt 15 minutes from home. On my very rare long trips, I bring a backup rifle...chances of a scope failing are about equal with rifle breakdowns in my experience...never had either in over 30 years of hunting. DANG! NOW I've done it! JINX!
 
When I go away I always take a backup gun and since my big rifles are milsurps that were drilled and tapped and have bridge mounts it would take a lot of hassle to get the scope off in a bad situation.
Only one of them still has its battle sights.
If I'm closer to home and the scope failed I'd just use my mate's gun or call it a day, or a night, whatever the case maybe.
Since most of my hunting is out of a truck or on rolling fields rather than mountainous terrain so there is little need to worry about falls or drops.
Mind you I may get iron sights fitted when I rebarrel my 8x57 with a sporter bbl.
 
Two seasons ago, a buddy and his riifle took a nasty spill and he dumped his rifle in the drink to boot. The firearm was decommissioned for the remainder of the hunt. It can happen.

For bumps and bangs, we reference back to a bore sighter. For catastrophic, someone always has a backup scoped rifle.
 
How many times has anyone actually needed thier back-up rifle?

In 20+ years of hunting including quite a few weeklong elk trips I recall exactly one time when one of our guys needed a back-up....Browning A-Bolt 300 Winny firing spring was getting so weak it fired about 50% of the time...he carried my extra rifle which was a 700 synthetic in 7 Mag....
Now I've been guilty of carrying another rifle, just 'cuz I get tired of one...or feel I need a change of luck:D I usually have three or four rifles with me....:) ,plus a .22 rimfire and a 20 gauge....I have a big truck:D , there's lots of room:)
 
I have irons on all my hunting rifles, as backup. I have only needed them a couple times, but it can happen. I mostly use QD rings. Sometimes I just like to wrap my hand around the rifle I'm carrying with no scope to get in the way. My current favorite, BRNO ZKK 601 .308 has a pop up peep in the reciever bridge, flip up open rear, quick interchangeable front sight blades ( I have a fiber optic in it at present ) and two QD scopes - an E german Zeiss in BRNO ringmounts that doesn't fit me (short eye relief) and a leupold 1.5-5 in Talley mounts that I actually use to do most of my shooting. it's too much stuff I know, but it is fun to fool around with, and I've killed deer with every sight but the new Leupold.
 
I sold a very accurate rifle because I just couldn;t stand the thought that it doesn't have irons on it.

All my rifles have irons now, and I doubt I'd buy one without them.

Have I ever needed them? Like knock off a scope ????
No! But I like to hunt with irons sometimes and other times I have to adapt to the environment (low light, longer distances... etc) and use scopes .

That means that I practice with irons as well as with a scope and wouldn't feel bad about using one or another,,,,, I guess is a matter of mood.
 
This may seem like a strange question but aren't there some cartridges and rifles that really only are sensible if you use a scope?
Long range cartridges like the 270 WSM, 7mm Rem Mag, 257 Wby Mag and 6.5/284 really need scopes to make the most of them.
Cartridges like .22-250, 220 Swift and the higher powered 6mm/243 rounds especially need a scope to fulfill their capabilities.
Or are we talking big game hunting only?
 
Although I like the idea of having back up irons on a rifle, I usually have at least one and often two spare rifles with me when I go on a hunt.
 
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I'd like to pose the question....what exactly do people mean when they say a "go to rifle"?
I believe it has a huge influence on this question.
 
kombi1976 said:
This may seem like a strange question but aren't there some cartridges and rifles that really only are sensible if you use a scope?
Long range cartridges like the 270 WSM, 7mm Rem Mag, 257 Wby Mag and 6.5/284 really need scopes to make the most of them.
Cartridges like .22-250, 220 Swift and the higher powered 6mm/243 rounds especially need a scope to fulfill their capabilities.
Or are we talking big game hunting only?
Click to expand...


Well, not only htat, but the scope is a better aiming device than any iron sight.

Better long, better at short distance. They are better, faster and easier to use.
 
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