Why start new shooters with irons?

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dizzy

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Figured since most guys start out teaching with 22's this would be the place to start the discussion of irons v scopes.

Is it best to start out new shooter on irons or scopes? What's your reasoning?

I think it's best to Start with scope and then switch to irons as it's easier to keep the shooter focused on position and stance without the added aggravation of lining up the sights, which in the end shortens the learning curve on the overall shooting experience.

Coaches????
 
In the British army they transitioned Infantry to 4x optics on the SA80 and scores improved.
New recruits got the same scores whether trained on irons or optics.
So learn good habits with irons, which will pay dividends when you get the luxury of optics.

Irons punish mistakes more severely than glass, encouraging good habits.
 
Juster said:
In the British army they transitioned Infantry to 4x optics on the SA80 and scores improved.
New recruits got the same scores whether trained on irons or optics.
So learn good habits with irons, which will pay dividends when you get the luxury of optics.

Irons punish mistakes more severely than glass, encouraging good habits.
Click to expand...

Very good answer!
 
Juster said:
In the British army they transitioned Infantry to 4x optics on the SA80 and scores improved.
New recruits got the same scores whether trained on irons or optics.
So learn good habits with irons, which will pay dividends when you get the luxury of optics.

Irons punish mistakes more severely than glass, encouraging good habits.
Click to expand...

You could interpret the results that way: but you could also read those results as: experienced shooters shoot better with scopes, where as new shooters shoot just as well with irons as they do with a scope.
 
l1fel1ne said:
You could interpret the results that way: but you could also read those results as: experienced shooters shoot better with scopes, where as new shooters shoot just as well with irons as they do with a scope.
Click to expand...
Indeed. Of course the army test subjects had formal training over several weeks, where the idea is to bring you up to a specific standard.

You can hit a 12" target every time at 100 yards with a red dot without learning a lot. Iron sight alignment being harder, I suspect it forces you to watch your position and breathing more carefully.
The quality of instruction is important, naturally.
 
In my everyday experience with children of the right now generation, they are not into learning the old way of doing anything. My 12 year old has been using a scope since day one, which was 6 years ago. FS
 
I too can shoot as well with peeps as a good scope. the British study is interesting and can be interpreted a few different ways.

I found it faster to teach my kids with a scope then switch to irons. 3 years later they can shoot with irons, peeps and a scope much better than I, so it must have worked. What I liked is I didn't have to help at all when training with a scope, they just naturally knew how to point the gun, and didn't have to line up 3 ojbects, (we cheated and used an aimpoint comp m4 on a 10/22 so all they had to do was put the dot on the target) man did it work slick, then switched to cross hairs, then irons, and finally peeps.
 
Starting out with irons just seems natural. Pretty much any and every gun in existence has iron sights. Learn to shoot good with irons, and you're set for any future firearm purchase - be it a pellet gun, handgun, AR, .22, sks, ect.
 
I can see the results of each shot through a decent scope. That sort of instant feedback really helps. Magnification also helps distinguish and pick out your target; you can't hit what you can't see.

So I leave the irons to the handguns, and optics for the rifles.
 
I am of the opinion that iron sights to learn first.
What if they are out hunting and bugger up a scope?
If the rifle is equiped with sights, can they pull the scope and
then feel comfortable shooting with the sights?
Reminds me of kids without a calculator trying to do math.
Need to start with the basics..........right?
 
kamlooky said:
I am of the opinion that iron sights to learn first.
What if they are out hunting and bugger up a scope?
If the rifle is equiped with sights, can they pull the scope and
then feel comfortable shooting with the sights?
Reminds me of kids without a calculator trying to do math.
Need to start with the basics..........right?
Click to expand...

Nice analogy.
 
I totally agree with the last two writers. I have learned with open sights first as a kid then Cadet. I buggered a scope while shooting a competition and had to shoot open sights. If i had not known how to do this, i would have had to leave the competition. Learn basics then opt to magnification if you choose.
 
NShunter1254 said:
I agree with Ben double peeps are easier to hold steady in all positions except bench rest, As the magnification increases all movement is exaggerated.
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With a scope, the apparent movement is exaggerated; the actual movement is the same with either scope or 'iron' sights (whether open or aperture, i.e., peep type). The magnification the scope provides makes it appear that your hold is very shakey; it appears less so with iron sights, but is really just as bad.
 
prosper said:
I can see the results of each shot through a decent scope. That sort of instant feedback really helps. Magnification also helps distinguish and pick out your target; you can't hit what you can't see.

So I leave the irons to the handguns, and optics for the rifles.
Click to expand...

You make some decent points....:yingyang:
 
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