Iron Sights important for a hunting rifle?

Yes, if one of my bolt action hunting rifles wasn't scoped I'd concider sights to be quite important. They wouldn't necessarily have to be made out of iron though. Just kidding around.
Seriously, I've been successfully hunting North American big game with scoped rifles for 42 years now and havn't had a need for iron sights. 43 years ago I used the iron sights on my first big game rifle because that's what it had and I couldn't afford a decent scope. I've never had a scope fail. Then again, I'm pretty particular about having quality optics on my big game rifles. And I believe in either variables with a low power (3x or less) setting or a low power fixed for fast target aquisition due to a wide field of view.
Oh, one more thing - the bifocals I had to start wearing a few years back just don't work real well with open sights anyway.

Yes, it's important to me.
I just like them, and yes, they can be a good backup.

I only have 1 rifle that I hunt with, A 1942 6.5 Swede. It has iron sights and has killed every deer I ever put on my table. I think iron sights are very important. I never have to shoot much beyond 150 metres and my only complaint is my 46 year old eyes. I think I will try one of those click adjustable MOJO sights for next years hunt (rear only).

Regards

John

Regardless if optics are going to be used,,,
All rifle barrels should contain a front sight.
All rifle receivers should offer some form or fashion for adding a rear sight.
Just my humble opiniion.

i consider iron sights superfluous - a waste of material, and i think they look terrible on a scoped rifle.

a good scope in strong mounts is all i want on a rifle.

It really boils down to personal preference. Quality optics have proven themselves, and in general can be counted on to give good performance and reliability. But I still think iron sights have their place. In fact, only one of my rifles wears a scope -- and I bought it with the intention of scoping it.

The reason some people (myself included) like to have iron sights on their rifles are valid, IMO. I like lever guns, and mine wear only iron sights (ghost rings). But they are not long-distance guns by any means. My Enfield isn't scoped because I want to keep it in original condition and I like the original sights. Having backup irons on a scoped rifle is a good idea if you are hunting in an area where it is possible to get a good shot within reasonable range for iron sight use. But I know personally that if I take a shot at game much over 150 yards I wouldn't feel confident doing it without a good scope.

For me, iron sights are a must. I've missed animals because the scope mount was loose or because the scope was bad, or because the animal was too close to be using a scope properly. If I'll be shooting at less then 150 meters, I dont even bother with a scope.

The exception there is my CZ-452. I had to remove the rear sight in order to install a scope. It'll be used for squirrel hunting. Really small target at around 75 to 100 meters. I believe that is warranted. I may change my mind though... specially since the CZ has such nice Irons.

On a 'serious' gun, I would say that back-up irons are important. On a hunting gun, much less so. Worst case scenario is you lose your opportunity to take a buck (or whatever you're hunting).

Mike

For me it depends on where and what I'm hunting.

Squirrel/Rabbit=Iron Sights
Turkey = Iron sights
Deer in the brush = Iron sights
Deer in a clear cut/Power line= Scope

Simply put I like open sights for shots under 125 yards and a scope for anything greater but all of my guns have provisions for open sights.

on my browning i have a scope and thats it. i feel no need for iorns with that gun. i have a good scope and am carefull going through the woods. if i need to go brush hunting i will take my AK, or my lever marlin .32special but i kind of retired that gun from hunting when i found out what its worth!!!

I think everyone should have one...

Iron sighted beater for real lousy wheather. I've got an old 721 with Williams foolproof and bead front sight. I seldom use it, but it's nice to have...................Essex County

I think it depends on what gun you are using and what kind of shots you will expect to make. For relatively short range, I think iron sights are superior. I would still want back up irons at longe range, but for a pure hunting rifle, I probably wouldn't bother.

I've had a BDL nearly 20 yrs now, and have never wished it had iron sights. It actually came with iron sights, but I promptly took them off before mounting the scope. If I want to shoot iron sights, I'll break out the 30-30. If I ever go on a hunt where I think I might need a backup, I'll bring along one of my other scoped hunting rifles. For a SHTF scenario, I wouldn't be picking up the BDL anyway, so it wouldn't matter. In short, unless you are hunting someplace far, far out in the sticks, with no backup rifle, then yeah, maybe iron sights would be a must. Other than that, I can't see a real need for it, imho.

They are very important to me. Outside of a highly specialized target type rifle, I won't own a rifle that doesn't have sights.
I like knowing that if my scope fails I have a back up that keeps my rifle from being totally useless.

Iron sights? Nope.

I don't rely on iron sights as a backup, I bring a backup rifle along. During deer season, every gunsmith in the state is closed for business, I'm 200 miles from home, so I bring a 2nd rifle along in case something disasterous happens to the first.

Besides that, the iron sights put on most modern production rifles are cheap pieces of crap at best.

My 1956 Model 70 featherweight has a Redfield fixed 4x in Weaver tipoff mounts. It doesn't seem like the sturdiest of mounts, but my father killed plenty of deer with it, as have I. It is nice to have a low mount and still be able to use the iron sights IMHO.

I want 'em on my hunting rifles. If your scope gets hurt in the field, I don't want that to end the hunt. My Rem700 has irons, and I mounted the scope specifically to clear the irons.

Made an exception for a couple of varmit rifles that don't have irons. Other than that, its a highly-desired feature.

All personal preferance. I know my FIL likes to have irons, but not to actually use as either primary or backup. He feels that the front sight adds that little bit of extra weight out at the muzzel to improve the balance. Same reason he likes his Husquvarna rifle with its longer barrel (~24" vs 22"). Me, I'm not too picky either way. My deer/elk rifle is scope only. It would take a bit of machining to put irons on it, which I would never want to do anyway. Be cheaper to buy another gun with irons already on. I figure I'm probably going to take a backup rifle with me anyway, so if the scope gets buggered up I'll just go to the next gun (usually one of my mil-surps that has Mojo sights). Besides, if you drop your rifle hard enough to damage the scope you've probably also damaged enough other stuff (possibly including any iron sights) that the gun won't work very well anyway.

Scopes are a nice thing to have. However, it is more fulfilling to me to drop a deer or hit dead on with iron sights. Scopes have always kind of taken the fun out of it for me. To each their own I guess.

I'm just starting to use optics on my "big rifles" and I do like them. But...

All of my rifles have Irons save one, my new Ruger .308 Carbine.

My two favorite rifles, a 99 Savage and an AR15 both go around with Irons and I don't plan on switching out the irons for scopes.

Scopes are a nice thing to have. However, it is more fulfilling to me to drop a deer or hit dead on with iron sights.

Click to expand...

This is where I'm getting. Everyone wants to talk about 600 yard shots, but I've rarely taken a shot outside of 200 yards. I've decided that anything inside of 150 yards is gonna be taken by iron sights so long as my eyes will let me.

In truth - I have at least two of every rifle I like; one set up exclusively with irons (rear peep if possible) and one with a scope.

I like irons over a scope and do all my hunting with irons. However, I can also shoot scoped rifles assuming eye releif is right- might scope my iron sighted .243, but not sure. I took their money (Quigley bucket match against .45-70's) with an aperture sighted Winchester .30-30. Did I mention I like irons...

We're addicted to scopes in this country. With *GOOD* iron sights you can heat the lower right quad on the broadside of any medium or large beast at sevearl hundred yards--the same as with a scope. But there's an art to it, and many of our eyes are getting too old and tired to keep up. For young shooters, I strongly feel they should learn on irons and always be able to use them. Otherwise it's like learning to drive with an automatic transmission only.