I shoot both scoped and irons. These days with irons, I'm best with peeps. Use Williams on a couple hunting rifles and I'm comfortable shooting to 200 yards. With a little practice, not hard to get a good group. Practice at 50 - 100 - 200 yards and you can easily see your hold over/under. Most actual deer shots are under 100 where I hunt anyway. Williams peep with a front fiber sight allows fast acquisition and works well for me in the woods.
Anyone use Iron sights for hunting?
- Thread starter EMNofSeattle
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critter
Member
Last year I killed a nice doe at almost exactly 50 yds with a S&W model 25 in .45 Colt with irons. I also have a FA .454 with irons. Got to break it in next.
dragon813gt
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I will be using this for the first time this year.
I never have a shot over 100 yards and I'm amazed at how accurate it is.
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I never have a shot over 100 yards and I'm amazed at how accurate it is.
Brought to you by TapaTalk.
A strange person
Member
I hunt almost exclusively with smoothbore shotguns nowadays. My sights are a Hiviz green front sight and a glob of white-out at the base of the vent rib as a rear sight. I can easily keep rifled slugs on a 9" paper plate at 100 yards all day shooting off my knee, and there is nowhere in the eastern forests where visibility is longer than that.
The first deer I shot, however, was with a .270 outfitted with a 2-9 power scope, set on 4, I believe. The shot was taken at 40 yards, and I found that follow-up shots were challenging, as it was difficult to visually acquire a moving target with a scoped weapon, even set on a modest 4 power.
On a side note, that deer was struck perfectly through the lungs, and the bullet was found to have mushroomed as designed. The deer (a 220 lb. buck) nonetheless managed to run over 100 yards, and took me an hour of tracking in the dark to find.
That experience left me prejudiced towards scopes, as well as small-diameter projectiles.
The first deer I shot, however, was with a .270 outfitted with a 2-9 power scope, set on 4, I believe. The shot was taken at 40 yards, and I found that follow-up shots were challenging, as it was difficult to visually acquire a moving target with a scoped weapon, even set on a modest 4 power.
On a side note, that deer was struck perfectly through the lungs, and the bullet was found to have mushroomed as designed. The deer (a 220 lb. buck) nonetheless managed to run over 100 yards, and took me an hour of tracking in the dark to find.
That experience left me prejudiced towards scopes, as well as small-diameter projectiles.
okiewita40
Member
In the last 35 years that I have been hunting I have only used a scope on one gun. That was a Ruger 10/22. The Marlin 60 and 30-30 were both open sights as well as my sks. It will be a sad day for me when I have to use a scope. Used to shoot to 500 yards in the military with peep sights.
This is what I use for Squirrel. No scope on it ither..................
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ForumSurfer
Member
I no longer hunt, but I grew up hunting.
In my area, 50-100 yards was the norm. Marlin 336 or shotgun with slugs (plain old bead sight) for deer was never a problem. Laid to rest a small army of squirrels with a marlin 60 and good old fashioned notched sights.
I never once hunted with a scope. My eyes aren't what they used to be, so I'd probably want a low power scope these days.
Practice with the iron sights at the distances where you'll likely take your shots and you won't have a bit of trouble.
In my area, 50-100 yards was the norm. Marlin 336 or shotgun with slugs (plain old bead sight) for deer was never a problem. Laid to rest a small army of squirrels with a marlin 60 and good old fashioned notched sights.
I never once hunted with a scope. My eyes aren't what they used to be, so I'd probably want a low power scope these days.
Practice with the iron sights at the distances where you'll likely take your shots and you won't have a bit of trouble.
60% of the time it ruins a hunt all of the time
I did when I was about 6 to 8 years old. A single shot using CB shorts. Gun was accurate and I shot plenty of squirrels out to about 30 yards.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
90% of my shooting and 98% of my hunting is done with iron sights.
T.R.
Member
I plan to replace my V notch rear sight with a receiver sight by Williams.
TR
TR
Sav .250
Member
Back in the day,before scopes became popular/available, iron sights were the norm.
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BSA1
member
It is possible to be so close to a deer that your scope will be next to useless. As a matter of fact I had hunting buddies twice jump up deer so close that they just sighted over the top of gun to make their shot. They didn't think my peep sight was so silly after that.
+1, I like using the easier to spell "peep" sights, but same thing. I love my Skinner sights which look good and work well. I agree completely with your statement.littleguns223
Member
Those skinner sights are great!!!
mljdeckard
Member
My favorite bush rifle is an old 760 in .257 Roberts with peep-through mounts. I know some guys think they are unholy, but I work lots of thick brush.
MTMilitiaman
Member
I hunted for a couple of years with a Ruger Mini-14 (pre-Ranch Rifle) and got my first deer with the rifle at a range of about 40 yards with the factory iron sights. More recently I hunted a couple years with my Springfield M1A and shot deer at about 120 and 150 yards. The Federal Fusion 150 gr JSP shot a little more accurately and to the same point of impact at normal hunting distances as the 147 gr FMJ the rifle is sighted in for.
You can absolutely be very effective in the field with iron sights.
You can absolutely be very effective in the field with iron sights.
wlewisiii
Member
I have never hunted with anything other than iron sights. I keep thinking about putting a scope mount on my scout 7x57 but doubt I will until age forces me to use optics.
Age catches up very quickly for some reason. Nevertheless, my favorite rifle has Skinner peep sights only and I can still place a nice group at 100 yards from the bench.
Gunner11
Member
Two red stags last week with my M38 Swedish 6.5x55, mate ranged them at 175 and 210 metres respectively. Also a 3030 94 with a williams 66 aperture, and a lee enfield no 4 with target aperture. Iron sights are good.!
BADUNAME37
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- 4,434
I have recently been black bear hunting in heavy brush and woods using my 500 Magnum revolver which has the OEM front sight and a Millett rear sight, which is very close to the OEM rear sight, just better quality, IMO.
I am good off-hand with it, however I would not trust myself to put a well-placed shot for a humane kill past about 25 yards -- 50 to 100 yards if I am sitting and resting the gun on something solid.
I am good off-hand with it, however I would not trust myself to put a well-placed shot for a humane kill past about 25 yards -- 50 to 100 yards if I am sitting and resting the gun on something solid.
lefteyedom
Member
Iron sights are fine for much of the hunting most people do. I have a 742, 30.06 that has iron sights on it for close cover and high humidity hunting.
The problem with hunting with most factory iron sight is their poor quality. A good aperture (William's/ Lyman) is a major improvement over any buckhorn rear sight.
Enjoy your hunt
The problem with hunting with most factory iron sight is their poor quality. A good aperture (William's/ Lyman) is a major improvement over any buckhorn rear sight.
Enjoy your hunt
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