Anyone use Iron sights for hunting?
- Thread starter EMNofSeattle
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mgmorden
Member
Haven't shot anything with it yet (well, nothing living), but this year I actually have been taking out my .30-30 Handi-Rifle with the factory iron-sights. Depending on my success rate I may try out the Mosin-Nagant next year.
The motivation behind trying this was mostly that I am a pistol shooter for almost all of my recreational shooting outside of hunting, where I use iron sights exclusively. I figured that if I can hit silhouette targets consistently with a 5" barreled 9mm at 25-30 yards, then hitting deer with a full sized rifled at 100 or under (which is typically the longest shot you get around here) shouldn't be an issue. With that handgun mindset in mind, I'm actually preferring notch and post over peeps so far, though I've got rifles with both types.
The motivation behind trying this was mostly that I am a pistol shooter for almost all of my recreational shooting outside of hunting, where I use iron sights exclusively. I figured that if I can hit silhouette targets consistently with a 5" barreled 9mm at 25-30 yards, then hitting deer with a full sized rifled at 100 or under (which is typically the longest shot you get around here) shouldn't be an issue. With that handgun mindset in mind, I'm actually preferring notch and post over peeps so far, though I've got rifles with both types.
bushmaster1313
Member
With my 55 year old far sighted eyes I can use iron sights on a revolver, but the rear leaf sight on a rifle is too close and it is just a blur. A rear aperture sight would probably work for me but I do not have any.
jad0110
Member
Don't hunt, but all of my rifle shooting is done exclusively with iron sights, of all types. I may take up hog hunting down the road. If I do, I'll be using either an AR with A2 style peep sights, or my Marlin 336 with it's Williams rear peep. I don't own any scopes, save for the one that came with my Gamo air rifle, which sits in a closet gathering dust. Not sure that I ever will use a scope, at least while my vision is good. I know too many guys that are completely scope dependent, and I don't want to go down that road. Kinda like the people that only shoot 1911 race guns; they can't shoot anything with more than a 3 lb trigger.
ApacheCoTodd
member
I've used the M1 Garand, Carbine (great east cost white tail gun) and 03-A3 and on each of them I had modified the rear aperture by removing a large portion of the top of the ring leaving me with a sort of buck-horn rear and then Lyman (maybe Redfield - still got 'em somewhere in a box) front sites for the 03 and Garand.
Joshua M. Smith
Member
Hello,
I routinely knock over coyotes at 200 yards with my Mosin and open sights. (See the thread "My Mosin" posted at around 5am today.) I've not lost one, or even hit outside the vital zone. I only take sure shots.
I do have a scout scope setup by Brass Stacker if I should want to use it.
I've done the period blackpowder rifle thing and still have a T/C New Englander that I really like. No reason to 'scope it.
The majority of my shooting is done up to 100 yards but usually not further than 50. This includes small game. I use a 'scoped and accurized .22 out to 100+ yards, but the fun is well inside that. I do enjoy using light loads in my 1911 to knock 'em in their heads.
I'm loving open sights more than I ever have!
Josh
I routinely knock over coyotes at 200 yards with my Mosin and open sights. (See the thread "My Mosin" posted at around 5am today.) I've not lost one, or even hit outside the vital zone. I only take sure shots.
I do have a scout scope setup by Brass Stacker if I should want to use it.
I've done the period blackpowder rifle thing and still have a T/C New Englander that I really like. No reason to 'scope it.
The majority of my shooting is done up to 100 yards but usually not further than 50. This includes small game. I use a 'scoped and accurized .22 out to 100+ yards, but the fun is well inside that. I do enjoy using light loads in my 1911 to knock 'em in their heads.
I'm loving open sights more than I ever have!
Josh
It's impossible to kill anything with iron sights with any rifle at any distance. It as never been done, and probably never will be done.
J/k - my biggest regret in purchasing my first deer gun was that the 870 I bought only came with the canilever (sp?) rail for a scope and no irons. In the East most shots are under 50 yards and I can't tell you the number of times the cantilever rail has got bent effectively taking that shotgun out of action. I'll never buy another hunting gun that doesn't give me the option of iron sights.
Not to mention the fact iron sights don't fog up...
J/k - my biggest regret in purchasing my first deer gun was that the 870 I bought only came with the canilever (sp?) rail for a scope and no irons. In the East most shots are under 50 yards and I can't tell you the number of times the cantilever rail has got bent effectively taking that shotgun out of action. I'll never buy another hunting gun that doesn't give me the option of iron sights.
Not to mention the fact iron sights don't fog up...
Don357
Member
QUOTE: IdealFugacity "Anyone in the thread using irons for hunting squirrel?"
I have 2 .22lr rifles that I use for tree rat hunting depending where and how I'm hunting. I have a Marlin 995 with factory iron sights, for just walking and making quick shots, and a Tula TOZ-78 with a 3x9x32 Tasco "Pronghorn" for 'sniping' them rats.IdealFugacity
Member
I have 2 .22lr rifles that I use for tree rat hunting depending where and how I'm hunting. I have a Marlin 995 with factory iron sights, for just walking and making quick shots, and a Tula TOZ-78 with a 3x9x32 Tasco "Pronghorn" for 'sniping' them rats.IdealFugacity
Member
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rodinal220
Member
I run Williams FP peep sights on my Winchester 94AE and Marlin 336s.I put the Brockman front and rear sight system on my Marlin GG.
X-Rap
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I have peep sights on my ML and a Marlin Guide gun that I have been successful in taking both elk and deer. There are limitations regarding light that you must account for and if you are in dawn or twilight and your target is backed against a darker background and over 100 yds your accuracy will suffer.
There is really not much trouble keeping groups under 3" at 100 and I can often do 1.5 with Ar's or a 94 Win. I practice and can hit well at 200, just know your limitations and don't try to exceed them when shooting at game.
There is really not much trouble keeping groups under 3" at 100 and I can often do 1.5 with Ar's or a 94 Win. I practice and can hit well at 200, just know your limitations and don't try to exceed them when shooting at game.
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