Backup/Secondary Iron Sights On Hunting Rifles

[Vern Humphrey]

On the other hand, many a scope is damaged by baggage handlers, by being dropped off a horse, and so on before you actually shoot at game with it.

I recall one time I was checking the zero on my primary rifle at a local range just before a hunt, and it wouldn't group inside a washtub. Then I noticed the reticle was canted at a .45 degree angle. That rifle didn't have iron sights, but I did have a back up rifle which I used.

 

[someguy2800]

If I was going on any sort of hunting trip I would bring two rifles. If I was hiking in somewhere I would take a second scope and mount in my pack and leave it at camp. I can't see anything with iron sights past 75 yards so the idea of taking off a damaged scope and continuing hunting with irons is not that realistic for me. I do hunt with a couple iron sighted guns for novelty but only in stands where a sub 50 yard shot is probable, and I usually bring another scoped rifle with me.

 

[cp1969]

For me,
Non-dangerous game--scope, no iron sights.
Dangerous game--iron sights, not scope.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Yes, I know this topic has been covered before. Yes, I know there is some dogmatic thinking/strong opinions on the subject. But the threads I saw on this in my search didn't have a poll or many folks that spoke up for the necessity of iron sights. So I want to see if there are any folks out there who have, in fact, taken the scope off of their hunting rifle to use the iron sights.

I'm getting ready to start building a 7x57 Mauser sporter and I'm debating the idea. I do like the option of having iron sights but I also admit that I've never actually used them while hunting. They would also add a significant cost to my build, which is the real issue. If cost were not an issue I'd probably add iron sights if, for nothing else, aesthetics.

But...cost is a consideration here so I digress. I don't think high quality optics fail often enough to necessitate a backup sighting system, and thus far I don't think that irons are an advantage in shorter ranges or brushy areas. To back up the latter idea, a couple years ago I shot a deer at 10 yards with a 3-9x40 set on 3, and the field of view was just fine. This was within 15 minutes of legal shooting time ending in the evening.

That all said, I could change my mind. Maybe it is more fun to hunt with iron sights when conditions allow, or maybe the insurance is worth it. What say the tribal elders?

I don't use back sights but do use irons on some firearms