Iron sights, a dying skill?

[LRS_Ranger]

So me and some buddies are sitting around waiting for the superbowl to start, and an interesting discussion came up. I thought that I would bring it up here and see what the collective opinion is. The opinion of those in my group is that the use of iron sights seems to be a dying skill. People get a new rifle and put all the gadgets on it, and don't really seem to work on the fundamentals of using the irons. If for one reason or another your whiz-bang scope or red dot sight go down, will you still be able to accurately engage the enemy? Even in my unit we have never shot with iron sights that I can remember, and I would hate to see the results if we made them take off their red dots and ACOGS. I make my soldiers shoot irons for at least a mag or 2 every time we go to the range, just because I personally feel like it is important. Is this a problem, or a non issue? Looking forward to hearing the feedback.

 

[taliv]

Buggy whips a dying skill

seriously, you're doing the right thing by training with BUIS as well as red dots

i wouldn't say it's dying though, and if it is, it's because it's being replaced by something better

 

[BruM]

Sure is, I might have to get scopes or quit shooting cause I cant see the barn when inside anymore. The point and shoot idea sounding better and better.

 

[dom1104]

The goal is to put rounds on target.


That said, whats so hard or "skillfull" about irons vs scope?

Seriously its not magic. The fundamentals apply to both.

People talk about iron sights like they are some kind of magical device only old people can use, a few range trips and anyone should be able to grasp the basics.

 

[Dookie]

Part of the reason, IMO, is so many of today's iron sights are garbage. They are hard to use and harder to see through. Part of that is because many rifles even if they do come with irons are not comfortable to use. Some, like lever rifles, are relatively easy to use, but pick up a standard bolt or semi and the sights are fairly hard to get comfortable with.

If I could have sights like on an AR on all my rifles I would, they are simple and easy to use.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

You would think that it's not that hard, but make someone shoot with them that it used to the "put the dot on the bad guy and squeeze" qualify with irons and holy cow... I mean I never used anything other than irons before the military, so it's not that hard for me. Aparently it is for some people tho, and it seems, from where I am sitting at least, that nobody really pushes for being competent with both systems. I was told that I WOULD at least have an EoTech when I asked to just use the irons when I was a private. I shoot expert both ways so who really cares, I just used the Eo.

 

[wally]

I had no use for scopes in my 20's, Red Dots didn't exist.

After 45, it was use a scope or not hit anything, Red Dots really helped too, especially on handguns.

A few years ago I had Lasik eye surgery to fix my eyes and I am rediscovering iron sights. Its great to be able to use them again, but I am faster and a bit more accurate with Red Dots.

My favorite setup is a Red Dot with iron backups -- easy with an AR, more problematic with most other guns. My second favorite setup is a Millet DMS 1-4X scope. At 1X with the reticle illuminated its effectively a red dot, zoom out to 4X for the longer more precise shots. It'd be the perfect setup if it was half its size

I've a few long range setups with 10X+ scopes but I rarely have an opportunity to shoot much past 200 yards.

--wally.

 

[eldon519]

I'm a young guy (25), and I pretty much exclusively shoot iron sights for range fun. It's just more challenging and fun to me. I wouldn't say I'm a great shot, but I'm probably a little bit above average. Maybe if I were trying to narrow my groups from 3/8" to 1/4", I'd have more fun with glass.

 

[Zerodefect]

I've got no problem with Iron sights. But all of my Rifles have a defensive/tactical POU first, plinking and fun second.

An Aimpoint/Eotech is far far faster, and for me, more accurate.

 

[MutinousDoug]

There are at least a few people still shooting NRA High Power with irons. Seeing that front post was a lot easier 20 years ago, so I've gone with a globe front on a spacegun, but they're still irons, right?

 

[Welding Rod]

I don't think it is a big deal. I don't think it should take more than a half day or so for a competent shooter to get dialed in to iron sights (with instrution or instructional material) if they haven't used them before. IMO the only real added "skill" necessary for iron sights is good eyesight.

Certainly soldiers should be competent with their BUIS is they are so equiped.

In less than a month I will be 44 and have yet to get (needed) glasses. I keep a couple iron sighted 20" A2 ARs around just for fun, but even on my best day I can only shoot about MOA with irons. You just can't shoot better than you can see, or hit what you can't see at all.

 

[Abel]

Part of the reason, IMO, is so many of today's iron sights are garbage.

That is why Williams peep sights, XS, Marbles, Lyman, & others are still in business. They are all viable moneymaking businesses for a reason.

Every kid with a BB gun & every service member in our armed forces learns to use iron sights to a very proficient degree. I killed many a bird as a 9 year old boy with iron sights on my Daisy air rifle & I spent many an hour on the range with iron sights on my M16A2 & M249.
I suspect that their are many more folks out there that fit that description.

 

[devildog32713]

Iron Sights rule!! Scopes can break easier, get bumped around so they off, and fog if they are cheap. Iron sights are great in my opinion.

 

[inherentical]

I would hate to see the results if we made them take off their red dots and ACOGS.

I'd hate to see the results if we armed them with 10/22's.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Iron sights and thier use WILL eventually go the way of massed musket fire in ranks. WHY because the technology has and with all things will move on.

 

[Joe Demko]

I enjoy shooting iron sighted guns, but I don't believe it places me on some higher plane that I do so. As was stated above, the goal is to put rounds on targets. Improved sighting devices are one of the few areas where firearms are continuing to evolve and improve Otherwise, except for use of polymer, things are still largely where they were right after WWII.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Iron Sights rule!! Scopes can break easier, get bumped around so they off, and fog if they are cheap. Iron sights are great in my opinion.

You should stop buying $45 Chinese crap optics

 

[schlockinz]

I can shoot irons, I think the problem that I always had with irons was owning guns that had non-adjustable irons, or shooting someone elses gun that aims different that I do (i prefer to impact what is directly above the blade so I can SEE what the hell I'm actually aiming vs my dad and grandad who preferred to cover their targets)

 

[inherentical]

You should stop buying $45 Chinese crap optics

Seriously, I have a USO scope I'm fairly certain I could beat someone to death with and it would hold zero.

 

[Jaws]

I think irons will die on rifles just like they died on fighter planes back in ww2. The technology is just catcing up to the rifle now. The colimated gunsights failed from time to time too and pilots carried extra bulbs with them, but the advantage they offered over ring and bead was huge. The irons will be around for some time as backup, until we get to thrust the technology. I know people that were scared of power steering, power brakes and automatic transmissions.

 

[desidog]

I think irons are dying. Just look at the number of bolt guns on the market vs. the number of bolt guns with irons. It's darn hard to find a good boltgun with irons these days. Even harder for us lefties.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Traditional iron sights, like most factory sights...won't be missed by me.

Aperture sights have a following, and a useful purpose.

 

[gloucestergarand]

Back when I was part of the Big Green Machine and flying Cobra's, I noted we used a Heads Up Display for the rear seater. Some of the more seasoned Gunnies talked about using grease pencil marking on the windscreen of the old -C and -M Hueys in Vietnam, back in the day.
Fast forward to today, my eyes need assistance, as even I'm typing this, thus I use a Crimson Trace for my Colt and Scopes on my long rifles, less the Garand sisters. Only exception is "Delta" Garand, who wears her M84 on the port side!

 

[schlockinz]

I think it may be more a range thing. I think that more people are trying to get into longer ranged shots, and are more comfortable with a scope than they are with a tang (I for own am in that category).

Also, for hunting fields, I'd say that a scope is vastly superior to irons. For up close in the woods, it depends on your eyes and the scope, but irons, specially peeps, start to shine in close quarters.

 

[Abel]

Bolt gun? What about pistols, slug guns, BB guns, lever rifles, muzzle loaders, AR's, AK's, compound bows, & safari/dangerous game bolt actions??? Some of you need to get out more. Seriously.