Iron Sights Bolt Guns, Why don't they exist?

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Aaryq

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Howdy Folks. It's quite difficult to find a bolt gun with iron sights these days. I'm a poor Corporal in the Marines so I have to buy budget guns. Can someone recomend a gun that can kill an elk that's under 400 dollars and has IRON SIGHTS? I don't know jack squat about scopes and it's not that I'm an ignorant weenie, but I prefer Iron Sights...(the Corps taught me to hit a target at 500 yards with an M-16A2, I'm gonna hit a daggone elk with Iron sights).

Keep in mind, folks, I'm living on a very strict budget and I can either get a modern hunting rifle or an old WWII/WWI rifle (not complaining at all). Give me input please.
 
My .308 Savage model 11FLC has iron sights. An Enfield of one flavor or another might be a good choice too.
 
I'll chime in with another vote for the Savage rifles.

When you speak of "iron sights" and refer to your M16 training, you must realize that most sporting rifles which come equipped with "iron sights" have barrel-mounted notch-style rear sights. You will probably be much happier (and more accurate) if you buy a Savage for around $300-$400 and then equip it with a decent rear aperture sight. This will give you a sight picture much more like the one you're accustomed to on the service rifle.

Many rifles are drilled-and-tapped for such sights, which makes the mounting a do-it-yourself slam dunk. Don't rule out the used-gun market, as many great buys can be found, and a used Savage or Remington 700 can be had for less than your budget, INCLUDING the mounting of a good receiver sight. A gunsmith won't charge much to mount an aperture sight, if it needs drilling and tapping.

I bought a near-new stainless Savage .338 for $350 not long ago, and the rifle is so accurate that it's scary. Three-round groups with Barnes 225 TSX bullets are UNDER 3/4" at 100 yards.

I cut my teeth on aperture-sighted military rifles fifty years ago...VERY good shooting can be done with them, and they don't give up much even to a good scope. Just ask any smallbore rifle competitor who shoots both scope and iron events with the same rifle. His scores won't differ very danged much between the types! Also, you don't have to magnify an elk in order to kill it cleanly....

Best to you in your search. The $400 figure is very realistic and you should get a decent rifle for that amount.
 
If you can find a good used Mauser 98, or Mosin Nagant, .308 Enfield scoop it up. An old surplus bolt gun should also do you just fine, or maybe a used Rem 700 BDL. Sights and apertures can be found through Brownells or Miday if you don't like what the factory gave you. My cousin found an old 1903 in good condition for what he claimed to be under $400 and gave it to me for Christmas. This old .30-06 was fitted with a c-stock, front blade and Redfield aperture for a rear sight. It will hit whatever I can see, probably kill it too.
 
Further to my post above, I just looked at the Midway site. They have Williams aperture sights which use the scope-mounting holes on the rear bridge, and they cost $35.00 which isn't bad at all. On looking at my recent Savage .338, it does NOT have holes for receiver sights on the side of the rear bridge.
 
1. Rifle manufacturers own stock in scope and scope mount manufacturers.
2. Cheaper to produce a rifle without iron sights but they now sell them for quite a bit more money than when rifles were commonly offered with iron sights even though the basic design of the rifle hasn't changed in 50 years other than the manufacturers use even cheaper forms of production to produce a rifle that costs more,,,,,,,,
3. Rifle manufacturers still appreciate independent gunsmiths and they realize we have to have something to do besides building Mil specs and repairing shotgun barrels!
Sight installations can pay the bills in slow periods.
4. Anybody remember the old Remington Sportsman 78?
Gad these were decent rifles and the owner could customize the rifle to his hearts content as time and money allowed, came factory standard with iron sights too.
 
a mauser or mosin nagant is the way to go if you dont have very much cash. cheap ammo, reliable and accurate rifles. there are a variety of aftermarket peep sights as well. These guns have no problem reaching out and touching something at 400 yards. I was putting holes through 1/4 in steel plates at 300 yards with my m44 mosin nagant. didnt have the space to try 400 yards but id assume it would have no problem if the shooter does their part. how much for this rifle you might ask? $95. mausers are closer to 200 dollars or more, atleast the ones around here anyways. savages will be more than that and most dont come with iron sights. .308 ammo is not cheap either. i would think 8mm or 7.62x54r is adequate for elk though ive never hunted them in ohio.
 
I feel the same way about sights, I love em, I shoot no better or worse whithin 200 yards with a scope so I'll just save some money and stick to iron sights. It can be tough to find them in gun shops, you need to get manufacturer catalogs to find the iron sight guns usually and order your gun.

A 91/30 Mosin Nagant is a fine rifle and the 7.62x54r cartridge usually has atleast 2700-3100 ft/lbs in common surplus and commercial loadings. And the rifles go for less than a hundred bucks in most places.
 
The Mosin Nagant is the budget rifle. They can cost from around $70 to $150, mostly you will find gunshops selling them to be higher. Even though they are dirt cheap if you search around you can find very good bores and stocks.

Ammo is about $0.10 a round surplus, so shooting it is inexpencive as well.
 
I don't know how much they will retail for, but Mossberg is coming out with iron sighted rifles in the next couple of months (including 30-06). If they retail at the same price levels as their ATR rifles, the price should be under $400.
 
remington makes the best sights on rifles these days, fully adjustable, measurable, rear sight. Also check savage, and believe it or not, nef buffalo series, quite a good little rifle, in 45/70 , should do the job.
 
For Elks, a Mauser, Mosin, Enfield, or Steyr M-95 long rifle will do right by you, no question.

A K-31 maybe, but I'm not sure they have anti-elk bullet loads available commercially.

Spend $200 and get a M-39 mosin, go whack an elk. If you can find a M-95 long rifle, though... 230gr at like 3,000fps...
 
A 500 yard shot an an elk?

Also, how do you group at 500 yards? Or are you just counting "hits" on a silhouette?

I'd recommend a nice Mauser or Moisin. And blow a whoppin' $50 or so, and gitcherself a used Weaver K4 scope. It's not a lot of magnification, but it'll be a finer and more reliable sight picture.

You're gonna have to hit inside a 12" target. Not a big deal at 100 yards, but figuring bullet drop, probably a 1.5-2MOA rifle, and the added handicap of iron sights, well... It all adds up, and it could add up into a wounded, but not down, elk.
 
I'll chime in and suggest a good Mauser as well. 8mm is pretty easy to come by, and a good example of a 98 Mauser action should provide you with good enough a shooter to accurately hit your target.


Also, allow me thank you for your service!

Semper Fi
 
Remington 700ADL. Can still be found at some Walmarts for around $380.00 before tax. Comes with nicely adjustable iron sights. Get one in .30-06 and you'll have no problem on anything on the North American continent using the appropriate ammunition for the job.
 
2nd on the Rem700 ADL. Mine came with great irons.

And another milsurp to consider is the Ishapore Enfield in .308.
 
Nice Bolt gun....

The Midwest likes Savage, Remington, and do not overlook Stevens 200. Very nice rifle. Accurate, fit, finish, under $300 new. Essentially a Savage 110 'Mauser type' action. 3/4" out of the box with cheapo Simmons scope I mounted on it.

Clean it well before firing. Mine liked any Remington ammo over Winchester white, and comes drilled and tapped. Mount whatever you want.

Have some fun.....make some noise !!http://www.thehighroad.org/images/smilies/fce32f95.gif
:neener:

brasshat
 
Dude, you can get Optics.
I've bought Redfield scopes for $75 and Leupolds for $125.

You just haveto hunt...

Iron sites arn't put on as much to save $.

On a budget I recomend a Savage 110.
What I got, under $300 used with Iron sites.
 
Aaryq, last few times I was in a Turner's they had iron sighted bolt actions. The one off of Nordahl just west of the I15/SH76 junction has a decent selection of bolt guns, and it just down the road if you are at Campen, and just up the road if you are aboard MCAS Miramar. (If you are at Barstow, I don't know what to tell ya.)

I would suggest Savage or CZ, but you might find a Tikka on sale.

Dude, you can get Optics.
Click to expand...
Nomad, he might really be more comfy with open sights. I know after bootcamp, I sure was. I still have trouble with scopes, but open sights are nice and easy.
 
Spend $200 and get a M-39 mosin, go whack an elk. If you can find a M-95 long rifle, though... 230gr at like 3,000fps...
Click to expand...


Sweet mother of pearl, I like my face too much to try that load out of an 80 y.o. gun.
 
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