is it a bad idea to start a new shooter out on a scoped rifle as opposed to irons?

[hardworker]

My brother was the same way. He had to lean over a right handed gun to see the sights. That changed when he did it with a 20 gauge single shot and busted his mouth wide open on the hammer. Now he shoots left handed.

As for the OP, if she's happy shooting the scope I'd let it be. If she cares enough to try open sights she'll let you know.

 

[youngda9]

No, I turned out ok

 

[mljdeckard]

Be glad she likes it for now. There is no magical order to learn it in.

Having said that, yes, my boys are starting out with irons.

 

[ForumSurfer]

definitely encourage her to do what she enjoys

Exactly that.

My ex got interested in shooting by using my AR with an eotech. She eventually learned to use irons and scopes. But only when she wanted too...not by my direct influence.

If it isn't enjoyable for her, she'll just stop. So would I.

 

[slow55]

I drove a stick before an automatic. Learned to shoot open sight with a single shot 22. I still drive a standard when many cannot.

 

[oldbanjo]

In an emergency she may need to use open sights. Teaching with a leaser would be just as bad, the battery may be dead. My Girlfriend had never shot a pistol, I drew a picture a explained what the sights should look like, I explained about breathing and squeezing the trigger. She took her box of 50- 38 rounds a got her CWP with no trouble.

 

[Justin]

It's easier to teach someone to shoot well with a scope. They work fairly intuitively, and have a much more obvious feedback cycle of "put crosshair/dot on target, pull trigger, strike target' vs. iron sights, which have a much higher learning curve.

I hate to say it, but it may very well be that the best way to train newbies, especially on pistols, would be through the use of guns with dot sights on them.

 

[mustang_steve]

It's up to you and her. Personally, I reccomend learning with sights as well as scopes. Some forms of shooting are much easier with even dovetail sights.

I'm only a scope person now since my eyesight is awful enough that I cannot see the front sight without going fiber optic, and even then have issues knowing if I am lined up properly. In my case, scopes are far safer. Lasik is in my future though and that may get me back behind the irons (all my old sights are in a tin so I can re-mount them if lasik really is that good).

 

[rondog]

Of course, some of us learned about communication from crank-type telephones too. There's a lot to be said about learning things the old-school way, but there's a lot to be said about these newfangled contraptions too.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Is she ever going to hunt or go to war? If not its not that important. I'd start someone out on irons as a preference but its not that big a deal. I also don't think irons are as important on rifles as they used to be. Optics are the future; red dots or scopes are going to end up on most everything.

 

[buck460XVR]

"...not big enough of a deal to..." Yep. If she's happy, leave it alone.

No, not at all. I started on a scoped .22 and learned irons later.

IMO, it's her prerogative to shoot what she enjoys. If that's shooting with a scope, then she should shoot with a scope.

yep.....what they said. From the OP, it sounds as she already knows how to use iron sights, just enjoys shooting a scope more. Success is a great motivator for beginners, if she's successful with the scope, having fun and wants to do it again, you're doin' it right.

 

[hey_poolboy]

I learned on iron sights, and then moved up to a scope MUCH later. I can't say I would do it differently. Whatever works. You can learn on a scope and get the fundamentals of body position, trigger pull, and alignment.

There is merit to making sure that one knows how to use iron sights properly.

 

[Dookie]

Who cares. Have fun.

 

[Tilos]

Rail Driver said: "it doesn't get any simpler than iron sights".

Really?, trying to align 3 things, switch focus from one to the another and back...this should be fuzzy, this should be clear, equal light here and here, etc.
What's simple about all that?

How about "the bullet goes where the X is" for simple.
Or...put the Red Dot where you want the bullet to go.
Plus, try to keep from moving when you squeeze the trigger AND you will SEE it move if it does.

And no one goes to war with iron sights on a rifle today.

 

[brandon_mcg]

i see no harm in starting out with a scope. I was walking through the local gun store the other day and was amazed at how many rifles are moving away from coming with iron sights.

 

[S. Hill]

Its certainly easier to learn with a scope, and its a lot more fun to hit than to miss. Be happy she goes shooting with you.

+1 to what wally said.

Here is a little known fact - hitting is more fun than missing.

I always start new shooters off with a scoped .22 rifle, at fairly short distances (less than 25 yds.), with a big target (2"x4") that falls over when they hit it. They don't have to hit it right in the middle, and we aren't measuring groups. The MAIN thing is that they learn to handle the rifle safely, and have fun.

If she enjoys shooting, there will come a time when she wants something different. That is the time to get out the .357 lever rifle with the iron sights.... explain the basics, and watch her get that big ol' smile on her face again.

 

[CraigC]

And no one goes to war with iron sights on a rifle today.

Who cares??? No one goes to the woods with an M4 either.

IMHO, a beginner is one thing but an experienced shooter who is not proficient with iron sights is missing a tool from his toolbox. Iron sights are not as archaic as some folks suggest.

 

[therewolf]

I'm a mechanic, many jobs are completed every day with tools missing from the toolbox, this I know.

Not many jobs get done when the mechanic loses interest or quits...

 

[Tilos]

CraigC:

JohnBlitz said, "Is she ever going to hunt or go to war? If not its not that important"
I responded with, "And no one goes to war with iron sights on a rifle today"
That's all that was, sorry if it enraged you.
FYI: many people do actually hunt game with black rifles.

 

[Tim the student]

I didn't learn to shoot a basketball by starting at the three point line - but that doesn't mean I don't know how to shoot from there now.

 

[Walkalong]

No, not a bad idea. Shooting is shooting.

 

[J-Bar]

It is impossible to "waste" ammunition when you are shooting with someone you love.

Seriously.