I usually wind up at a 25 yard indoor range for my shooting but do get to play around sometimes at longer distances. Yesterday I was shooting my ar with irons at about 120 yards and realized how unexciting I find it to be able to see the target well enough to make groups, especially knowing the gun was capable of it. I think with irons my fun ends at about 50 yards.
Whats the furthest you enjoy shooting with irons
- Thread starter Soybomb
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blacksmithsc
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Probably about 50 yards as well. I just try and hit an 8" target as much as possible. My 19 year old son on the other hand can hit a 6"X6" steel plate 7-8 times out of 10 at 100 yards. Wouldn't it be great to be young again?
Furncliff
Member
I have a home range that I use for pistols and .22's. I have a little game that I play with myself using painted 2X6X6 blocks of wood. Start at 50 feet, offhand; hit a target and move back 25 ft. I have stations every 25 ft. out to 150 ft. My eyes aren't what they used to be so open sites at my max range of 150 ft. is a good challenge. I'm using a Hi Standard pistol and a Savage 29 for this exercise.
skinewmexico
Member
With my eyes now, 50 yards. Especially since I had monovision Lasix.
NickEllis
Member
offhand..... prone.....??
I still love the 600yrd highpower matches.
I still love the 600yrd highpower matches.
Way back in the day I used to qualify with my M16A2 out to 500 yards.
Now I simply can't find shooting lanes that long or I'd still do it.
Just last week with was shooting a Ford flywheel (about 11" diameter) at 100 yards with my 22/45.
Now I simply can't find shooting lanes that long or I'd still do it.
Just last week with was shooting a Ford flywheel (about 11" diameter) at 100 yards with my 22/45.
briansmithwins
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I use irons at our local rifle matches. It's not uncommon to have targets out at 300 yards. What is hard with irons is IDing targets that aren't high contract/brightly colored.
I have optics and I get lower times with them. I'm shooting irons in a effort to get better at the basics of shooting.
The shooter in the pic is engaging a 12" target at 300 yards. It's to the left of the construction equipment.
More pics from the match here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/practicalrifle/main/pr_041308
BSW
I have optics and I get lower times with them. I'm shooting irons in a effort to get better at the basics of shooting.
The shooter in the pic is engaging a 12" target at 300 yards. It's to the left of the construction equipment.
More pics from the match here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/practicalrifle/main/pr_041308
BSW
I think part two of the question is what distance can you shoot with irons and still get real groups versus just getting the target? 
I was trying to get groups on this target at 120 yards...needless to say when you can't tell where your sight is, thats hard to do!
I was trying to get groups on this target at 120 yards...needless to say when you can't tell where your sight is, thats hard to do!
Aaryq
Member
500 yards
Prone
M16A2
Prone
M16A2
Shawnee
member
Almost of the target shooting I do is with handguns and most of that is at 25yds - some at 50yds.
My Contender has a 14" 30/30 barrel with the factory irons on it and flattened a deer a couple weeks ago at 150-160yds and it was a pretty easy shot. Last week my Ruger SBH with factory irons accounted for a deer at about 60yds and it was a cinch shot. Have used the SBH forever though and wouldn't hesitate at a 90-100yd. shot on deer. Probably could stretch that even farther without much effort but I prefer not to. The sights on both of these centerfires are "partridge & post" set-ups.
My 336 has a WGRS rear aperture with a "firesight" front sight and I'm fine with it out to about 200yds., but am in no hurry to try for a deer any farther than that with it. No need to anyway.
My Contender has a 14" 30/30 barrel with the factory irons on it and flattened a deer a couple weeks ago at 150-160yds and it was a pretty easy shot. Last week my Ruger SBH with factory irons accounted for a deer at about 60yds and it was a cinch shot. Have used the SBH forever though and wouldn't hesitate at a 90-100yd. shot on deer. Probably could stretch that even farther without much effort but I prefer not to. The sights on both of these centerfires are "partridge & post" set-ups.
My 336 has a WGRS rear aperture with a "firesight" front sight and I'm fine with it out to about 200yds., but am in no hurry to try for a deer any farther than that with it. No need to anyway.
glockman19
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200 yards is about my limit too. With Iron Sights i can get a 5-7" group at 200 yards. IMHO enough that if I were aiming at center mass I could take down any threat at that distance.
With glass that tightens them up to < 2" groups at 200 and acceptable groups out to 600 yards. For hunting I won't take a shot more than 300-350 yards for a couple of reasons. 1) I want the clean humane kill, heart/lung. 2) I don't want to have to track a dying animal's blood trail just to have to lug it back.
Danus ex
Member
Interesting question. I've found that I don't really have a maximum distance with irons that I enjoy (I've only tried up to 600 yards, though), but I do have a minimum distance with centerfire rifles: 200 yards. To me, the point of a rifle is to own that 200–600 yard zone. That said, I make sure to check out where a rifle shoots at 50 and 100 when I first get it.
With rimfire rifles I'll do 50–150 yards, even 200 sometimes. Pistols 3–50 yards. Shotguns 3–100.
While I've taken shooting training, I've never had a shooting mentor or philosophy or anything like that, I just do what I like and avoid what I don't. I like irons and reactive targets (cans, gongs, etc.), I hate short ranges and I really hate shooting from a bench. The "one ragged hole" idea has never blown my skirt up—I care more about knocking the target down or ringing the gong. It all adds up to what I said above.
With rimfire rifles I'll do 50–150 yards, even 200 sometimes. Pistols 3–50 yards. Shotguns 3–100.
While I've taken shooting training, I've never had a shooting mentor or philosophy or anything like that, I just do what I like and avoid what I don't. I like irons and reactive targets (cans, gongs, etc.), I hate short ranges and I really hate shooting from a bench. The "one ragged hole" idea has never blown my skirt up—I care more about knocking the target down or ringing the gong. It all adds up to what I said above.
SoCalShooter
Member
Well 50 yards with irons on a pistol and 600 on my match rifle
rc109a
Member
We just got through with a course of fire where we did 100yards with a USP 40. That was interesting (I am not going to say how well we did or didn't) to see just how large the sights are on our H&K's and how small the target looks...
Bwana John
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Yea, I really enjoy the 600 slow fire yd stage, sometimes I almost fall asleep lying there. I wish we shot the whole match prone at 600 yds
I dont really like the offhand 200 yd stage.
Probley wouldnt like it even using glass. 
ReadyontheRight
Member
600 Yards on the first Rattle Battle line.For 50 seconds. With an M1 Garand. As many shots as you can fire prome before marching to the 500 yard line.
MTMilitiaman
Member
I enjoy a challenge...
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=367560&highlight=600+yards+iron+sights
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=367560&highlight=600+yards+iron+sights
Speedo66
Member
Scored expert w/ the M-14, engaging targets and knocking down pop-ups out to 600 yards in the army.
But that was 1967.
Now, who knows? No place to shoot over 100 yards.
But that was 1967.
Now, who knows? No place to shoot over 100 yards.
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