Who hunts deer with iron sights?

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I missed a running deer at about 100 yards once in the early 70's with an Enfield. Used a scope from then until this year. Missed another walking deer this year at 150 yards with a black powder rifle (bullet went right under the deer) and finally hit one at about 75 yards with the same BP rifle.

I suppose the Enfield would have been considered to be military style, though I recall its sights were open and not peep sight.
 
I do. My first rifle deer was with an M1. The only disadvantage is in low light the peep is not nearly as good as optics. I look forward to trying my new K-31 (new to me) next year. Open sights in Arkansas also cause me problems because we have a 3 point on one side rule, so you have to glass the deer if at any distance to confirm that it is legal before pulling the trigger.
 
Ummmm - -Yes - -

- -If we can stop with the idea of hunting deer, and not killing em - -

I've gone afield looking for deer to shoot with a 1903A3 Springfield, M94 .30-30, sporterized '98 Mauser, and a No. 4 Mk 1 SMLE. It just so hapens, though, that I never had a good shot at a deer with one of these. Okay, I clean missed one.

My main problem has been that I just didn't see anything worth shooting inside my self-imposed range limits. Sometimes, I didn't see ANYTHING! ;)

Oh, and just last month, I carried my Marlin 1895GS with AO ghost ring sight to Georgia, but, again, no deer or hogs viewed . . . .

I believe you limited the question to rifles. I've killed a number of deer with iron sighted handguns.

Best,
Johnny
 
I have an indecent number of milsurps around the house, this was my first year deer hunting (I'm 52) so I decided to use one. After range work, reloading, practice, ect, I decided on a MKIV and a M1 Garand. At 100 yds I cleanly missed one deer with the .303, few days later did not take a shot with the M1 Garand at 120 yds cause was not absoultely sure of the shot. Both were in hardwoods. Got a Winchester 30-30 w/scope and have killed two this season. If I were completely comfortable with the gun I'd use one, but I don't want to wound and lose or cause unnecessary suffering to a deer just to justify my milsurp affection. Problem is I can't see well enough anymore not to use a scope for hunting. But I still shoot them all the time.

rk
 
Roadkill, how'd you get started in deer hunting?

I've given it a thought, but don't really know where to start.
 
I've used a short-barrelled (23.6") Swedish Mauser and killed one deer with it at 75 yds. Iron sights were set for 100 meters. I've done quite a bit (for me) of target shooting with Swedes for about 3 years and feel completely confident of hitting a 9" circle holding gun free hand at 100 yds. (my minimum criteria). With a rest I'm better, but can't always depend on that when hunting. (this was first time I've ever hunted with high-powered rifle).

The short-barrelled Swedes are ok. for moving thru brush, etc. The long-barrelled ones (29") are just too long. They don't balance well when carrying, the extra few inches is a hassle to move thru brush, and the sights are set for 300 meters.

Just switched about a year ago to scoped/sporterized Swede, a definite improvement in shooting ability as well as deer identification.
 
I use my L1A1 from time to time to hunt with, using the standard peep sight. I also use a lyman receiver sight on my guidegun. This year I killed a deer with the open sights on my late grandfathers winchester model 100.
 
When I hunt in swamps or heavy woods, I have found many times where I could see the deer...I just couldn't see him through the iron sights.

I've killed a couple with iron sights but my eyes need the optics today.
 
Well, let's see: I've been carrying a sporterized Springfield '03 with Williams peep rear and bead front sight for some years. Only had success the very first year I took it hunting, in which I muffed my pistol shot(s), and had to drop the running doe with a shot to the head at about 80 yds.
This year I passed up a shot at three doe at about 100 yds with it (now reincarnated as a .35 Whelen), because it was foggy and just too dim at the crack of dawn.

I've shot a hog with an iron-sighted M94 Trapper.

I've shot 2 javelina (in one episode) with an iron sighted Officer's Model Special .38 Spl, and one with my duty gun, a Kimber Stainless Classic 1911.

I've carried a SMLE #5 Jungle Carbine with 180g GameKing handloads while hunting elk in the black timber, but never got a shot. Factory rear sight, brass bead on post front sight.

I've carried a SMLE #4 Mk I while hunting deer, and passed up an easy 40 yard shot on a spike one cold morning. Factory peep rear and post front sight. Had he come another 20 yards closer, I would probably have shot him with my iron-sighted Colt Gold Cup, which I was carrying that day.

I carried a Remington 1100 with slugs and open Brownell's sights screwed onto the vent rib during one weekend game management hunt in San Angelo's O.C. Fisher State Park. They wouldn't allow any firearms other than shotguns with slugs or muzzle loaders, due to the proximity to the city. I passed up a couple of 90 yard shots, because that was the OUTER limits of what I was comfortable with trying to make with those sights (coarse) and that trigger (coarse). :)

Last coupla years, I've been seriously looking for a deer to come within my 25 yard radius while carrying a modified 4.5" Super Blackhawk .44 Mag with SWC handloads. So far, have only used it for a coup de grace on one big buck that I shot with a Sendereo.
 
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