Iron sight hunters?

[c_brutsche]

Hey guys,

My hunting buddies advised me against it, but I'm considering hunting next season with my glenfield 30a with iron sights. Most of my shots are within 50-100 yards and I have good vision at 26 years of age. My hunting buddies say this is a dumb idea. But really is it? I am not getting their logic since with iron sights with this rifle I can get 2-3.5" groups which is plenty good for deer.

[Shisno]

I don't hunt. With that said, I see no reason to not use iron sights as long as you know your limitations and can shoot accurately with them. Iron sights were around long before scopes. What do you think hunters used before scopes?

[pennlineman]

Approaching 50 and my eyesight is not what it used to be. Never the less I've killed plenty of deer in my life time with a scoped .30-06. The last few years I decided I wanted to challenge myself.

I to my first deer with a handgun in 2009. An open sighted Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt.



In 2010 I shot one with a flintlock muzzleloader.



In 2011 I got one with my 1917 US Rifle.



This past season I tried with a crossbow and was unsuccessful. Oh well, there's always next year.

With my work schedule I'm lucky if I can get in 4-5 days of deer hunting a year. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself. It makes a successful hunt that much more rewarding.

[rovert97]

I use the irons on my K98k when it take that out for deer. I know where it hits at 100 and where to hold. It's all about knowing the sights. Point of aim and point of impact.

[cephas]

Went to a rear peep sight years ago on the 30-30 and haven't looked back.
http://www.williamsgunsight.com/gunsights/image33.htm


Add my show and tell: 50 yds offhand

[tollster]

Nine times out of ten though, open sights will be on target much quicker.
Stick with what works for you.

[Automan21k]

65 yards with a Taurus 66 .357 mag with Iron sights. There's nothing wrong with taking the scope off.

[ettorment1916]

The first 5 deer I harvested were with a 30-30 Winchester Model 94 using iron sights. Ranges were from 20-60 yards and none of them took more than a few steps.

There are no problems with iron sights as long as you use them within your ability. If you are comfortable and accurate out to 100 yards then take only shots out to 100 yards (like wise if it's only 50 yards).

It's all about your abilities paired with the firearm that you're taking afield.

NOTE: NICE DEER to all the members who posted pics!

[hunterdan]

My grandfather used a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington from the 50s until the early 90s with iron sights. They were factory original, and it was rare that he missed. My dad says that if that gun went off there was a deer laying. Only in his later years when his eyes started going did he use a scope, but never scoped his rifle. He used a 336 my dad bought and had a scope. Now this year I plan on taking his old rifle out. I have shot plenty of deer with my bow when I was younger. But one of my favorites was with my muzzleloader in the late season. Was a perfect shot on a deer quartering towards me. I also plan on using my Rossi 357 mag lever this year with open sights.

[pahuntnfool]

My first several deer were harvested with open sights. Back when I learned to shoot you learned with open sights and in the hunting woods it might have been 50 / 50 open sights versus scopes. Now the woods is filled with scoped hunting guns. Bottom line is they work and if you are comfortable and confident using them go for it.