Scope vs Iron Sights

Mosin-Marauder said:
I feel like you expose yourself more with a scope. I also like the feel of Iron Sights and that you don't have to pay $400+ to replace a scope, where you can pay $10-$40 to get a new front or rear sight (which is in itself less likely to break.)
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While you have valid points, it all depends on the firearm and the purpose/mission and ultimately the shooter.

Iron sights are great, but longer range shooting requires the use of optics. Long range meaning well over 300yards (more like 500y and up). Objects and targets become a dot at that distance and will be completely obscured by the iron sights.

Optics allow for more visual ID and easier adjustment. Its your choice which you prefer to use. I'm not a sniper or marksman, but it does help my eyes see targets past 100yards. No way can I even see a small target past 300yards without a scope.
 
Scopes are great for clearly identifying distant targets, but they don't make
your rifle more accurate. I own a nice scope, but prefer RDS & iron sights.
 
SR420 said:
Scopes are great for clearly identifying distant targets, but they don't make

your rifle more accurate. I own a nice scope, but prefer RDS & iron sights.
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They don't make a rifle more mechanically accurate but they make almost everyone shoot more accurately under almost any conditions. Given the proper optic versus the proper open sight, the optic will almost always be more accurate for almost all shooters.
 
Iron sights are great, but longer range shooting requires the use of optics. Long range meaning well over 300yards (more like 500y and up). Objects and targets become a dot at that distance and will be completely obscured by the iron sights.
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Many of the old timers I knew used iron sights, they used very fine as in small front sights, some were knife point front sights.
They would rest whatever they were shooting at on top of the front sight so the front sight would not obscure their target or animal they were shooting.

I have a savage 99 in 250-3000 caliber, I believe it was made in 1922.
It has a small bead front sight, small elevator rear sight and a tang mounted Lyman aperture sight.

I placed out in a field an empty one pound propane bottle the type used on Coleman lanterns.
I went back, ranged it at 323 yards, setting in my truck with the window down and using the door for a rest I hit that small bottle three times.

Now it took me a few shots to figure out the yardage adjustment I needed to dial in the aperture sight and a couple of shots I just flat missed but they were very close.
For my old eyes and not having a rock solid rest I figured that was good enough.

I have some nice accurate bolt guns with good scopes, however if I had to choose one rifle to put meat on the table it would be one of my Savage 99's with iron sights.
Like the old timers I knew who only had one rifle I would shoot that rifle enough to know where it hits at different yardages and like them I would strive to become very proficient with my rifle.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
sr42o Your right , a scope does make a rifle more accurate but sure does allow even a world class shooter to be more accurate at longer distance. No doubt there's some luck and some skill in making a 300 yard shots with open sights . I had a buddy I hunted with for 30 years that could snap shot a deer at 300 yards. I have seen it . The biggest difference while a 1lb propane tank can be shoot 3 times in a row with open sights , I have two old scoped hunting rifles that will let me pick out that shoot in an adverse condition and then make a 2" group at 300 yards. AND let me make a last minute judgement if I want to take that shot.

I have one rifle with open sights , an old 511P with a globe front and receiver rear sight that was used for teaching me how to shoot at 6 years of age , my girls at that age and grandchild to shoot at 6 . Its good for as long as each wants open sights. Not long.
 
It comes down to anything else... practice. Plain and simple. When I was younger and shot competitions, I would shoot better groups with iron sights than I did with a scope, I used them more often.

If you throw a scope on a rifle, there are other things to take into effect. Iron sights are just another forum of sight, with their own challenges.

There are people out there shooting 1000 yards and OVER and hitting targets (i am certainly not one of them) and I would venture a guess most hunters today could not make a 1000 yard shot with a scoped rifle.


Use which ever you'd like for getting game, just practice with it and know how to use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA5xmQGZHc4
 
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