Pathfinder45
New member
I keep hearing in thread after thread about fellas that say they reluctantly have to go with a scope on their rifles that were primarily intended for iron sights because their aging vision has deteriorated to where they can't effectively make out the sights that worked so well when they were younger. I get that, and I know that a scope is the obvious remedy.
But I think that too many of us are selling out long before we should. I am about to turn 63 and have been using reading glasses for at least a decade; (I can't see very well with the d**n things, but I can hardly read or tie a hook without 'em!).
Open sights are a lot more challenging, even in good light. So it's time to upgrade, but not to a scope. Don't get me wrong, I like a good, scoped, bolt-action; but I'll be darned if I will have a scope on my lever-guns.
I am fairly sure that some folks simply must have a scope to shoot at all. I also think that better than half the people that think they need a scope have never really given good aperture sights a fair chance. Most rifles that come with iron sights could have better sights. An aperture rear sight acts like a lens and almost magically brings a blurry front sight into focus.
I think some rifles should have scopes, and some, really shouldn't. My scoped 270 is great; but I'm honestly having a lot more fun and satisfaction out of a 30-30 Winchester carbine with a Lyman tang-mounted peep sight. OK, it's not a 400 yard gun and never will be. But the sight upgrades have literally doubled its effective range; and that's with nearly 63 year old eyes.
What about you? Have you given good aperture sights a fair chance before giving in to a scope? There are really good sight options for Winchester leverguns and even more options for Marlins. Try some, and, by all means, let's not get old before our time.
But I think that too many of us are selling out long before we should. I am about to turn 63 and have been using reading glasses for at least a decade; (I can't see very well with the d**n things, but I can hardly read or tie a hook without 'em!).
Open sights are a lot more challenging, even in good light. So it's time to upgrade, but not to a scope. Don't get me wrong, I like a good, scoped, bolt-action; but I'll be darned if I will have a scope on my lever-guns.
I am fairly sure that some folks simply must have a scope to shoot at all. I also think that better than half the people that think they need a scope have never really given good aperture sights a fair chance. Most rifles that come with iron sights could have better sights. An aperture rear sight acts like a lens and almost magically brings a blurry front sight into focus.
I think some rifles should have scopes, and some, really shouldn't. My scoped 270 is great; but I'm honestly having a lot more fun and satisfaction out of a 30-30 Winchester carbine with a Lyman tang-mounted peep sight. OK, it's not a 400 yard gun and never will be. But the sight upgrades have literally doubled its effective range; and that's with nearly 63 year old eyes.
What about you? Have you given good aperture sights a fair chance before giving in to a scope? There are really good sight options for Winchester leverguns and even more options for Marlins. Try some, and, by all means, let's not get old before our time.