What distance for deer with iron sights?
- Thread starter Pistoler0
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NoSecondBest
New member
Depends on where I am and where the deer is and what it’s doing. If I’m in a stand with a rest and the deer is stationary, I can easily hit a deer at 200 yards with no problem. If I’m shooting off hand I’m very comfortable at 150 yards as long as the deer isn’t moving. It just depends on how good a shot you are, not how far away it is. Most hunters don’t shoot all that much and everyone should be aware of their abilities before taking ANY shot. I’ve spent a lifetime shooting competition and I do a lot of shooting year round. I’m a competition shooter who likes to hunt. Some countries make hunters take a shooting exam at running targets. If they did that here in this country we wouldn’t have nearly as many hunters. You’re not all that limited just because you’re hunting with iron sights.
bamaranger
New member
limited
There are limits to iron/peep sights.
Firstly, one must have good enough vision, or corrected vision, to shoot well with same. If one is past a certain age, irons of any kind can be a real challenge,... ask me how I know. The age old rear leaf and bead/blade sight are the worst. Peeps are better, especially on longer barrels.
Secondly, light, or more correctly, lack of same, will make use of irons difficult in dawn and dusk conditions. I would say that one gives up 20-30 minutes of hunting time daily, if using irons (10-15 minutes every AM/PM). Of course, that is often when game, especially wary bucks, are moving. The problem is amplified in thick cover and shaded/deep terrain, again, where deer may well be found.
I wonder if the "running game" shooting tests are more common in countries where shooting at driven game (boar hunts for example) is the traditional hunting style? TV allows us to see some very fine shooting by those folks. I read that U.S. hunters do not do well on driven game hunts overseas. I'm not surprised, thinking its as much a cultural thing as it is lack of skill and practice. I suspect a high percentage of the whitetails in this country are now killed from elevated blind/shoot houses at stationary animals on food plots and feeders. Shooting is typically done off a rail or other type of support. I don't see where a rifle running game test would have any correlation to the type of hunting we do here. I might agree to a stationary, kill zone size target from some type of field rest though, at say 100 yds. We are already conducting hunter ed classes in most states that includes a written test.....a shooting test could be part of that, but would add time and cost. We could have a whole separate post on that.
Lately I've hunted our early muzzleloader season with traditional, sidelock .50 cal percussion rifles. The carbine has a peep, the full size rifle, leaf and blade. Shots have all been under 50 yds, well up in the morning, seated off a knee. I could see shooting to 75 with confidence given the right conditions. Everything perfect , 100 would be feasible, but I rarely can see that far due to cover and terrain where I hunt.
There are limits to iron/peep sights.
Firstly, one must have good enough vision, or corrected vision, to shoot well with same. If one is past a certain age, irons of any kind can be a real challenge,... ask me how I know. The age old rear leaf and bead/blade sight are the worst. Peeps are better, especially on longer barrels.
Secondly, light, or more correctly, lack of same, will make use of irons difficult in dawn and dusk conditions. I would say that one gives up 20-30 minutes of hunting time daily, if using irons (10-15 minutes every AM/PM). Of course, that is often when game, especially wary bucks, are moving. The problem is amplified in thick cover and shaded/deep terrain, again, where deer may well be found.
I wonder if the "running game" shooting tests are more common in countries where shooting at driven game (boar hunts for example) is the traditional hunting style? TV allows us to see some very fine shooting by those folks. I read that U.S. hunters do not do well on driven game hunts overseas. I'm not surprised, thinking its as much a cultural thing as it is lack of skill and practice. I suspect a high percentage of the whitetails in this country are now killed from elevated blind/shoot houses at stationary animals on food plots and feeders. Shooting is typically done off a rail or other type of support. I don't see where a rifle running game test would have any correlation to the type of hunting we do here. I might agree to a stationary, kill zone size target from some type of field rest though, at say 100 yds. We are already conducting hunter ed classes in most states that includes a written test.....a shooting test could be part of that, but would add time and cost. We could have a whole separate post on that.
Lately I've hunted our early muzzleloader season with traditional, sidelock .50 cal percussion rifles. The carbine has a peep, the full size rifle, leaf and blade. Shots have all been under 50 yds, well up in the morning, seated off a knee. I could see shooting to 75 with confidence given the right conditions. Everything perfect , 100 would be feasible, but I rarely can see that far due to cover and terrain where I hunt.
For most people, 100 yds will be the limit. Not because of lack of skill on the part of the shooter, but limitations imposed by the equipment. At 100 yds, a .060" front sight bead covers an area about 10" in diameter, very easily obscuring the vitals area of a deer. Sure, smaller beads, different sighting techniques, etc, would reduce the effect of the size of the sight, but it is what it is. There are people who can shoot irons exceptionally well, but most people just flat can't. Then we get into the sights themselves, and iron sight marksmanship is difficult for most people.
Maxwell Haus
Moderator
100 yards with M1 Garand sights . V notch and bead/post I am comfortable at 50-75 yards . My tired eyes can't pick up the iron sights like in the good old days .
When comparing irons vs optics range is less of a limiter than light. Optics greatest advantage is allowing you to see both the target and sights in poor light.
During the 1st, and last 30 minutes or so of legal hunting time iron sights are useless whereas an optic will allow you to take the shot. At mid day on a clear day I can shoot GOOD irons well enough to make hits to at least 200 yards. Probably farther, I've just not practiced farther. But part of the issue is that many of the iron sights on rifles are junk.
During the 1st, and last 30 minutes or so of legal hunting time iron sights are useless whereas an optic will allow you to take the shot. At mid day on a clear day I can shoot GOOD irons well enough to make hits to at least 200 yards. Probably farther, I've just not practiced farther. But part of the issue is that many of the iron sights on rifles are junk.
Crankylove
New member
100ish yards for me.
Not only the range, but time of day/lighting limit my iron sight shooting.
My eyesight isn’t good enough, even with corrective lenses, for me to be shooting at game with open sights past that.
Not only the range, but time of day/lighting limit my iron sight shooting.
My eyesight isn’t good enough, even with corrective lenses, for me to be shooting at game with open sights past that.
FrankenMauser
New member
75-150 yards, depending upon cartridge and sights.
Some have sights good enough for a bit more than that. But if I can't see it well enough for a clear identification without binoculars, then I probably shouldn't shoot it.
Some have sights good enough for a bit more than that. But if I can't see it well enough for a clear identification without binoculars, then I probably shouldn't shoot it.
Likewise. I grew up hunting across soybean fields. If you couldn't make a 300 yard shot you might as well stay home. Nowadays I limit myself to 100 yards max.When I was 20, 300yds was not impossible. Now that I'm over 60, ..not so much...
Depends on the cartridge as well as your specific hunting area and terrain.
Inside 75-yds, say, in dark timber or the bramble bush, a dead-on 100-yd zero should be more than enough, as the round won't be dropping that much to make a difference.
You're shooting for "Minute of [Critter]." (Insert [here] the specific Critter you'll be hunting. Hint: the larger the Critter, the larger the acceptable "MOC".]
If your shots on deer-size game are in open areas/fields, but inside 200-225yds, a zero of 2"-high @ 100yds is a good rule of thumb.
As always, you'll still need to be up to the task marksmanship-wise ... If you're the star trigger-masher at Deer Camp every fall, you're probably better off buying venison at the store.
Younger me 20 years ago open sights on my Ruger 44 Carbine, West Virginia I was comfortable out to 100 yards. My longest whitetail kill was maybe 130 if that. Anyway, after 100 yards the 240 grain 44 Magnum drops like a rock.
Overall for any of my open sight guns (sans 22 LR) about 100 yards. Today at 71 while I am blessed with good vision it's not that good.
Ron
Overall for any of my open sight guns (sans 22 LR) about 100 yards. Today at 71 while I am blessed with good vision it's not that good.
Ron
Lotta variables involved. Primarily the light conditions, but if you're in the bush vs open country matters too. So does your vision. And the sights.
Shot regularly with peeps while in The Queen's Service. Mostly at 100, but placed at 300. The CF's FN C1A1 nor the ammo were exactly made for great accuracy. My eyes aren't what they used to be either.
"..."running game" shooting tests are..." Germany, I think. Hunter's safety courses there are a 2 year community college thing. I believe you're correct about the pigs.
Shot regularly with peeps while in The Queen's Service. Mostly at 100, but placed at 300. The CF's FN C1A1 nor the ammo were exactly made for great accuracy. My eyes aren't what they used to be either.
"..."running game" shooting tests are..." Germany, I think. Hunter's safety courses there are a 2 year community college thing. I believe you're correct about the pigs.
Something to play around with in a ballistic calculator.I looked at this for a cut down Krag I have with a bolt peep.
Holding the blade up into the body is harder to see,even at modest ranges.
I have not tried this yet,but consider at close range ,we can see pretty well.
So we can hold for what we need.
I'm making up the numbers for illustration purposes,But suppose we sight in my Krag for dead on at maybe 300..Round nose,or semi-spitzer 2200 fps or so
Guessing the numbers,that might be 8 inches high at 100,maybe 10 inches high at 150 to 175,and maybe 9 in high 175 to 200.
Those are not calculated,I just made rough estimates.
The idea is putting the midrange trajectory above the line of sight.
And my theory is a 6 clock hold on the brisket and foreleg(generally) should hit boiler room from 100 to 200 yds .Its a lot like applying "maximum point blank range" curve above a 6 clock hold on the brisket/sternum.
Applying the eye sight advantage of a 6 oclock hold vs a center bullseye hold.
Once again those are not real numbers.Generate your own..
I have not used this.Its just an idea from playing with the software.
Holding the blade up into the body is harder to see,even at modest ranges.
I have not tried this yet,but consider at close range ,we can see pretty well.
So we can hold for what we need.
I'm making up the numbers for illustration purposes,But suppose we sight in my Krag for dead on at maybe 300..Round nose,or semi-spitzer 2200 fps or so
Guessing the numbers,that might be 8 inches high at 100,maybe 10 inches high at 150 to 175,and maybe 9 in high 175 to 200.
Those are not calculated,I just made rough estimates.
The idea is putting the midrange trajectory above the line of sight.
And my theory is a 6 clock hold on the brisket and foreleg(generally) should hit boiler room from 100 to 200 yds .Its a lot like applying "maximum point blank range" curve above a 6 clock hold on the brisket/sternum.
Applying the eye sight advantage of a 6 oclock hold vs a center bullseye hold.
Once again those are not real numbers.Generate your own..
I have not used this.Its just an idea from playing with the software.
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Curiously, the two longest deer kills I ever made with iron sights were with primitive open iron sights. Not only that but the two shots were made with a .50 flintlock longrifle. The distances were 100 yards for one and the other a bit over that. I'd likely pass on that nowadays since my eyes are not as good as they once were. Over the past nearly 20 years I've hunted exclusively with flintlocks.
