Deer hunting with iron sights.

vtsnowedin · Nov 25, 2012

Ah geesh you had to tell him how much the Zeiss was worth. I wanted to make him an offer just so it wouldn't clutter up his gun cabinet

. Yes to all those that say scopes are the way to go and yes peep sights are much better then buck horns and the like but he didn't ask which was better just how to go about it if one wanted to indulge in a little nostalgia.
He might want to check out this site if we haven't discouraged him.
Marble Arms - The Leader in Iron Gun Sights
They made a lot of sights for name brands and may well have made the original sights on that rifle.

N80 · Nov 25, 2012

Westcliffe, thanks for the offer but I already have waaaay too many deer rifles already and 6 of them are Remington 700s!

texasjohn, you and Robert may be right. I've been doing some additional reading and it sounds like unless you spend money on special sights that getting the gun sighted in can be tedious and use up a lot of expensive ammo. However, I have not shot a deer in three years simply because I have chosen not to. And even when I was shooting more deer I got to the point that I only took a shot if it was a stone cold money shot. If I were to try the iron sight thing I would only be taking shots that were easier and closer. Think bow range. Which is sort of the point, I guess. In other words, a scoped rifle is the ultimate deer hunting tool. A bow is less accurate and has far less distance. I see an iron sighted rifle as a big step down from from a scoped rifle but still a step up from a bow. I'm not looking for the most effective tool or to kill a lot more deer. I don't care if I kill another deer with a scoped rifle but I might be proud of a decent buck with a iron sighted rifle.

But, I'm just in the consideration phase of all this and you guys are helping me sort it all out. It would be next deer season before I'd have the chance to do this anyway.

And for some reason I was thinking that hunting with iron sights was something that was getting popular....not sure why...maybe I saw something in a magazine...but doing internet searches I don't see much of a buzz about it.

N80 · Nov 25, 2012

vtsnowedin said:
Ah geesh you had to tell him how much the Zeiss was worth. I wanted to make him an offer just so it wouldn't clutter up his gun cabinet . Yes to all those that say scopes are the way to go and yes peep sights are much better then buck horns and the like but he didn't ask which was better just how to go about it if one wanted to indulge in a little nostalgia.
He might want to check out this site if we haven't discouraged him.
Marble Arms - The Leader in Iron Gun Sights
They made a lot of sights for name brands and may well have made the original sights on that rifle.

I've got two of the Zeiss 4x scopes; had them for over 20 years. They are quite nice, but in truth, many moderate priced newer scopes are pretty much as clear and sharp. I generally prefer a 6x.

But, you've hit the nail on the head. As I mentioned above this is just something to make things more interesting.

RobertN · Nov 25, 2012

If I were to run iron sights, I would look at Williams or Lyman aperture(peep) sights. There are some nice ones out there.

vtsnowedin · Nov 25, 2012

RobertN said:
If I were to run iron sights, I would look at Williams or Lyman aperture(peep) sights. There are some nice ones out there.

+1 I have a Williams peep sight that I added to my wifes model 94 Winchester. It works great and I have taken two deer with it. Just right for working thick areas where it's "Deer"" Horns" boing boing bang down".

TripleR · Nov 25, 2012

+2 I've used Williams sights and loved them. I started out hunting with scopes then went with iron on my rifles and revolvers as long as I could see them then went back to scopes. I can understand the desire to use iron and like you said, nothing lost either as you've taken plenty of game and taking one with iron will give you a sense of accomplish it sounds; whatever it takes to keep it fun.:thumbsup:

westcliffe01 · Nov 25, 2012

Since I shoot late corrosive ammo (m75 sniper ammo) in 8mm Mauser, I am getting a custom stainless barrel and I am going to cerakote the barreled action. I shoot predators in MI, which is about all we can shoot with rifles and I want to hone my skills with a heavier cartridge, so I figure I will take my coyote hunting up a notch and shoot them with the 8mm mauser. The sniper ammo is cheaper than anything I can reload and I'm sure 1 hit with the 196gr boat tail bullet will be all it takes. I keep the skulls which get prepped in a similar manner to the european mounts for deer. The rifle currently has a light sporter barrel and the replacement will have a varmint profile.

forgeblast · Nov 25, 2012

My 30-30 has iron sights, for the distance that I shoot that is perfect for me. I hunt mostly heavly wooded hillsides, all my stands are from archery season, so If I can hit it with a bow I can hit it with iron sights.

texasjohn · Nov 25, 2012

N80 said:
texasjohn, you and Robert may be right. I've been doing some additional reading and it sounds like unless you spend money on special sights that getting the gun sighted in can be tedious and use up a lot of expensive ammo. However, I have not shot a deer in three years simply because I have chosen not to. And even when I was shooting more deer I got to the point that I only took a shot if it was a stone cold money shot. If I were to try the iron sight thing I would only be taking shots that were easier and closer. Think bow range. Which is sort of the point, I guess. In other words, a scoped rifle is the ultimate deer hunting tool. A bow is less accurate and has far less distance. I see an iron sighted rifle as a big step down from from a scoped rifle but still a step up from a bow. I'm not looking for the most effective tool or to kill a lot more deer. I don't care if I kill another deer with a scoped rifle but I might be proud of a decent buck with a iron sighted rifle.

You're my kind of sportsman...hunts carefully and calls his shots...am convinced you will get your next BIG buck with iron sights:cool2:

dmccarty · Nov 25, 2012

Egon said:
Iron sight, older eyes, get a peep sight.

When I had more time I would shoot in service rifle matches with peep sights. Focus on front sight and everything SHOULD line up. Hopefully, I get out an hunt this year for forest rats. I will be using a rifle with a peep sight.

Later,
Dan