Hunting with Open sight vs optics

obsessed1 · #1 10-14-2020, 06:19 PM

As the poll shows how many hunt with open sights...If you do what's your maximum range? And what's your favorite hunting open sight?

teberle · #2 10-14-2020, 06:31 PM

I use my cz452 lux for hunting grouse. I find head shots at very close range easier with open sights because the error is smaller than with a scope mounted 1.5 inches above the bore. Besides this, I do not hunt with open sights.

Mavrick · #3 10-14-2020, 07:01 PM

All my leavers are open sights except my BLR , well peep sights, my old eyes can’t do standard sights well any more. My 1885 in 405W is a Marble sight, but my 1885 375h&h is scoped. I’m pretty traditional when it comes to leavers so I am trying to stick as close to open sights as I can.

KegRiver · #4 10-14-2020, 08:23 PM

My preference is peep and bead for open sights. But I use whatever the rifle came with or mount a scope.

Boogerfart · #5 10-14-2020, 08:58 PM

For me it depends on what I'm doing, my eyes aren't the best but I still like iron sights at close range if hunting in bush. A scope seems like more of a hindrance for quick close shots. As soon as distance increases a scope becomes more useful. At longer ranges I can't do a lot without optics.

6.5 shooter · #6 10-14-2020, 09:24 PM

Hunted mostly with Iron sights until I was in my late 30's cause I was/is poor!

brewster29 · #7 10-14-2020, 10:36 PM

These old eyes just can't do irons any more.

The only time I have not had a scope on my rifle was when I detached it to follow up on a grizzly I shot in thick river bottom jungle a few years back...scope is a hindrance in that situation. The 260 Accubond from my 375 Ruger had done its job- no drama ensued.

HunterDave · #8 10-15-2020, 12:33 AM

There are probably as many millennials that know how to shoot open sights as there are that know how to drive a manual vehicle.

My Grandson will learn how to shoot with iron sights before he ever shoots anything with a scope. That may sound old fashioned but I think that it’s a skill that he should learn.

300 yards with a rear aperture and front blade sight.......when my eyes used to be able to focus on both.

catnthehat · #9 10-15-2020, 01:26 AM

I use Perp sights and open sights equally , the express sights are NECG
I keep my shots inside 200.
Any further and I'll dig the 1.5-4x FXR out of my pack .
If the animal takes off before I get it on, no big deal no matter how large the animal is .

Cat

58thecat · #10 10-15-2020, 09:05 AM

a little this and a little that...I like to have choices but if it came down to it scoped if I had only one choice for hunting in all conditions....

philintheblank · #11 10-15-2020, 11:24 AM

I've used open sights to make a couple long shots. But I prefer scopes.

sillyak · #12 10-15-2020, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58thecat

a little this and a little that...I like to have choices but if it came down to it scoped if I had only one choice for hunting in all conditions....

Same for me. I like hunting with open sights, it's a nostalgia thing. However, if I only had one rifle it would have a scope.

obsessed1 · #13 10-15-2020, 02:42 PM

For me It depends on what I'm hunting and where and what gun I'm using.
Elk hunting...( bull) 90% of the time I'm calling thick bush or tracking. The gun I use most is a 16" barrel marlin with xs sights. With this system I can shoot out to 200yds on Elk/moose sized vitals.
If I'm hunting a cow Elk draw I will tend to carry a scoped rifle (308,30-06,300wm)as I hunt more cut lines and fields and shots Can be longer.
Calling moose I stick to irons (45-70,30-06)but hunting farmland critters I'll use a scoped rifle.(30-06,300wm)
Deer hunting...If in a stand or still hunting it's usually irons(30-30,308,30-06,303)but if hunting field edges I'll pack a scoped rig. (243,308,30-06,300wm)
Song dog hunting...while calling I'll usually have a scoped rifle (22-250,243)and iron sighted shot gun for close in runners.
Weather will also dictate what I carry foggy or icy weather I usually go to irons as they don't fog, or freeze.. Over all 90% of my hunting is either calling/stalking bull elk or calling coyote so I'd say I'm right around 50/50

My favorite sights are ghost/ peep with high viz front bead/ blade, but I also use std buck horn and std flip up rear sights as well

fishtank · #14 10-15-2020, 02:49 PM

open sight for grouse .. i have a henry 22 and comfortable out to 50 yards head shot . all big game i use a scope 3x9 leupold .

Flight01 · #15 10-15-2020, 03:44 PM

I hunt a little with open sights. Not a lot of big game though. Just hasn’t worked out to be carrying my carbines at the time.
I’ve been contemplating going to all 5x or 6x fixed magnification scopes on my rifles lately. Have the 270, 308 and 338 all wearing the same glass sounds like the way I’ll go eventually