Iron Sights: Back on the Soapbox

[Hospitaler]

I can't even see the front sight.

[ditto1958]

I can't even see the front sight.

It's that little black thing sticking up from the end of your barrel...

[CT_Shooter]

I can't even see the front sight.

It's that little black thing sticking up from the end of your barrel...

Depending on the barrel, that just might be a straw!

[rwortman]

Deteriorating eyesight is a real thing that happens as we age. I can't shoot a pistol as well as I used to simply because I can't see the sights as clearly. The aperture sight I have on my Henry 22WMR works pretty well. However, the 1/16" post on the front sight covers about a 9" circle at 100 yards. That would make placing a shot on a small critter pretty difficult with young eyes and mine aren't. A 9" circle covers up most .22 sized critters. This limits things to around 50 yards without a scope. I am OK with that. The gun would look wrong with all those replica design cues and a modern scope and vintage scope replicas are too expensive. I put a compact scope on my BBS because someday I may hunt with it and I just wanted better precision at long range.

[Ojaileveraction]

For moa shooting I'll need a good scope every time. Shooting minute of chicken or even ram, peep sights are more fun.
I've been spotting for a friend shooting his black powder single shots on the 500 yard range. Along side him I've been shooting my 45-70 using cast lead bullets out to 500 yards. It's amazing what a good spotter can help you shoot. Again I'm talking hits anywhere on a 10-12 moa target.

[ditchparrot]

I own only one rifle with a scope, a .30-06, and it has only one purpose – shooting at big game at distances greater than 100 yards. I'm hesitant to say "never" about anything, but the chances that I'll ever put a scope on any of my Henry's are extremely slim.

My competition shooting is all done with shotguns at flying clay targets. I shoot rifles for enjoyment (and I put hunting in that category).

For me, iron sights are simply more enjoyable.

[BigAl52]

When they clear out at the range and call me Mr. Magoo I guess I'll change to a scope.

Nah it wont happen RR but they might call you the old troubador like in the George Stait song.

[kjunman10]

I believe that when one gets to be 80 years of age he has the right to complain about "Old Eyes" so I see no reason for it to be a pet peeve of anyone. At some time in life adjustments have to be made for failing eyesight Even with my Old Eyes I continue to shoot with iron sights on my lever guns. I am having a problem now with the buckhorn sights and looking into peep sights to help my shooting. I will not go to shooting targets with a scope as I don't feel good target shooting should be done with one. When you can get good groups with iron sights at some distance then you have something to talk about, brag if you want to.
I don't complain about my failing eyesight, I only mention it when seeking assistance in setting up my rifles with an alternative to the buckhorn sights which I seem to have problem with especially on my Henry Frontier.
Ya'll have a Good Day!

[JEBar]

as noted in an earlier post in this thread, not any degree of soapbox issue for me and, frankly, I find it somewhat mystifying that so many folks find it to be one .... I have firearms with a range of sights ... I've worn glasses since before I went to first grade and I'll soon turn 71 .... I've worn trifocals for decades and don't foresee that changing .... I don't hunt from a Texas type tower stand overlooking a field that is literally a square mile in size without a scope .... I don't hunt in woods where a 20 yard shot is the norm with scope on my rifle .... my personal preferences are mine .... other folks personal preferences are theirs .... when I go to a range, I carry what I want to carry and shoot what I want to shoot .... in short, I believe others have the right to make their own choices and its none of my business what they use .... I also believe the converse of that is also true

[RanchRoper]

As my eyes get worse I think bigger bullets is the answer.