Iron sights

[Borngeechee]

Why don't all hunting rifles come with iron sights? I know when I first started buying rifles I didn't like when I did see irons on them because I thought it messed up the lines. That was me not looking at it as the tool it's meant to be. If you're in the field and you drop your rifle and lose your zero or somehow damage your glass, you're screwed. So if a rifle is designed for hunting, why don't all manufacturers add them? Do you think it's cost or the buyers?

[Lawdwaz]

I don't see the need on any of my centerfire guns.  I have plenty of faith in myself that I won't monkey the scope up and if I do, I'll either reach into the back of the truck for another, get one from my buddies locker or go the hell home. 

 

I sure don't have the years and miles of some of the REAL old codgers here but I've put in plenty of miles and days in my almost 40 years of scoped gun toting days and ain't had one go tits up yet.........on the other hand, I don't expect a Leupold to have a problem although it could happen.

 

Like you, I also think on most modern firearms it takes away from the esthetics.

[Doc]

It's pretty much a non-issue for me. Of all the guns that I have, the only one that doesn't have a scope is my Model 94 30-30 Winchester with the top eject. I love scope, and whenever I am costing out a new gun, mounts and scope are all part of the cost. Of course gun manufacturers are not tailoring their gun features after my wants and needs, so I have to assume that my preferences have become the norm.

 

I will say though, by not even having the mounting features for a front sight, you certainly have eliminated the versatility of having iron sights if one has their heart set on that alternative. Why not at least mill in the dovetail so that a front sight could be put on for those that want one?

[wildcat junkie]

Why not at least mill in the dovetail so that a front sight could be put on for those that want one?

Because then you would have an unsightly dovetail or plug to contend with. At one time, Remington CF rifles had screw applied sights that only left holes to plug & even that was distasteful to me. I was pleased when manufacturers started to make rifles with clean barrels.

Good mounts that hug the action as low as possible are very unlikely to get knocked awry. I only had that happen 1 time in nearly 60 years. I leaned my (unloaded) M700 CDL against a truck in my driveway as I was loading gear. We were just crossing the road to drive to the back side of one of my meadows across e road from my house. It slid off & landed on the objective bell striking hard frozen dirt. A zero check later that day confirmed that the POI had shifted.

I never did that again.

Edited April 11, 2015 by wildcat junkie

[Pygmy]

Back in the 50s and 60s it was hard to find a production rifle WITHOUT open sights.

 

I have always favored the looks of a bolt action sporter without sights and I never remember a time when a scope failed me..Nowadays they wouldn't do me much good anyway, because of my old eyes. I can stiil use a peep sight efectively, but regular open irons are just a blur to me.

[Mr VJP]

The removal of iron sights from deer rifles became a marketing decision by most rifle manufacturers in the 70's or so.  Prior to that, most deer rifles had them.  But eventually,  most deer hunters decidedly preferred not having them, as they were surely going to mount a scope which were by then considered to be almost worry free.  Irons became unwanted as they sometimes appeared in the scope's sight picture and were seen as nothing but added weight and brush catchers.  There was also a cost savings for the manufacturer by not putting them on.  Some makers, like Ruger, always offered them as an option, but at a higher cost.

 

Today, some rifles still come with them if they are seen as tools that may be used with irons, like my Kimber Talkeetna in .375 H&H.  Most Kimber rifles don't have them, even as an option.  But dangerous game at close range still has a place for them.  Close range deer rifles like a Marlin 336 or Win 94 will always have them, as the owner may prefer not to put on a scope.

 

They are not obsolete by any means, but are just not being put on rifles that the owners were often taking them off of anyway.

 

As far as having an issue in the field with the scope, you can have a backup sight system by getting detachable mounts and a spare scope or red dot sight set up and sighted in and just switching them if needed.

 

In all my years I only had one scope issue.  It fogged up on me.  It was a cheap Tasco or something like that and that was about 40 years ago.  That's when I set up my own back up system for the first time, but have never needed it since.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2015 by Mr VJP

[philoshop]

From the manufacturer's standpoint the biggest reason is probably cost, and the fact that most rifles sell just fine without iron sights.

 

ETA: Mr VJP beat me to it :-)

Edited April 11, 2015 by philoshop

[nyantler]

As some of you probably would have guessed... I don't own a gun with a scope. I shoot exclusively iron sights or a peep... not to say that I won't ever own one... especially if the eyesight gets bad enough that it becomes the only option to continue hunting. For me I'll just have to accept that a new rifle with irons will be a special order in the future... I realize they just aren't the norm in this new age of making hunting easier... well, some of you might say more efficient, not easier

 

[ants]

I think the firearms industry realized that most people now scope their rifles. So why bother with the added manufacturing cost of adding iron sights. Off the top of my head, the only bolt guns that come with irons are the high end Rem. 700's (BDL) and maybe some of the CZ's.

I have been hunting with scopes for years and have never had an issue with one getting damaged or going off zero in the field. If one ever does, I have another rig standing by, back at the house or camp.  Good scopes are tougher than you think.

[Mr VJP]

Ruger offers many new rifles with iron sights.

 

[Borngeechee]

Ruger offers many new rifles with iron sights.

I THINK I'm done buying rifles for right now but the last one I got had iron sights and I really like it.

[Daveboone]

The quality of scopes and risen dramatically. With all the advances in triggers, barrels, bedding, etc. to optimize accuracy, it wouldn't make sense to not place a scope for many types of shooting.

[G-Man]

I am.amazed at the number of.people who can't or don't know how to shoot with iron sights or even a peep. All military guns I have seen have iron sites there is a reason for them, but you need to practice with them to be consistant. Kind of like a bow, but just like a crossbow everyone wants easier so scope it is bore sighted for you..and all dialed in reday to go at normal ranges with little or no practice.

wouldn't be a blast if we took scopes out of gun season and went to iron sights only? and watch the people cry like they do about crossbow being in archery because you don't have to practice?

[Mr VJP]

G-Man, some older folks with tired eyes cannot focus on iron sights anymore, even with eye glasses.  Scopes help those folks a lot.

 

In their younger days, they may have been expert marksmen with iron sights.

[G-Man]

I agree, I was just making a point how easier a scope is to shoot than iron sights, I wouldn't take anything away if it allows some one to continue hunting, one of the reasons I support crossbows.

But many hunters have never used iron sights,same as many original archers started traditional or compound with fingers as releases were not legal, one appreciation for the old ways is lost on many new hunters. Iron sights will fade as traditional archery will.. shame really I make all my nephews use iron sights on 22 rifles for.years befo re they ca n get a scope on a rifle for hunting

Edited April 12, 2015 by G-Man

[Mr VJP]

That's good.  But anything that makes hunters better marksmen so they wound less game is a good thing also.

 

[wolc123]

Iron sights still have a place and that would be where fast, close-range shooting is expected.  Me and the girls were out with the bb-guns this afternoon shooting cans.    We had a Daisy Red-Ryder with open sights and a Crossman 760 with a scope.    I noted that I was able to hit cans at 25 yards about 10 times faster with the open-sighted Red-Ryder.  My 10 and 11 year old daughters and their cousin did shoot much more accurately with the scoped 760 however.     They all preferred the scope. 

[ATbuckhunter]

My 30-06 doesn't have any irons but that doesn't bother me because I never intend on not using a scope with it. I do prefer to have them on my rifle just in case. 

[covert]

I don't know why they don't come with a ghost ring or peep.

[JimMac]

I'll take iron ....