this is about hunting big game, not about target shooting
i was sitting here thinking about why does "everyone" have a scope on their rifle?(everyone being a guy who takes his rifle out once a year, then goes target practicing and if he hits the 36" x 36" he's good) most guys know how to use a scope, but they don't know how to use iron sights(peep, buckhorn, semi-buckhorn...). i've gotten my first deer ever with a 30-30 win94 open sights. i can't remember how many deer fell to my open sights. i used to take my scope off of my marlin 22lr and hunt with open sights. grey, red and fox squirrels, groundhogs, red and grey foxes, grouse, pheasant were just some that fell. why would i take off a scope to hunt with? i guess it was a "challenge" to me. later on, i would go to the US Army where everything at the time was open sights. back in the early '80's, everybody had a scope. lever, pump, single shot, bolt, didn't matter which, but they have to have a scope. there was one or two older fellas that would go open sights, but it was rare to find them. in '83 i was 12y.o. and i had a m94 open sights, but my friends had a scope with a bolt or pump action. i would take my 22lr without a scope and i would shoot with my friends scoped 22lr and i would hit cans, plastic army guys, etc... out to 50-75 yards, and i would do better than them. i'm not saying i am the best ever, but i sure could shoot.
AND THEN, i bought a rem mountian rifle with a cheap scope(i was only 17y.o.), i believe it was a tasco or a bushnell , in a 30-06. i killed a few deer with it and then i bought another rifle/scope and another and another... i almost forgot about open sights when my late grandpap gave me a 1898 spr armory in 30-40 krag. i've killed a few deer with it, but i thought that open sights were just to small, i mean really, really, REALLY small. i have 20/15 in my shooting eye(left) and 20/20 in my right eye. i don't know how those troopers could hit spaniard, i really don't!!! then i got on evilbay and they had a redfield 102k peep sight. i got it for $50 and boy, i do luv it. i've gotten my groups down to 3/4"(did it once, only once) and up to 1 3/4" at 100 yards(5 shots). i used to be able to go 2 - 3" at 100 yards(5 shots), i'd go 1 3/4+" at 100 yards rarely. i've taken 2 or 3 deer using a redfield 102k and that gentleman, has to stay on.
both of my sons can do a open sights or a scope. they where taught at a young age that an open sight first, scope last. they both have taken small game and deer with open sights. i wonder if the Marine corps does an open sight or if they are optics only? my youngest boy is going to to Marine Basic this october, this dogface will make a young jarhead proud.
i will have a 500 linebaugh with 23" MGM heavy factory barrel and skinner sights, both front and back sights. if " i can" do a 3 - 4" group at 100 yards(3 shots) then i will have deer/black bear buster. and no, i don't plan on taking 450gr lfn gc over 1400+fps. a nice sedate 1100-1200fps boolit will suit me just fine.
have i come full circle? i mean for a guy whose guns can go under 3/4" at 100 yards scoped and then goes back to peep sight and gets 4" at 100 yards and happy if he does! am i nutz? i remember when a gun HAS TO go under an 1", it JUST HAVE TO!!!! or rifle will be gone. i remember buying and trading rifles so much, i should've had a ffl.
ahhh well, i guess its just me. now don't get wrong, i have a tc encore in 444 marlin, 20 vartarg and 6.5 creedmoor and they are all scoped and they will go under 3/4" at 100 yards. my ruger #1 in 270 does 1/2" at 100 yards consistently. but i like my peep sights better, even tho the krag does 1 3/4" at 100 yards. heck, i'd be proud if the krag would do 4" at 100 yards.
i must be nutz.....