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iron sights at 86 Login/Join
 
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Ive always been an iron sight fan, and mostly with big bores and African game..My irons went so. on me, time to quite that irons and shoot the scope it seemed.

Yesterday I sighted in my Win. 71 348 in with my best 250 gr. Kodiak loads for 100 yards..To my surprise the groups on a 3" square targets spread out to about 6.5 to 8 inches but center, not acceptable, so I shot at some rocks about 2 to 3"s in diameter and busted one after another with a 6 oclock hold..So got my mod. 54 Win 30-06 and it shot 4 to 8 inches on the paper. and I busted small rocks with it over and over...Problem solved, a poor sight picture and old eyes was the killer...I would bet a lot of folks have been turned off by irons because of poor targets..

Today I used a standing deer target and both guns centered the heart/lung at 75 yards using a tree limb for a rest with 3 inch groups..

HOpe this helps someone out there that gave up on irons..BTW I still use a scope and often..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 41763 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Oh, at 86, not on 86 !!!

Well here is what helped me on my 1886 45-90.



Rifle has a folding barrel sight (not in old pic) and a folding tang sight.

For big game up close like ele, bison, cape buff, etc, the barrel sight is fine. For small game or long distance game, the tang sight is used.

This has worked well for me and a couple of guys that have used my rifle.


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Posts: 2293 | Location: Republic of Texas | Registered: 25 May 2009Reply With Quote
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i had the rear sight on my bolt guns moved out to where there's only about a 12-14" sight radius... its about even with the end of the forend.... look funny??.. maybe.. can i see it to use it??.. yup... do i care??.. nope!!!.. cant see to shoot peeps anymore, so those rifles will be scoped one day...


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Posts: 2824 | Location: dividing my time between san angelo and victoria texas.......... USA | Registered: 26 July 2006Reply With Quote
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Aging eyes can be helped by big Square front sights and a great big PEEP rear which largely only makes sure you have your face down on the stock right. The big square front that you can focus on means that you see it well and as Ray indicated, that small rock out there is still right on top of the sight and dead in the middle. Touch 'er off and dead rock, deer or whatever you are after. Just don't be afraid to go bigger on the front sight if you want to keep using them.


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Posts: 2135 | Location: Where God breathes life into the Amber Waves of Grain and owns the cattle on a thousand hills. | Registered: 20 August 2002Reply With Quote
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I have gone through exactly the same process. Was good with iron sights until about 50 years. Went to a scope, then recently have been experimenting with a big square blade and large peep sight (Skinner sights) or moving the rear sight way forward to take the fuzz off of it. It sure works. I am 75. I also started drinking Eye Bright tea again, like I did years ago when I competed in Long Range Silhouette pistol. It makes difference for me.
I re-stocked my single shot for iron sights and am good to go for buffalo.


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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I'm only soixante-neuf but my myopic long sight is lengthening. I can still use tangent sights but need to practise evaluation of the fuzzy leaves, after which I think two/three-inch groups are possible.

I think Ray's observation is worth consideration and this flows into my contempt for merchants pushing big-game hunters into bigger-and-bigger scope powers. As Townsend Whelen observed, big game tends to be be big.

You don't have to count the hairs back from it's leg to the identify the kill spot.
 
Posts: 4916 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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I agree with those that mention a big post sight. My favorite is the XS version that is black with a white stripe up the middle. The contrasting colors are easy for me to see no matter what the light conditions are verses a single color front sight. I use along with a peepsight.



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Posts: 2787 | Location: Washington (wetside) | Registered: 08 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Only 86 Ray, yegods I thought you were 86 back in 2001. Big Grin Wink I cant knock your eyesight and shooting, hell mine failed with iron sights by my 30's...
 
Posts: 3530 | Location: various | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I use two irons, a receiver sight with a big hole, ghost sight with a post and lately a red 3/32 bead and a Lyman tang on my 25-35 SRC..

I also like a deep V with a post, and my sight picture holds the post FLUSH with the V,much like a pistol sight picture but with the V as opposed to the square and it works as well..This type sight was used by the Texas Rangers in the early years, it was fast and very accurate, every iron sight guy should try this sight. Those old boys knew how to shoot..

At one time I was good with irons to as much as 300 yards, today Im good to 100 to 150 yards with my 348 and a bit better withh my 30-30s??, and I only use irons for meat and cull hunts, trophy hunts? I use a scope, but usually 2.5X, 3X or 4X on my hunting rifles and a 3X9 on varmint rifles and I shoot a little better with irons at 100 yds off hand than with a scope..Thats because the scope magnifies the wabble and you tend to grab at the trigger as the X floats by, the more power the harder to hold zero as that wabble, wabbles times the power.. shocker

I might add that I use irons almost exclusively for DG in Africa, but have the scope QDs option..I use irons for elk in the timber and scope in the sage, but have the option..

I find it interesting how many people still use irons, how many have the option but don't use them, and with many that don't use them at all..some with eye sight and so fourth and some just don't have irons on there guns. To each his own and one should use what suits him..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 41763 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I shoot open sights with custom prescription shooting glasses for handgun competitions and they work great for open sighted rifles. Proven by the best shooters in the world. I just won high senior and first in my class at AZ state handgun championships. Dr pearson in Phoenix is a world class shooter and optician and makes glasses for lots of big names and little names like me. They work. Other than that there are red dots....


White Mountains Arizona
 
Posts: 2840 | Registered: 31 December 2005Reply With Quote
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I find the front sight beads on my Holland’s to be far too small. But the large ones like on my Cogswell & Harrison are great. The H&H’s do have fold up moon sights but they are too big for daylight use.

Pondoro Taylor wrote of ordering open sights where the rear is further forward to accommodate ageing eyes. Good advice!


DRSS
 
Posts: 1895 | Location: Australia | Registered: 25 December 2006Reply With Quote
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Double sight beads are ridiculously small. Much better with my shooting glasses.


White Mountains Arizona
 
Posts: 2840 | Registered: 31 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Pushing 73 yrs old, for target use, my irons are aperture rear, aperture front, with the front aperture fitted to the black--just like long-range competitive rifle.

For hunting, aperture rear and gold or ivory bead front. (I vividly remember the gold bead just behind the shoulder of the last Cape I shot as he trotted by). I use the XS threaded rear so the aperture can be changed--or removed--if I go from bright day to in-the-trees.

Haven't tried the open rear sight located closer to the front sight, but wonder if it would position one's head on the stock as well as the aperture rear. No reason it wouldn't, I suppose, but the aperture near one's eye provides the longest sighting radius for better precision.

Dave Manson
 
Posts: 678 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 04 November 2007Reply With Quote
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At 79 I still do ok with irons. I target shoot with irons, hunt with a scope.

Dave
 
Posts: 2086 | Location: Seattle Washington, USA | Registered: 19 January 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by gunslinger55:
I shoot open sights with custom prescription shooting glasses for handgun competitions and they work great for open sighted rifles. Proven by the best shooters in the world. I just won high senior and first in my class at AZ state handgun championships. Dr pearson in Phoenix is a world class shooter and optician and makes glasses for lots of big names and little names like me. They work. Other than that there are red dots....


WOW!! Congrats Sean.


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Posts: 7570 | Location: Arizona and off grid in CO | Registered: 28 July 2004Reply With Quote
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I'm trying out a set of Skinner sights, aperture rear and blade front with white strip. I like them so far and will try them on buffalo as soon as we pass this covid 19 situation. I am 75.


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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I still shoot some irons, mostly aperture but have a few with leaf sights that I refuse to change, like a 1929 vintage Husqvarna sporter that has a rear leaf that looks a lot like an express sight, then my Swedish Mausers, Swiss K 31's and the Schmidt Rubin. I actually outshot a gentleman shooting a Weatherby accumark with a big ziess scope with the Schmidt one day, he was obviously having a bad day and I was having a good day. Oh, I will be 75 end of the month.


JJK
 
Posts: 299 | Location: E. Texas, NE Louisiana | Registered: 10 September 2006Reply With Quote
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Questions?
I notice that you can buy a stick-on magnifier that can be positioned near the top of your shooting glasses. This is centered on the sights when your head is tipped forward for rifle shooting. But it is mostly out of the way the you are walking/stalking.

Do you know about these?
Do they work very well?
Can you get them in lower magnification than 1.25?

Looks like a good concept.
Thanks, Brian


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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FWIW, I put a steel Lyman 66 on a 2001 production Miroku Winchester 86 extra light. It’s a great receiver sight, and the rifle was extremely accurate. BTW, the Japanese 86 extra lights are bulkier and heavier than the originals by a fair margin.


Matt
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Posts: 3276 | Location: Northern Colorado | Registered: 22 November 2005Reply With Quote
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Brian, hope someone responds to your question.


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Posts: 16306 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Brian, I've seen a number of competition handgun shooters use them. Good thought!
 
Posts: 20076 | Location: Very NW NJ up in the Mountains | Registered: 14 June 2009Reply With Quote
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A couple of things that helped me with iron sights were cataract and lasik surgeries. Big Grin I'm only 17 years behind you. Big Grin
 
Posts: 18517 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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Try this: By name it is a AVery Reinforcement self adhesive, white....there are other makes also..

Its one of those round stickers with a hole in the middle to reinforce your notebook paper holes..

stick it on your glasses lens in the upper left hand cornor of your glasses if your right handed, the opposite if your a lefty..

Just something I tried some ions ago and it work pretty good on the pistol range, and a lot of shooter followed suit at the time. Worth a try and cheap, and you have about 100 replacements and while your at it patch up those reloading sheets that have torn holes. old


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 41763 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Ray, Thanks for your response. I know what you mean. Good idea. I used the Merritt ( I think that is what it was called.) eye glass adjustable aperture when I competed in long range silhouette shooting in 1985 and it really worked. Recently I tried a few things like the notebook paper hole reinforcer. ( They are good to have around, for sure.) They helped with taking the fuzz off of the rear aperture sight but not the front sight.
I got the stick on magnifier and it has worked the best so far but 1.25 is a bit too much magnification for my eyes, and it is the minimum magnification that I could get so far.

I have been brewing up some Eyebright tea (old hippy remedy) and it helps a lot with eye health in general and it does clean up the sights a bit.
I will keep working on it and post if I come up with anything. Thanks again, Brian


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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I was told that laser surgery doesn't work for my eye issue. But, Thanks!


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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quote:
I was told that laser surgery doesn't work for my eye issue. But, Thanks!

So sorry to hear man! I've been the bionic man since my eye surgeries! Big Grin
 
Posts: 18517 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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Actually, I'm going to check into Laser surgery again. Thanks.


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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I have 2 yard guns here,Marlin 39 and a Big Horn Armory 500 S&W,both have Skinner rear sights. The 39 is used year round on magpies and squirrels and the BHA has killed 4 brown bears with bad intentions, the most recent was 10 days ago at midnight at about 30' in between our 2 Karelian Bear Dogs. 2 quick shots with 500gr Hornady's and drt! I'm sure the steady 22 shooting helps a great deal. My newest rifle (Mod 71) will have the same set-up and a lifetime supply of Kokiak Bonded Bullets courtesy of Ray. Thanks again!


I tend to use more than enough gun
 
Posts: 1407 | Location: lake iliamna alaska | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by waterrat:
I have 2 yard guns here,Marlin 39 and a Big Horn Armory 500 S&W,both have Skinner rear sights. The 39 is used year round on magpies and squirrels and the BHA has killed 4 brown bears with bad intentions, the most recent was 10 days ago at midnight at about 30' in between our 2 Karelian Bear Dogs. 2 quick shots with 500gr Hornady's and drt! I'm sure the steady 22 shooting helps a great deal. My newest rifle (Mod 71) will have the same set-up and a lifetime supply of Kodiak Bonded Bullets courtesy of Ray. Thanks again!


I tend to use more than enough gun
 
Posts: 1407 | Location: lake iliamna alaska | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
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waterrat, I remove the screw in aperture on my Skinner sights. ( 500-110 and 500 S&W) That seems to be best for me. Do you use the screw in apertures?


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Brian Canada:
waterrat, I remove the screw in aperture on my Skinner sights. ( 500-110 and 500 S&W) That seems to be best for me. Do you use the screw in apertures?

Brian I had to look,,no it's gone and I have no idea where it is? For yard work I'm so close that sight's are not even noticed or so it seems. The 500 a great tool for this homestead!


I tend to use more than enough gun
 
Posts: 1407 | Location: lake iliamna alaska | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Waterrat, if you ever want to start a thread on Karelian bear dogs, good God, man, please do so!

beer


There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author
 
Posts: 16306 | Location: Sweetwater, TX | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
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waterrat, Yes the eye is able to "magically" organized the peep sight picture for an accurate shot.


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Waterrat, if you ever want to start a thread on Karelian bear dogs, good God, man, please do so! Bill,, I'm photobucket challenged at the monent but when that passes I will. Our dogs are on duty nonstop from May till about now. Weasels,mink,martens,otter are all intruders here too and treated accordingly.
s
beer


I tend to use more than enough gun
 
Posts: 1407 | Location: lake iliamna alaska | Registered: 10 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Thanks Bill. Also, I too would be interested in the bear dog stories.
About 1979, a friend took me along to the annual bear hunt of the BC Hounds Men Association. It took place at Grand Forks near the USA border. When the strike dog hit the scent and they released the hounds it was wildly exciting! Probably 30 hounds as I remember. That was the only hunt with hounds that I was on. Brian


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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waterrat, Yes, I am really into the .500 cal. in a rifle too. From handgun bullets to DG bullets it's very satisfying to shoot!


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Posts: 3335 | Location: Kamloops, BC | Registered: 09 November 2015Reply With Quote
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