Whoall is handgun hunting with iron sights, and what's the average range of your shots taken? Was wondering where to sight my gun in at. Can hit the paper at 100 yds, but not reliably with the hunting sights, and didn't think that 100 yds would be realistic anyway.
Thanks...

I use iron sights on all my revolvers. Average shots to date have been in 65-80 yard range. Not hard to miss a moose at 65 yards though. I sight mine in to be MOA of a pepsi can at 100 yards.

savageshooter,

That depends on your eyes what is good for one person isn't good for an other.

It is the same thing with a rifle with or without scope.

Don't forget that most of your hunting shoot with your handguns are under 75 yards. Even between 10 to 50 yards. I don't like a scope on e handgun but a redt dot could be a good alternative.

What caliber are you shooting?

I hunted with iron sights on my .41 Magnums for over twenty years with great success. A few years ago I put a Leupold on it (1.5x or 2x) just to have a clearer sight picture. I love it. Out to 80 yards anything I shoot at dies. I consistantly hit the paper at 100, but don't shoot at wild game out that far.

I don't like scopes on pistols either. If I need something scoped, I'll pick up the rifle.

I've killed varmints out to prabably 75 yds with my .41 and a friends 44. But I'm sure our average range for varmints and pistols is closer to 50 yds. (Rabbit sized varmints)

Frankly, I think 50 should be about the maximum responsable range for big game hunting where shot placement is extra important. Sure I've hit cans and crap out to 100+ yds with pistols...but I don't think it's a wise pistol hunting range at all....at least not with normal pistols. Someone might argue this point with an XP-100 type rig...which I don't really classify as a pistol. JMHO

It could be 25 yds, it could be 125 yds, it just depends on the range at which you can place your shots into the kill zone for the game you are hunting.

As far as where to zero, it depends on the velocity of your cartridge. I like to be 1-2" high at 50 yds, that puts me just about on @ 25 and 75 yds.

Ask Elmer Keith what effective range means for handgun hunting. hehe

For straight wall caliber like 357, 41 & 44 i will use a 25 yard zero. I then learn where the gun & load combination will shoot out to 100-125 yards. Nothing like missing at close range casue you are sighted in for longer distance....

Wow, a lot of good advice! I guess I should've mentioned what gun I was talking about. I'm using a .50 cal Encore muzzleloading pistol. The sights are the T/C fiber optics, which makes the front blade cover about 8" at 100 yds. With this gun I'm thinking about "responsible" shots considering the ballistics. I'll probably sight it in at 50 yds. I have other scoped pistols which rival rifles in accuracy, but wanted to stay with the iron sights on this one. Didn't want to sight this in at 100 yds, then have to offset so much for close shots. Thanks all...

Well I might get flack from this but if you are useing a M.L. black powder pistol I would stay under 50 yards. I don't care what the factorys say, you are still useing a M.L. and a pistol to boot!
Forget what Tony Knight and the inline crowd preach about MAGNUM velocities from modern inlines. Again you asked for opinions I am giving mine. I have only killed one deer with a handgun and it was with a T/C Condender with 16inch 45/70 bll. Sighted in for 50 yards with open sights. Killed a nice young doe as she leaped over some bushes at about 25 yards. I no longer have that gun as the recoil was just too much. I plan to sight my new .41 mag in for 25 yards as it will only be used for close shots

Jacobite, that's the way I'm leaning. There's nothing wrong with getting close to your quarry, makes it challenging! Thanks.

SS,
Sounds like you are on the right track then. I hear too many guys think inlines are as powerfull as modern guns. Good luck and let us know how the gun shoots.