10 Best Iron Sight Hunting Rifle

Best Iron Sight Hunting Rifle in 2023

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How Proper Use of Iron Sights Can Add Another Element of Fun to Your Shooting

Iron sights are misunderstood by today's shooters who rarely, if ever, use them. Iron sights can be reliable and rugged, and learning how to use them can give you a whole new confidence in your shooting skills.

There are essentially two different kinds of iron sights. These would include the actual open sights that still come on most rifles, and aperature or peep sights. Ten or twenty years ago, almost all rifles came with open sights, but, today, there are some rifles that don't have them at all. The manufacturer assumes that the rifle will be used with a scope. There are still some companies, such as Marble's, Lyman, and Williams that still sell aftermarket sights, both open and aperature. While it may be difficult for some younger shooters to believe, iron sights can still be very useful, both for hunting and target shooting. They are much less fragile than a scope, as well as more weather resistant. They can also be very accurate at all reasonable hunting ranges, as long as the user practices and knows how to use them.

One very important concept to keep in mind when using iron sights, is to try to shoot with both eyes open. For people who have always closed their non-shooting eye, this can be very difficult. But, as with all things, practice makes perfect. When both eyes are kept open, the visual effect to the brain is to see the sights as almost transparent. One eye will see the sights, while the other can look down the barrel, unobstructed. When this is done properly, the brain sees the sights but will also see anything that may be blocked from view if the non-shooting eye is closed. You also lose depth perception when you close one eye.

Open Sights

When shooting open iron sights, you should use a target that can be clearly seen. For most people shooting a rifle at 100 yards, that would probably be an 8 inch bullseye, preferably black. When shooting targets or sighting in, the further away you shoot, the bigger the target that you'll need. There must be a definite reference between the front and rear sights. Concentrate on the front sight and center it in the rear notch. If you're using a rifle with a front sight bead and a round notch at the rear, then you should center the bead in the round notch, leaving just a hint of light around the bottom. This allows you to see the bead more clearly. When using squared front sights, or posts, along with a square rear notch, found on most handguns, and some rifles such as lever action carbines, then you should align the top of the front post with the top of the rear notch. You can practice aiming with iron sights without ever firing a shot. Just make sure the gun is not loaded, and practice aligning the sights at distant objects. This will help greatly when you do actually start shooting.

When you're ready to shoot, line up the sights as described, and then place the top of the front sight just below the intended point of impact. For example, when shooting at a bullseye target, place the bull directly on top of the front sight. The intent is not to actually shoot at the bottom of the bull, but to establish a relationship with the front sight and target. This is sometimes known as the 6 o'clock hold.

Of course, if your bullets don't go where intended, you will have to adjust the sights until the bullet hits just above where the front sight is held. Most of the time you can adjust the rear sight to move the bullet. Simply move the rear sight in the direction that you need the bullet to go. If you have to adjust the front sight, at least for moving the bullet left or right, then you will want to move it in the opposite direction of where you want the bullet to hit. If you run out of height adjustment with the rear sight, then you will probably have to install either a taller or shorter front sight, depending which way you need to go. Midwayusa.com carries a large supply of aftermarket sights. You should find about anything you want here.

When out hunting, if you get a shot at a game animal, just align the sights, and center the intended point of impact exactly on top of the front sight. Doing it this way will leave the entire target visible, even if you happen to close your non-shooting eye. One thing to keep in mind is, once you have the sights aligned, you should concentrate your focus on the front sight and target, letting the rear sight blur somewhat.

Aperature sights

Using aperature or peep sights is somewhat easier for most people, especially those that don't have that much experience with iron sights. With an aperature sight, you look through a small hole, place the front sight just below intended point of impact, and shoot. It really is that simple. With aperature sights you only have to concentrate on the front sight and the target. Many people, when first starting out, try to center the front sight in the aperature. You don't need to do this. The aperature on these iron sights is relatively small, usually less than .2 inches. When you look through the peep, your eye will naturally center the bead, because the center is the area with the most light. All you have to do is look through the aperature, put the front sight just below the intended target and shoot. For most people, peep sights tend to be more accurate than open iron sights, but both can be used effectively.

Aperature sights generally have some kind of click adjustments for sighting in. These can either be knobs that are turned by hand or slots that are adjusted using small screwdrivers. These sights usually have more adjustment built in than do open sights.

The biggest problem when using iron sights, is believing what you see. It is true, that at longer distances, the front sight will actually cover up most of the target. But if you perch the target on top of the sight, and center as best you can, you could actually be surprised at how well you'll do. No, it's not as easy as looking through a scope, sticking the cross hairs on the target, and firing. It requires quite a bit more practice to become proficient in iron sight use. But there are times where iron sights can save the day. Severely cold days that would frost the lenses on a scope have no effect on iron sights. Rain drops don't bother iron sights either. In spite of remarkable advancements in scope designs, there are still times when iron sights have the advantage. They are handsome, sleek, and functional, and can actually add a level of fun to shooting and hunting. They may just be the perfect sight for your rifle or handgun.