Iron Verus Modern Sights

[AJ]

Good for you. I too, prefer iron sights, either fixed or adjustable.

Most of the younger folks, don't seem to take the time to shoot well. If they hit the target (3' X 3' paper) at 15 yards they are happy. Very few can intentionaly make small groups in the center of the Bullseye.

 

[bamashooter]

I have 4 or 5 ARs with hard sights and the remainder with red dots and 2 with prisms, 1 with variable scope. I'll take glass all day long. Much quicker target acquisition. On my armadillo gun (M&P 15-22), I have a prism and visible laser. As long as it's dialed - in, hard to beat the laser. No aiming per se. Just put the beam on the target and pull the trigger.

 

[Bullet Bob]

OP - what gun were you shooting?

 

[Greyman50]

Old school Marksmanship V " spray and pray". Not that I'm anywhere as good as I was 10-50 years ago but notice the same when I shoot anywhere. Young guy's targets make me want to ask what choke are you using on your shotgun?

 

[prairieviper]

I use red dot for competition. I don't use a red dot on my carry guns. If I need a flashlight, I will use it in my non-gun hand.

 

[WR Moore]

I've been using RDOs for over 40 years, I'm a fan. BUT, on handguns they're a supplemental sight* (still need the irons-manufacturers that lose the rear sight to add the optic take note!) that my old eyes need for anything with any distance involved. I've got magic specs that let me see the sights clearly, but the target can be an issue. The RDO solves that problem and is outstanding in dim light.

IMHO, what the old eyes need is contrast. The typical black sights don't give you that. OTOH, a stainless ramp shows up well. I saw the fiber optics fail too many times in competition. Yeah, you've got the the sight body there, but that's not what your mind is looking for.

*Best to have irons on the long guns too. Preferably, ones you don't have to flip up.

 

[G-Mac]

One of my past employers had a sign on the wall in the front office....

"Old Age and Treachery Shall Overcome Youth and Skill"!

Congratulations, Sir! You give hope to guys like me!

 

[WR Moore]

I had that as a bumper sticker! Originally, it was a comment on promotional practices at my employer. Later, it became an operational option at another place of employment.

 

[Brian Parrish]

I've been using RDOs for over 40 years, I'm a fan. BUT, on handguns they're a supplemental sight (still need the irons-manufacturers that lose the rear sight to add the optic take note!) that my old eyes need for anything with any distance involved. I've got the magic specs that let me see the sights clearly, but the target can be an issue. The RDO solves that problem and is outstanding in dim light.

IMHO, what the old eyes need is contrast. The typical black sights don't give you that. OTOH, a stainless ramp shows up well. I saw the fiber optics fail too many times in competition. Yeah, you've got the the sight body there, but that's not what your mind is looking for.

Tell me about how those fiber optic sights failed.
I am guessing the little tube just falls out?
Always enjoy your contribution!
BrianD

 

[WR Moore]

Pretty much they break and disappear. Apparently, one inserts the tube, then heats the end(s) to flare them to retain it. I guess if the tube breaks, the slide shuffling back & forth ejects the pieces. The last failure I saw was on the gun of a S&W factory sponsored shooter at a TPC match. No clue if it had anything to do with it, but he drilled a no shoot dead center in the head on that stage. He had replacement tubes and stuck a new one in before the next stage. Judging by the reaction of the RO, it's not uncommon.

I'll stick with the white dot, thank you very much.

 

[paladin42]

With these old eyes of mine, I can see the front sight, the rear sight, and the target, but not any two at the same time. I bit the bullet and bought a Holosun green sight. It's made a world of difference for me.

 

[AJ]

Need I say more?

 

[AJ]

With these old eyes of mine, I can see the front sight, the rear sight, and the target, but not any two at the same time. I bit the bullet and bought a Holosun green sight. It's made a world of difference for me.

You can only focus on one thing at a time. We were taught to focus on the front sight. All other things should be blurry.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

For nearly 300 years iron sights have done the job........They don't require batteries-plates-screens-rings or any of that other necessary junk..........I like "em" on my handguns and some of my rifles.
I'll bet anyone on this forum that if a bad guy burst into a room with you and opens fire up close.....Ya gonna Point & Shoot........ Not be looking for a dinky dot....

 

[paladin42]

You can only focus on one thing at a time. We were taught to focus on the front sight. All other things should be blurry.

Easier said than done with eyesight like mine. I too was trained to focus on the front sight, but now if I do that, anything past 10 yards or so is an incomprehensible wall of blur.

 

[paladin42]

For nearly 300 years iron sights have done the job........They don't require batteries-plates-screens-rings or any of that other necessary junk..........I like "em" on my handguns and some of my rifles.
I'll bet anyone on this forum that if a bad guy burst into a room with you and opens fire up close.....Ya gonna Point & Shoot........ Not be looking for a dinky dot....

That would be true for me in that scenario. However, I do like to shoot targets, hunt, and other things as well.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I use iron sight for most of my shooting. The only exception is speed steel. I have Crossfire red dots on my Browning Buckmark (.22 Pistol Open), S&W 15-22 (Rimfire Rifle Open) and on a PCC chassis holding a Tanfoglio P19 Combat (CZ75 clone from the 90's in PCC Open. It shoots low with iron sights anyway, even with the front sight filed down almost to the white dot, designed for a neck hold and chest hit). I shoot my open sight Kimber Stainless Target II in Limited Iron Sights.

I am not competitive in Speed steel as I am not a "rabbit" what we call a really fast shooter in IPSC, so I have been thinking of going to a red dot for pistol division too. I have looked at the Kanick range, feel better in my hand than a Glock, cheaper than a Glock, and comes with a red dot mounting plate that replaces the front sight. Will need a new holster (probably) an extra mag (it only comes with two) and magazine holders.

I currently have about 2/3 of the cost in credit at my "local" gun store, 45 minutes away. Will have to see what the cost will be then save a bit more on my account to pay for it.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I've been using RDOs for over 40 years, I'm a fan. BUT, on handguns they're a supplemental sight* (still need the irons-manufacturers that lose the rear sight to add the optic take note!) that my old eyes need for anything with any distance involved. I've got magic specs that let me see the sights clearly, but the target can be an issue. The RDO solves that problem and is outstanding in dim light.

IMHO, what the old eyes need is contrast. The typical black sights don't give you that. OTOH, a stainless ramp shows up well. I saw the fiber optics fail too many times in competition. Yeah, you've got the the sight body there, but that's not what your mind is looking for.

*Best to have irons on the long guns too. Preferably, ones you don't have to flip up.

Some time ago I had a brass bead put on the front sight of my 9mm 1911. It shows up really well in contrast to the black rear sight. In fact it worked so well that I tried it on one of my .45 1911,s but it kept coming off under recoil so I have painted it, all of my other pistols front sights, with gold model paint. The contrast iOS much better, even against the buff cardboard IPSC targets.

 

[WR Moore]

I broke down and sent 2 1911 slides to Novak for white dot dovetailed fronts. Fedex shipped Monday, arrived Wednesday, finished Friday. Much better, might have to shave a couple of thousandths off the top of the rear on one.

Did the Testors metallic gold on my BHP. Dunno when I bought it, but the price tag was $0.35.

 

[AJ]

Easier said than done with eyesight like mine. I too was trained to focus on the front sight, but now if I do that, anything past 10 yards or so is an incomprehensible wall of blur.

Then no gunfights for you over 10 yards!!☺