Disclaimer: I'm asking for your opinions/experience and explanation of such only here. I have no intention of this turning into a urination contest nor a flame war. I'll ask right up front that if this thread drifts into a conflict or flames that one of the mod's delete the whole thing immediately.

Question: What do you consider the maximum iron sight distance for ethical hunting and effective target shooting?

Depends on a few things, the age of the eyes being one of them. With my 45-70 Guide Gun I limit my open sight shots to about 125 yards, with my Sauer 202 7mm Rem Mag I will push it out another 50 yards or so, I'd be at the limit at about 200 yards and even then the conditions would have to be near perfect.

Whatever distance you are comfortable shooting at is the maximum distance. If the best you can do is hit a tin can at fifty yards with open sights then you obviously wouldn't take a shot at an animal 200 yards away. But if you have the ability to hit your game of choice at 100, 200, or 300 yards and ethically do it, then by all means do.

As far as you can hit an 8" circle consistently you're set for deer(no misses), so long as you don't go outside the effective range of your gun. I recommend a good rest for this, as with all shooting.

Ya, I'm gonna say this a shooter's ability issue more than anything. With a good peep and nice front post I'd be comfortable out to 150yds. Just haven't had the opertunity to practice much futher than that (other than shooting man sized targets with a M16, for that 300yds is my limit)

Disclaimer: I'm asking for your opinions/experience and explanation of such only here. I have no intention of this turning into a urination contest nor a flame war. I'll ask right up front that if this thread drifts into a conflict or flames that one of the mod's delete the whole thing immediately.

Question: What do you consider the maximum iron sight distance for ethical hunting and effective target shooting?

It used to be a distance of 350 yards with an M1-Garand in my hands. However, those days have come and past me by twice! Today with my lever gun and iron sights, it is more in the 75 yard range on big game.

As far as you can hit an 8" circle consistently you're set for deer(no misses), so long as you don't go outside the effective range of your gun. I recommend a good rest for this, as with all shooting.

Yeah I'd go with that. Also, trajectory needs to be considered.... same as with a scope. Don't want to hold over in the field, and don't want an excessively high mid-range trajectory, either.

I don't think that there should be a substantial change in how we think of max practical range for scopes vs. open sights, except for the obvious that scopes allow a little more precision most of the time.

Got to hit it in the vitals to kill it.... that will never change.

Hunting - The 8" circle is standard is a good one. That would get me out to 300 yards with a Lee-Enfield, 200 yards with what comes on new rifles. Under ideal conditions, of coarse.

Target - I think if you check back on the Wimbledon (scopes) and Leech (iron) Cup scores, you'll find that the Leech scores are usually only a few points behind. Both are shot at 1000 yards.

http://www.nra.org/Article.aspx?id=788

Bye
Jack

Yeah, the 8" rule. I use 9 inches myself because that's what all my steel plates are. Either way, however far you can hit that 8 or 9 inch circle EVERYTIME should be your limit.

RJ

I'll go with the 8" rule from a field posision reguardless of the sighting equipment.
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Some years back had a very accurate .220Swift...a real sub 1/2MOA rifle. Get it off the bench and hitting that 8" circle became HARDER than hitting it with an opensighted 30-30 carbine.

The .220swift was heavy, balanced like a truck axle bolted to a warped 2X4, forend shaped for a bench-bag rather than your hand.

It seems that the older we get the worse the eyesight gets, what I used to shoot at 300 yards has become the norm for 100-125 yards.
I agree with everyone else here, as long as I can keep 5 consecutive shots inside of 8", that is my hunting range. I usually sight in standing at 150 yards, but prefer either sitting or kneeling shots when I can get them. Even better is a prone shot, but they are very rare unless shooting in open country.

Id have to call it a day with iron sights outside of 200 yards. At 200 yards, an 8 inch circle looks awful small and at that point, even with a peep sight, I dont want to wound game.

"What do you consider the maximum iron sight distance for ethical hunting and effective target shooting?"

You have really asked two different questions here. The second one is easy, as already mentioned target shooters go out to 1000 yards on a regular basis (and further in some cases), with iron sights. Much of the target shooting game is based on the use of iron sights - very precise sights - but 'iron sights' nonetheless.

Your second question is really the hard one. I would say, echoing some of the thoughts already posted, that it depends on your eye sight, your type of sights (open, aperture (peep) and how they are configured), and the type of game and hunting conditions that you have.

You might be able to hit an eight inch circle (or a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper) reliably on the rifle range, but if all your potential shots are in dim light, against a game animal in lots of background clutter, you might be more challenged. On the other hand, out in the open on the prairie might allow you to take a well aimed shot a bit further out.

I would agree with those who use the 8" rule. Placing shots on target accurately, within an 8" circle, everytime, under hunting conditions, should be the determining factor. For me, 150 yards is the practical maximum for hunting. However, in most cases, I would not take a shot beyond 125, unless I was fully confident of the outcome. For target shooting, I never shoot beyond 200 yards, but that is determined by the maximum distance of the range. I would enjoy trying 300 yards, if such a range were available to me. Obviously, ethical concerns do not figure into target shooting scenarios, except that ANY range should be situated in a safe area, with suitable backstops. I do think it important to set one's maximum hunting distance based on a full appreciation of the practical limitations, such as what kind of rest might be available, at the time of the shot. Of course, a better rest will allow longer shots. In no case, however, should one hunt at distances beyond which he/ she can reliably place the shot, everytime. So, 300 yards might be possible, even 200.....but, as I do not have confidence at such distances, I set my arbitrary maximum well below that.

I would agree with the 8" rule, but also add that it depends on your comfort level and familiarity with the rifle being used. It all depends on you. I try to be familiar with all of my rifles enough to make a 100yd shot with no problems. How far exactly I would go out to would depend on the conditions. Where I hunt I dont have to worry about more than 125-150 yds max.

Practice, practice, practice. Shooting from the postions you would be in when afield. The more trigger time you get in the better shot you become.
I practice dry firing when I can not find the time to get to the range. The type of sights you have installed also determine how far you can make an accurate shot (good clean sight picture). A scope does not make the gun more accurate or a person a better shot. I have seen better scores turned in at any sight matches from shooters using Iron sights (in the same class of shooters).

The biggest factor is the skill of the shooter. I think Jack makes a perfect point pertaining to the comfort level w/ Sights/ Rifle. With Peep sights, or open w/ a finer front blade, 200 yards+ is no problem. But change the rifle to a heavy front blade and shallow v rear sight, and the game changes to 125 yards or less. Lots of factors to consider. It comes down to your ability with a specific rifle. JP

I think it depends on the gun in my hands at the time. If I am using a shotgun with slugs, about 75 yards - Longest shot has been 130 yards.

With a good 30-30, about 125 yds on a good day for me. With my 32-40, or 38-55 highwalls or 1886 45-70, 200 yds, With my Remington in 40-65 and a good rest, I'll bag 'em at 300. But that's not my idea of hunting, considering the weight.

Truth is, I can shoot better with the 40-65, than I can my Savage heavy barrel 308, with a good scope.

Ethically, even at those distances, I would say that I have passed up many shots due to terrain and the lack of desire to chase some poor wounded critter through Robinhoods barnyard and back.

Truth is, average shot in Michigan is about 75 yards or less
Regards
Bestboss

Another airing on the side of the shooter's ability. With the factory sights of my Marlins, Browning BLR or Winnie 94, I'd limit MY ability to a range of around 150 yards, and would never try a longer shot on game. 150 yards is a loooooooonnnnnnngggg way for these eyes with a barrel mounted factory lever gun sight.

Now, without sounding like I am contradicting myself;

I can consistantly hit targets with my M1a national match out to 600 yards. Can hit out to say 400 with the AR. Of course, the m1a/AR15 are apples and oranges compared to a lever gun.

As others have stated, practice is the key, along with a proper loading and thorough knowledge of your firearm's abilities.:cool:

The question you have raised is similar to "how long is a piece of string?
The advise you have recieved so far about the 8 inch circle is pretty good. But bear in mind that the distance will vary depending on the size of the game hunted (an 8" circle ain't much good if your hunting rabbits) The light at the time the shot is taken, caliber being used, type of iron sight, and the ability and experience of the shooter.
Enjoy your hunting
Rod

The 8" rule is pretty good advice for huntimg. As for targets, I've shot a lot of matches where the slow fire prone is shot at 600 yards. And I had a 200 yard range that had a 12"X12" gong that we rang with .22 rifles and (not as often) pistols. But I would never take a shot at any living critter that far.