Spring has finally come to western Canada so my son and I headed out to a local public range that goes out to 200 yards. He has his scoped Chinese M14 clone
and I brought my scoped Savage 12 VLP in .223 and of course my K31. The range we are members at of only goes out to 100 yards so I have never shot beyond 100
and given 59 year old eyes never with iron sights.
He put an 11 inch (28 centemetre) diameter steel gong up at 200 yards. With the scoped rifles it was really too easy to set the gong swinging even at the lowest power settings of the scopes. After getting over the initial fun of hearing the clunk of the bullets hitting the gong and watching it swing I dared to thing about using the K31 and its issue iron sights to try the gong.
The reality was that at that distance all my poor eyes could make out was a blur of red that was the gong, I could not even make out the shape clearly. With my son spotting I took my first shot which he called low. I then remembered to adjust the rear sight for 200 meters, dumb mistake, and the next shot was a bit high. The third shot was right on and I confess to lauging out loud. I could not believe I could do it!! I even got two hits in a row. Out of 10 shots I had 4 hits which was well beyond my expectations.. I was using a packsack as a front rest and a rear bag. I have fallen in love with shooting with iron sights!
I fear I have a lot of practicing to do to master iron sights, at 200 yards the front sight post completely covers a 12 inch (30 cm.) wide target. I suspect that I will need to work on getting a consistent sight picture to get any good with them. I still plan to put a scope on my K 31 as it is so darn accurate but I believe that I will still be able to use the iron sights even with a scope mounted, is that correct?
I admit to being impressed with those folks who routinely use iron sights at 300 and more yards. I have found yet another aspect of the fine sport of shooting that excites and interests me.
I would appreciate hearing advice from those of you who regularly shoot with iron sights. What are the secrets to your success for a new guy?
Thanks.
He put an 11 inch (28 centemetre) diameter steel gong up at 200 yards. With the scoped rifles it was really too easy to set the gong swinging even at the lowest power settings of the scopes. After getting over the initial fun of hearing the clunk of the bullets hitting the gong and watching it swing I dared to thing about using the K31 and its issue iron sights to try the gong.
The reality was that at that distance all my poor eyes could make out was a blur of red that was the gong, I could not even make out the shape clearly. With my son spotting I took my first shot which he called low. I then remembered to adjust the rear sight for 200 meters, dumb mistake, and the next shot was a bit high. The third shot was right on and I confess to lauging out loud. I could not believe I could do it!! I even got two hits in a row. Out of 10 shots I had 4 hits which was well beyond my expectations.. I was using a packsack as a front rest and a rear bag. I have fallen in love with shooting with iron sights!
I fear I have a lot of practicing to do to master iron sights, at 200 yards the front sight post completely covers a 12 inch (30 cm.) wide target. I suspect that I will need to work on getting a consistent sight picture to get any good with them. I still plan to put a scope on my K 31 as it is so darn accurate but I believe that I will still be able to use the iron sights even with a scope mounted, is that correct?
I admit to being impressed with those folks who routinely use iron sights at 300 and more yards. I have found yet another aspect of the fine sport of shooting that excites and interests me.
I would appreciate hearing advice from those of you who regularly shoot with iron sights. What are the secrets to your success for a new guy?
Thanks.
