Shooting with open sights....its been awhile!

[Danman]

Good day all.
I have finally, by way of my HW50 gotten back to shooting an airgun with open sights again.
I started shooting it as-sent from factory with the thick v-notch sights which, when lined up perfectly block half of what your aiming at, hmmm not my favorite.
I then switched to the ball on a post front sight with the u-shaped rear notch - big improvement!
I set my 5.5inch AV paper targets up at 30Y and sighted in on a 1 inch circle I painted.
LOL, the entire dot disappeared somewhere behind that front tiny post. I then moved it up to 20Y and zeroed it for that. I then realized, I had no idea where the pellets were hitting!...I MISS MY SCOPE
Lots of walking back and forth, some clicking and boom, zeroed for 20
Yesterday a large flock of birds swooped in and I grabbed the 50. Loaded one of its fav pellets an AA 7.87gr and slid the tin in my pocket. The birds were everywhere and yet nowhere and I tried to line up on one i found but it flew off. I then attempted to glass over my spruce trees with um the open sights and....that doesn't work at all!...I MISS MY SCOPE .
When it was all said and done the HW got first blood and I was having a blast!

So...Why did I buy this lower powered gun specifically to shot on irons?
-Its grab and go, quick to line up on.
-The rabbit-in-the-garden munching on the plants and I need it to work now gun.
-When I want a close range paper punching challenge (10-30Y) gun.
-When/if the kids ever take an interest, its the gun.
-When i  need to plink something but only have 15 mins before the wife finds me gun.
-When I grab it and realize; my parralax is perfect, the lens isn’t cloudy, the rings arent loose, and the magnification isn't on max....bc...there is no scope!
Ah its the simple things sometimes folks (and for the record, yes I LOVE my scopes, & I just may slap one on the 50 someday just to see what it can really do...but then...its coming right back off!)

So...
-What airgun are you shooting on irons?
-How close/far are you shooting out usually with it?
-What kinda groups are you getting?
-Do you switch from scope to irons on any particur airguns?
Please share!

 

[PapaT]

All of my pumpers were irons, except the 880 with its 4x15 pack-in scope. I shoot them up to 25 yards on irons. I was getting better groups from the 362 with irons than I am with the scope at 25 yards, but that could be dirty barrel or Papa T factor. I plan to give her a good cleaning this week. Still probably return to irons on the 362 in the end.

I have shot my Crosman Diamondback break barrel with irons as far as 25 yards. The norm was 10-15 yards, but the scope usually comes back to it after adventures away now. My M1A Underlever I only do with irons, but I don't think I have gone past 10m with it.

All of my pcps are shot with glass installed.

All of my bb shooters are irons out to 10m, usually 5m-7yds.

 

[Jaabaa]

I've been cutting cans and shooting the Peep Site at 45 ft with the HW30 all morning and part of this afternoon.
I get asked often am I bored retired at 64, Nope
Give me a little allowance each month and I'm good. Made some good shots and not so good.
The Williams FP AG is a nice peep for the HW30/50
And it holds great.

 

[Scriv]

Irons here. A pair of binoculars will save you a bunch of walking, or as I usually do, a spotting scope which has many uses for me.

 

[Scriv]

Reading your post I'm not sure that I made my point clear when I said pumpkin on a post. The photo will show the sight alignment I was referring to. By controlling the space in between the pumpkin (target) and the post (front sight) you have the variables nailed down. Obviously the gaps on the sides are the relationship between the front and rear sight windage wise. As you extend ranges you can cover a bit of the target to affect elevation. This way, nothing is obscured by the sight. Hope that this helps.

 

[Danman]

Reading your post I'm not sure that I made my point clear when I said pumpkin on a post. The photo will show the sight alignment I was referring to. By controlling the space in between the pumpkin (target) and the post (front sight) you have the variables nailed down. Obviously the gaps on the sides are the relationship between the front and rear sight windage wise. As you extend ranges you can cover a bit of the target to affect elevation. This way, nothing is obscured by the sight. Hope that this helps.View attachment 18634

Thats definitely not the one I thought you meant by pumpkin on a post
Thats runner up for sure though....Took some pics of what im using, liking these alot, the front post is tiny but gives a great view of target.
Targets were @ 20Y first actual groups i put down on paper with it. Started light & went up to H&N FTT holding exact same POA and they were dropping pretty good vs the 7.33gr.

 

[Billm]

Reading your post I'm not sure that I made my point clear when I said pumpkin on a post. The photo will show the sight alignment I was referring to. By controlling the space in between the pumpkin (target) and the post (front sight) you have the variables nailed down. Obviously the gaps on the sides are the relationship between the front and rear sight windage wise. As you extend ranges you can cover a bit of the target to affect elevation. This way, nothing is obscured by the sight. Hope that this helps.View attachment 18634

That’s the standard six o’clock hold for target shooting. I always liked shooting with iron sights. I gotta admit though, I preferred using an aperture sight.

 

[Scriv]

That’s the standard six o’clock hold for target shooting. I always liked shooting with iron sights. I gotta admit though, I preferred using an aperture sight.

Correct. People that aren't indoctrinated in formal target shooting aren't familiar with it, so I used the pumpkin on a post analogy. Sometimes you miss with that too.

 

[Scriv]

Thats definitely not the one I thought you meant by pumpkin on a post
Thats runner up for sure though....Took some pics of what im using, liking these alot, the front post is tiny but gives a great view of target.
Targets were @ 20Y first actual groups i put down on paper with it. Started light & went up to H&N FTT holding exact same POA and they were dropping pretty good vs the 7.33gr.

The best iron sights available have an aperture with some sort of center alignment mark as well as a rear aperture that sometimes will have an adjustment feature. The eye naturally centers everything without any thought. Ten meter air rifles sometimes have only a ring in the front aperture. This way your eye naturally centers the target in that ring, and that ring in the rear aperture. Incredible accuracy is possible. The human body is brilliant when you let it be. I used the front sight that was in the rifle, with the rear turned to the largest notch to get my six o'clock hold. My eyes are aged, and the right in particular has been injured in the past so I had to get as much light as I could.

 

[Billm]

Correct. People that aren't indoctrinated in formal target shooting aren't familiar with it, so I used the pumpkin on a post analogy. Sometimes you miss with that too.

Great analogy though.

 

[Scriv]

Great analogy though.

Thank you.

 

[Scriv]

I think that it's important to remember when shooting iron sights that the projectile sometimes becomes less important, at least with airguns that we are discussing. The shooter becomes the weak link when shooting irons off hand. My two pellet choices are so close, that I'm using the least favored for break in of the rifle. I'll test again, but I'm not concerned at this point. Just have fun with it. As your skills improve the pellet becomes more critical. I think as air gunners in general we get too obsessed with accuracy to the detriment of fun. This rifle brings you back.

 

[Danman]

I think that it's important to remember when shooting iron sights that the projectile sometimes becomes less important, at least with airguns that we are discussing. The shooter becomes the weak link when shooting irons off hand. My two pellet choices are so close, that I'm using the least favored for break in of the rifle. I'll test again, but I'm not concerned at this point. Just have fun with it. As your skills improve the pellet becomes more critical. I think as air gunners in general we get too obsessed with accuracy to the detriment of fun. This rifle brings you back.

Nostalgia! My list was pretty long so I cut it short, but that's definitely high up their too
For my 10th birthday i got my first Airgun from my dad, a crosman break barrel, synthetic stock and big chunky open sights. There was no bench, there was no paper groups other than sight in. All shots were offhand or maybe bracing on a tree, knee, or a building plinking and pesting.
The only pellets we had was whatever dad bought....I remember Crosman wadcutters, domes, and pointed pellets. All shot decently well.
I have been known to break in my airguns with sub-par pellets too!

 

[Alandaledaniel]

Good day all.
I have finally, by way of my HW50 gotten back to shooting an airgun with open sights again.
I started shooting it as-sent from factory with the thick v-notch sights which, when lined up perfectly block half of what your aiming at, hmmm not my favorite.
I then switched to the ball on a post front sight with the u-shaped rear notch - big improvement!
I set my 5.5inch AV paper targets up at 30Y and sighted in on a 1 inch circle I painted.
LOL, the entire dot disappeared somewhere behind that front tiny post. I then moved it up to 20Y and zeroed it for that. I then realized, I had no idea where the pellets were hitting!...I MISS MY SCOPE
Lots of walking back and forth, some clicking and boom, zeroed for 20
Yesterday a large flock of birds swooped in and I grabbed the 50. Loaded one of its fav pellets an AA 7.87gr and slid the tin in my pocket. The birds were everywhere and yet nowhere and I tried to line up on one i found but it flew off. I then attempted to glass over my spruce trees with um the open sights and....that doesn't work at all!...I MISS MY SCOPE .
When it was all said and done the HW got first blood and I was having a blast!

So...Why did I buy this lower powered gun specifically to shot on irons?
-Its grab and go, quick to line up on.
-The rabbit-in-the-garden munching on the plants and I need it to work now gun.
-When I want a close range paper punching challenge (10-30Y) gun.
-When/if the kids ever take an interest, its the gun.
-When i  need to plink something but only have 15 mins before the wife finds me gun.
-When I grab it and realize; my parralax is perfect, the lens isn’t cloudy, the rings arent loose, and the magnification isn't on max....bc...there is no scope!
Ah its the simple things sometimes folks (and for the record, yes I LOVE my scopes, & I just may slap one on the 50 someday just to see what it can really do...but then...its coming right back off!)

So...
-What airgun are you shooting on irons?
-How close/far are you shooting out usually with it?
-What kinda groups are you getting?
-Do you switch from scope to irons on any particur airguns?
Please share!

Use a peep rear sight and an open ring covered front sight like the Olympic shooting sights. Even though these can be as expensive as a good scope, they will be excellent up to 100 yards with the proper ring size in the front. On the less expensive side, I put a Williams peep sight on the rear of a Crosman .22 break barrel and tightened up my 25 yards groups considerably over the factory supplied v notch. The Crosman had dovetails {11mm} and these sights fit on the receiver without any big problems. Sighting in was a chore, but once accomplished the groups were consistent at about ¾ to 1 inch at just over 25 - 30 yards. The front sights are a post that is not fit for the task of target shooting. I must replace or alter the front sights to improve the groups. IMO the rifle is capable of being better. Believe it or not, this rifle has a real kick that throws the shots off if it isn’t held just right. Also, even though adjustable, the trigger is trash making a smooth let off impossible. I’m much too fond of true target triggers that break like crystal glass and are 100 percent consistent. On rifles with rough triggers I struggle to achieve respectable results. I think if you switch to peep sights your results will greatly improve. PS- I’m 78 with poor eyesight but the peep sights still work. AD2

 

[pan60]

I tried a Williams peep sight on one of my pump guns I hate it I could hit anything my vision didnt work with it.
went back to the normal sights life is good.
I think if you have good vision and or wear glass to compensate for poor vision they might be great?

 

[FL22]

What airgun are you shooting on irons?
-How close/far are you shooting out usually with it?
-What kinda groups are you getting?
-Do you switch from scope to irons on any particur airguns?
Please share!

My HW95 “Scarface” (named for the long crack in the stock that likely occurred during the drying process)

7 to 50y

As said above this depends more on the individual, it is much easier for me to shoot off the hand with open sights or with the scope at minimum magnification. I’ve never looked into this as far as causality, but my experience is that higher magnifications cause the target to start buzzing around. The more the target moves the more I try to correct and a downward spiral begins.

As long as I remain calm and focused things seem to come together obviously.

My HW95 is the only one that I shoot with irons and with a scope.

 

[Scriv]

My HW95 “Scarface” (named for the long crack in the stock that likely occurred during the drying process)

7 to 50y

As said above this depends more on the individual, it is much easier for me to shoot off the hand with open sights or with the scope at minimum magnification. I’ve never looked into this as far as causality, but my experience is that higher magnifications cause the target to start buzzing around. The more the target moves the more I try to correct and a downward spiral begins.

As long as I remain calm and focused things seem to come together obviously.

My HW95 is the only one that I shoot with irons and with a scope.

The thing is we all have a wobble. Pistols, rifles, doesn't matter. I never realized how big mine was until I went from irons to a dot while shooting NRA conventional pistol. I trained to reduce it, but beyond that all we can do is get good alignment, and an effective trigger squeeze while working within that wobble. More often than not it will be a good shot. I have been gradually turning up the magnification on my scopes while shooting off hand. Sure, it makes the reticle bounce around a bit, but I also learn exactly how big my wobble is.