Having fun with Open Sights

[straycatkid]

My old Hunter 220 has found sort of second life. I've always shot my Sheridan more than the Gamo. But in the past few months I've invested a bit of time and money into the Gamo and it's been great. A new synthetic stock from Gamo, the GRT trigger, I tried a scope that didn't work but I began shooting it open sights and it's fun! I also added the front hood sight, which is perfect for protecting that front sight, I love it.

Last night I had a friend over and with the Sheridan and my Gamo we were blowing away some bottles in the backyard from maybe 35-40' away. There are some bright floodlights in the back of the house that allow us to plink like that after dark. The sights on my Gamo aren't really dialed in yet, but I figured the short distance we were shooting was explaining us being on-target at all.

When I dial in the sights for real, what range should I work with? The paper targets I have say 25 yds. on them, but that's not happening. When I can afford it, I'll get a new Tasco maybe for the rifle, but in the meantime, it's a lot of fun without a scope. Anyone else like shooting these open sighted? Anyone hunt with open sights? Seems like a very back-to-basics sort of fun.

[Bogey]

Steve,  I have a Crosman G-1 that I just bought that comes without sights ( scope only ) and I have been shooting it " shotgun stlye" wiith  good results.  Range has been between 15 to 45 feet.  I will mount the scope someday but I am in no hurry to do so.   I just enjoy rapid point shooting.  At 45 feet I can keep hits within 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches.

[Randino]

I've been using open sights on Betsy, my Hunter 220, for a while now (note my profile pic). It's a lot of fun if you have the eyes for it. 25 yards is doable for hunting, I can go out to at least 35. When you're cutting paper though, its harder to make out the bull's eye at that range.

Keep in mind that before we had other types of sights, open sights were all that was available. The Kentucky long rifle was deadly accurate at over 200 yards and used a version of open sights. That tells me that I'm more limited by my rifle's power plant then her open sights. Scopes are great and all, but if you have open sights and a good pair of eyes, you should still be able to hit what you're aiming at.

[airiscool]

"............. Anyone else like shooting these open sighted? Anyone hunt with open sights? Seems like a very back-to-basics sort of fun. ".


That was always my favorite way to hunt Squrrels, just the open sites with my Winchester 77. But, about ten years ago my close-up vision started going. Now, the rear sight is just too much of a blur to be of any use. Even the newer, halfway up the barrel rear sights are just too close to see clearly.

At least I still have very good distance vision.

Paul

[Magnum]

I use open sights quite alot its fun and I enjoy the challenge:) Shooting in the 25 yd open sight match has improved may accuracy:) Tony