ejg-
I agree with what you say about scopes. A good 3-9x40 with AO can be used on anything from airgun and rimfire to .375 H&H. Setting your air rifle, .22, .243 and .308 at 6x would serve 95% of anyone's needs.
My point about iron sights is that they are very natural for shooting, easily becoming part of your vision, and helpful in determining range, even subconsciously.
I use iron sights when the situation suits, because I like shooting with iron sights, and it makes the rifle lighter and easier to carry. Since have worn glasses since my early 50s, I use scopes, too. I would not take a shot at a deer with iron sights at 300 yards, because I don't believe in taking a shot AT anything, and the fun is to get as close as I can. But 200 yards is a snap, as I regularly practice offhand at 100 to 200 meters. I have taken deer with at 300 yards with a .270 and a 2.5x scope and with a .30-06 and 4x scope.
When you get into shooting at the outer ranges (90+ yards for .22 LR, 350+ yards for centerfire ), range estimation and wind doping become so critical because of the bullet's loss of velocity, that you need more equipment, more time, more notes, and still may not make an ethical, clean kill, no matter how good you and your equipment are. Inside 300 yards, any decent 3-9x scope with a 200 yard zero will do the job all day long, because your point blank range is going to be 225 or so, and you never have to hold off hair.
I agree with what you say about scopes. A good 3-9x40 with AO can be used on anything from airgun and rimfire to .375 H&H. Setting your air rifle, .22, .243 and .308 at 6x would serve 95% of anyone's needs.
My point about iron sights is that they are very natural for shooting, easily becoming part of your vision, and helpful in determining range, even subconsciously.
I use iron sights when the situation suits, because I like shooting with iron sights, and it makes the rifle lighter and easier to carry. Since have worn glasses since my early 50s, I use scopes, too. I would not take a shot at a deer with iron sights at 300 yards, because I don't believe in taking a shot AT anything, and the fun is to get as close as I can. But 200 yards is a snap, as I regularly practice offhand at 100 to 200 meters. I have taken deer with at 300 yards with a .270 and a 2.5x scope and with a .30-06 and 4x scope.
When you get into shooting at the outer ranges (90+ yards for .22 LR, 350+ yards for centerfire ), range estimation and wind doping become so critical because of the bullet's loss of velocity, that you need more equipment, more time, more notes, and still may not make an ethical, clean kill, no matter how good you and your equipment are. Inside 300 yards, any decent 3-9x scope with a 200 yard zero will do the job all day long, because your point blank range is going to be 225 or so, and you never have to hold off hair.
