Bolt action with iron sights

[Gunsby_Blazen]

Most bolt action rifles do not have iron sights. I know that a scope is the best thing to put on bolts due to their accuracy but I really enjoy shooting with irons. I have been looking at Ruger M77 rifles but they do not have rear sights that are adjustable for yardage. The only one modern rifles to have adjustable rear sights are the Remington 700 BDL and some Mausers. Does anyone here know of any other current production rifles that are out there?

 

[TAB]

Savage "euro classic" line does.

Kimbers "dangerous game models do"

CZ offers most of thier product line with or with out sights.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Remington Model 7 has iron sights.
So does a M44 Mosin Nagant.
KKKKFL

 

[Afy]

My Vz 24 has iron sights..

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

Yeah, Franco; the first thing that popped into my head was the M44.

Gunsby,

Have looked at a Mosin '91/30 or Finn M39? I think you'd be pleasantly surprised--with the Finn, especially.

Is 2,000 meters, in 50 meter increments, enough yard--excuse me--meterage for you?

 

[jmr40]

The older model 7's had iron sights. Remington has stopped putting them on the new model 7's as well

Other than rifles set up for dangerous game there are very few options in a new bolt rifle. The way I see it you have 3 options.

Buy the gun you want and have it drilled and tapped for the iron sights by a gunsmith. MIdway offers a pretty good selection of sights that should set you back $50-$100 depending on what you want. Not sure what a smith would charge to install

Buy a pump, lever, or auto that comes from the factory with irons.

My choice would be to look at used guns. Most all of the manufacturers put iron sights on their guns in the past and many of the older guns are better quality anyway.

 

[Z_Infidel]

Some of the iron sights installed on rifles at the factory are less than satisfactory anyway. It seems the only robust iron sights offered as original equipment today are on dangerous game rifles. The best option might be to buy a good set of iron sights and have them installed by a gunsmith.

New England Custom Gun has some quality sights (open and aperture style), you might want to check them out. Another option would be XS Sights, who offer ghost rings for many types of rifles.

 

[Slamfire]

Irons have gotten more rudimentary as time has gone by. As we have seen, many rifles do not have them anymore.

Factory bolt rifles of the 30's, 40's, 50's often were drilled and tapped to accept Lyman 48 and Redfield 70 micrometer ear sights. These sights typically gave 1/2 MOA click adjustments on windage and elevation. If a factory rifle ever came out with a Lyman 48 on the back, I just cannot remember it. But you could install one of the rifles of the day.

I have a 48JWS on the back of a pre 64, and a 48S on a M1903. And I installed a SAKO rear sight on a SAKO. Worked fine.

A modern rifle, you would have to examine the rifle. Any modern rifle can be drilled an tapped, but whether things (like integral scope bases) stuck on the back of the action would interfer with the sight base is something that would have to be determined.

You can get modern Williams sights. I actually prefer them to the modern Lyman as you can tighten the arm to the base with a screw. The Lyman you cannot tighten. The problem with the modern iron sights is that the aperature arms are a loose fit in the base. You just cannot do any decent shooting with an aperature that flopps around. The older sights, if you go through some at a gun show, you will find that they are better fitted.

You do not want target sights on the back of a hunting rifle. Redfield Olympics, Internationals, Palma's, are too big and too delicate. Will get knocked out of wack in a moment.

I have yet to handle a better set of irons than the ones put on the Garand or the M1a. Rugged, simple, fine adjustments.

 

[rangerruck]

to get a nice, fully adjustable rear site assy., you are going to have to spend at least 500 for a new rifle. Look at Remmy, cz, wetherby, Savage classic, sako, tikka, and a few others.

 

[RancidSumo]

Get a CZ, the irons are GREAT.

 

[ArmedBear]

Most Savage models can be had with irons -- not that I see them on racks, but they're in the catalog. You'd probably have to put in an order.

They're an option you can order on anything from Weatherby, not for free of course.

All of that said, most calibers shot from bolt guns are flat-shooting enough that you don't need to set the elevation for hunting.

See this for a discussion and chart of MPBR of common cartridges: http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm

For example, factory 130 grain .270 can be sighted in so that you can just aim and you will hit your target +/- 3" elevation to at least 300 yards.

With irons, 3" is plenty good enough, and WELL inside the area covered by the front sight. 300 yards is probably well past the distance that an ethical hunter would shoot with irons, in most circumstances anyway.

The gun I've shot where a ladder sight had a real purpose? A .45-70 Sharps.

 

[jkingrph]

My old Win mod 70 ftw, 1963 model has iron sights.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

Just get some installed. Look at lyman as an example, but many companies make them. they will have to be installed by a gunsmith though.

 

[Cosmoline]

The original model CZ's have fantastic irons. The "American" models have these removed, which makes no sense to me at all.

 

[.38 Special]

I have a Ruger rifle with an NECG aperature sight. It is essentially bulletproof, completely adjustable, and looks just right, IMO. Combined with one of their large white beads up front, it is extremely functional out to any range at which I comfortable shooting at game.

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

I am a Ruger fan, but...
I really like the looks and alot of the features that the CZ rifles have.
I have a liking to the CZ 550 FS. I have heard that a full stock like on this rifle, and on the Ruger M77 International rifles, can negatively effect accuracy; should I be too concerned with that? I mean, I dont plan on scoping it out for quite some time and will primarily be using it with irons.

 

[RancidSumo]

I have the FS version in 22mag and it works great. More accurate than me (although that isn't too hard)

 

[KI.W.]

My fun gun Mauser 9,3x57 has iron sights.

 

[TOU]

I will leave the Ruger vs CZ thing alone except to say I have had and shot several Rugers. I now do not own any Rugers but do own about a dozen CZ/Brno center fires. I have a .300 Win Mag, .223 Rem, .22 Hornet, 7.62 and two .270's with iron sights. They are all great...the .300 WM has these neat funky adjustable ones that are kind of cool...although I have never adjusted them. (Battue LUX)

I am a Ruger fan, but...
I really like the looks and allot of the features that the CZ rifles have.
I have a liking to the CZ 550 FS. I have heard that a full stock like on this rifle, and on the Ruger M77 International rifles, can negatively effect accuracy; should I be too concerned with that?

If it is a CZ, you can be rest assured it will shoot well enough for most anything you are ever going to do with it...even if it is a FS.

Good luck!

TOU

 

[Nhsport]

I had the luck to pick up a Springfield A303 that had been bubba'ed years ago for $140.
Barrel mount rear iron was messed up so I had a Lyman micrometer rear mounted. Then I mounted a big fat soft recoil pad and a timey trigger.
Shoots and carries like a dream and I only have about $300 in it.
Once you get up off the bench and start doing any hand held shooting GOOD iron sights don't give away much to a scope if you know what to do with them

 

[woo18]

Sako gives you the option of factory installed iron sights on most of their rifles. It is not really stated on their website, just ask.

 

[aspade]

Most current rifles have stock geometry to line your eye up with a scope an inch above the barrel. They may offer irons, or you can have them added later, but you'll have to scrunch your face down further than is comfortable to use them.

CZ will give you good irons, and they'll give you a stock designed to use them.