What sights are your favorite for hunting?

[.41 magnum man]

I've got a Ruger Blackhawk .41 mag. that I plan to hunt with this fall. I am trying to figure out what type of sites would be best for hunting. My area is mountainous with lots of thickets and brush, and although most shots will be inside 50 yards, I would like a sight that be good out to 100 yards. I thought about installing a fiber optic pin in the front site with a peepsite in the rear, or perhaps put two fiber optic pins on each side of the sight groove to help line up the fiber optic pin on the front. Some have said they don't think the peep sight or fiber optics would be a good sight for hunting.

I don't want a scope because even the lowest magification obscures my ability to see through that little tube. I like the thought of a Red Dot type scope, or a halographic sight. Well, what are your recommendations?

 

[timothy75]

I routinley hunt small game out to 75 yards with stock sighted ruger revolvers so I'd try your stock sights first. I tried the scoped handgun thing and was very dissapointed. Good luck

 

[MCgunner]

Taken deer to 50 yards with the stock sights, but I really prefer a nice 2x LER scope, what I have on my Contender. It's much kinder to old eyes that never were that good in the first place. I can keep that Contender to 1.5 moa at the range off bags out to 200 yards. 100 yards is no problem with any sort of decent field rest which is about the limit of a magnum revolver.

 

[.41 magnum man]

Thanks, guys. My gun is new, and I have been working on reloads to get the most accuracy before I begin shooting at farther distances. I had a Taurus PT-1911 .45 ACP that I could hit a pie plate with at 60 yard with open sites. That was resting off the hood of my truck. I definately want to see what I can do with the stock sights before I go changing anything. That you two have done so well with the stock sights is encouraging.

Okay, everyone, what is your favorite. Maybe I should have made a poll?

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

IMHO, at the distances you and I will be shooting at, I see no need in a scope. However, unlike punching holes in paper, deer don't always stand still long enough to get a long sight picture.

My vote is for a red dot-type sight.

Target acquisition is instant and the bullet goes to the dot without having to like up the iron sights. This allows you to watch the animal and the environment more and make sure your bullet will be zipping into nothing but air until it hits the vitals.

My favorite red dot sights ain't cheap, or light. They are the first generation Bushnell Holosight models. Target acquisition is instant, the additional weight is just enough to tame the recoil a little more and you can swing it smoothly and touch off a perfect round . . . even on moving deer!

Twice I've dropped three deer in rapid succession . . . and they don't stand still once the first shot goes off! All went right down. The only bad thing . . . was dragging three out of the woods by myself! I'm gettin' too old for that kind of stuff

Here's my rig. I have no desire or need to change anything about it. It's the perfect rig . . . for ME.

BTW, the Piebald whitetail buck hide, that you see here, would not have be harvested if I'd been using a rifle! The deer tried to sneak past me in some increibly dense growth and I only had one tiny spot to launch a bullet into, and it happened so fast . . . off to the side.

 

[Neophyte1]

Iron Sights Only

.41 Magnum Man: Sir; I have followed your different thoughts. Trigger fix-en
Front Sight Manipulation. Working up Loads:
Sir, your Shooting out to 100 yds. will not be a problem. Work up a proper load and you'll do good.
.41 you show a talented thinking mind, with this being a given, Don't mess up your Blackhawk with some mess tied to it.
Rule of thumb. Ruger sends guns out with 'two tall' front sights
Adjust your hunting load for 100 yds. Then fix [file] front sights down
Or your machinist skills come into play.
I have nothing against scopes; but don't have a use for them on my
Iron Sighted handguns.
Thanks for the poll.

 

[.41 magnum man]

Hey Craig, or Neophyte1, Thank you, sir, for your post. I sure do appreciate your help, and am tickled that you noticed my posts. I feel the way you do about the scopes on my handgun. Although the red dot scope S&WFan has in the picture above seems like it could work for me. I agree with being careful what I put on to, or do to my gun. I ask a lot of questions about a lot of different things, and it probably seems I am just diving helter skelter into a bunch of changes, but I'm not. It might make some people hesitant to give their own information thinking I'm crazy, and I am, but in a different way.
I just like knowing all I can about something, that way when I have as much input as possible, I can hopefully make a good decision. I really appreciate all thoughts and info, and even if something is posted twice I realize if two people think like that then there must be something to it.

S&WFan, how do you carry your gun in the woods? I presume a shoulder holster? I really do like the idea of that red dot.

Okay, now I have to go saw off the end of my barrel, duct tape some homemade sights on the front, put a peepsight off my bow onto the back sight, drill and tap for some high rise scope mounts, and file some stuff inside my gun and see if it helps my trigger!

 

[Boxhead]

I have both the Bowen and Millett rear sights on some of my Ruger's. With a stock front sight I prefer the Millet as it is a bit wider than the Bowen and allows a bit more light on either side of the blade. The Bowen is a fine sight but when used I want a front blade of .10" thickness, a bit less than factory. I also prefer a steep front as they reduce the effects of glare much better.

Here's a Millet rear sight,



And here's a Bowen rear with a Clements front in my preferred persuasion,



All offer a very crisp sight picture and make a world of differnece for these eyes.

 

[Neophyte1]

Sights

Boxhead: Sir; them are some more lookers.

.41: Sir; I did notice all the tying you had in mind

done went and gave yourself away NO BAILING wire.

I had thought, I was a talking to a Country Boy?

Good Luck in finding your 'sight picture' Personally "iron sights" for the
'Rugers Handguns'

 

[.41 magnum man]

Neophyte1, I am a country boy, but not much of a farmer! I don't have any bailing wire, but I got a roll of somekind of wire I use to hold my tailpipe up. Muffler wire, I guess. Does that count?

I will be using the factory open sights for a while before I go to something else if ever. I like the look of the Ruger much better without anything sticking up on the top of it, and a scope is just too hard for me to aquire a sight picture.

 

[john1911]

I've always used the factory sights. Most of my deer hunting is done in pretty thick stuff and my average distance shot is less than 50 yards, usually 15-20.

I'm really thinking about trying these: http://www.oneraggedhole.com/The_RUGER_One_Hole_Sight.htm.
I use an aperture sight on my muzzle loader and find it a great improvement over regular open sights.

 

[tecrsq]

I like the express rear and the gold bead fronts.

My Freedom Arms 83 and several of my longer barreled N-Frames have these.

SDM machining and Tru-Glo make some nice pieces.

To me the express and gold bead come up quicker to my eyes but your mileage may vary.

Do what I did, look at your friends set-ups as well as the guys on the local range.

Sights are like everything else in that they are subjective and what works for someone else may not work for you.

Try lots of different combinations, take your time with your decision and you will no doubt end up with the sight package you can depend on.