Page 3 of 12 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 114

Thread: 'Just' irons?

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Durham, NC
    Posts
    4,280
    Feedback Score
    22 (100%)
    I like irons, but I see the usefulness of my red-dot. If I had to use my AR for home defense, my max range would be approx 100 yards. I know the various zeroes...to the big tree, to the driveway, from my bedroom to the room down the hall, etc., so I would be comfortable with shooting iron sights in that scenario. Otherwise, since I have never had to use my AR for home defense, and since my primary HD weapon is a dog followed by a pistol, the chance I would have to use my AR for HD is very, very infantismal. So, about the only time I 'play' with my red-dot sight is at the range. But I could go either way.

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Bakersfield, CA
    Posts
    221
    Feedback Score
    5 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by Todd.K View Post
    So now you have to rely on a battery powered white light in very dark situations to be able to see your sights. There are times when you should ID your target, move, then engage without using your light.
    If my weapon mounted light should fail, I can just pull out my trusty flashlight. If all else fails, I guess I could just turn on the house lights. In a home defense situation, the intruder is most likely going to run when they know you are there than turn and fight. How many people have had a home invasion with a group of people bent on killing you?
    Last edited by michael word; 11-21-10 at 20:45.

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    South Central Wisconsin
    Posts
    612
    Feedback Score
    0
    Up until recently I was an "irons or scope only" sort of guy. Irons for anything inside 200 meters and a scope for anything beyond that.

    Then I mounted,and used, an H-1 for the first time. Like a lot of people I wear glasses so RDS sights have always been prolemetical for me. Not anymore.

    "Put the blobby thing on the target and squeeze!" Improved my time on target and general accuracy during training drills with some of my local LEO friends by a considerable margin. Especially when shooting from cover in some rather weird postures.

    It is nearly impossible,for me, to get a clear sight picture using a scope or irons while crawling under a car/truck.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    27,214
    Feedback Score
    14 (100%)
    Not only do I run "just irons" on my home D bean. I run irons only on every AR I have... like 5 or six variants.

    I haven't yet trained under any of the instructors who have made wink wink arrangements to tell the class they NEED to have an aim dot.. even if it means selling a kidney or whoring out his wife, etc. I won't train with instructors who are paid to shill crap.
    Last edited by markm; 11-21-10 at 21:02.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Barre, VT
    Posts
    7,148
    Feedback Score
    94 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by michael word View Post
    I use a2 sights on my primary rifle. In fact, all of my HD firearms have iron sights. I tried red dot sights and have never felt comfortable with them. My eyes are also not the best so I see more of a blob than a dot. Another reason I went to iron sights is the fact that you do not have to worry about batteries dying or forgetting to remove the lens covers when you half asleep. When used with a good white light, I am able to see the front sight just fine.
    Another thing to consider is moving from cold to hot or hot to cold. It will make any scope pretty useless untill the temperature stabilizes and the fog goes away.

    I sold my H1's and now have a pair of M4's. The smaller MOA in the M4 is much easier on my eyes. My third gun has a TR24G which is even better with my astigmatism than the M4's but it is big and heavy and expensive. My next gun/upper will be an A1 or A2. Leaning towards an A1 with M4 feed ramps.
    "Real men have always needed to know what time it is so they are at the airfield on time, pumping rounds into savages at the right time, etc. Being able to see such in the dark while light weights were comfy in bed without using a light required luminous material." -Originally Posted by ramairthree

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    NM
    Posts
    3,988
    Feedback Score
    10 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by Todd.K View Post
    My standard response:
    It's only dark half the day.
    If it was reasonable to expect I'd be using a particular rifle during the day, it would be irons without doubt.
    Most of my rifles wear a micro aimpoint and a weaponlight since I don't.
    عندما تصبح الأسلحة محظورة, قد يملكون حظرون عندهم فقط
    کله چی سلاح منع شوی دی، یوازي غلوونکۍ یی به درلود
    Semper Fi
    "Being able to do the basics, on demand, takes practice. " - Sinister

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Aiken, SC
    Posts
    1,132
    Feedback Score
    5 (100%)
    Paul Howe is a big fan of iron sights.

    My first 15 or so years of shooting M16fow was done with nothing but irons.

    Having said that, I won't willingly go back to irons only.

    The RDS, offers to much, with little drawbacks. While many talk about how well they shoot their irons, its almost always on teh flat range.
    Try shooting your irons only at night, at dusk, with a pro mask on, from awkward positions, around over cover/barricades/obstacles, on the move, with armor, w/o armor,.......

    If you know for a fact, every shot you fire, will be with your sight verticle and your nose to the charging handle, well go for it. Oh but it doesnt really matter, cause the bad guys gonna run away, got it.

    Learn your irons first is BS. Learn trigger manipulation first, and the rest will fall into place.

    MarkM,
    I see you make reference like this all the time. It would appear you are talking about Larry Vickers and Pat Rogers. I know both of them, and one of them calls me "friend", I can assure you, not that you'd listen, that their integrity is in place, especially since they both post under real names, and not some internet screen name.
    Why don't you just name names, and stop beating around the bush?
    Or train with them, and find out first hand what they say, before you talk shit about them.

    Or how about this? The United States Army issues, what is it now, 1 million Aimpoints, do they lack integrity, are shills for crap, or just fell for the shills crap?

    Bob
    " Some people say..any tactic that works is a good tactic,...I say, anything can work once" former ABQ swat Sgt.

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    178
    Feedback Score
    1 (100%)
    I think the advantages of using a red dot or reflex sight far outweigh the disadvantages of not having one for whatever reason. A red dot is unarguably easier and faster to pick up and get on target than irons are, especially under stress and when time is crucial.
    Stress, anxiety, fear, panic, adrenaline, etc. all retard your reaction time and how efficiently you can perform even a simple task. In a situation where life and death are at hand, simplicity is key to efficiency.
    In any case, for a fighting carbine that's not using a fixed or variable power optic, I firmly believe fixed front and back irons with a lower third co-witnessing mount and RDS are mandatory.
    Why argue about running one over the other when you can use either instantaneously and enjoy the benefits that each offers?

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    42
    Feedback Score
    0
    Red dots and other optics can be fast. They can also cause problems with people with astigmatism. Irons can be slow. Shooting at night can be a problem. There are solutions for that. Tritium works. Flashlights are good for both sighting systems.

    Both sighting systems work if you train and maximize them.

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Aiken, SC
    Posts
    1,132
    Feedback Score
    5 (100%)
    Oh yea,

    If you bring your weapon up, and your RDS is off, battery is dead, cover is still on, etc. its your own damn fault.
    Why would you turn an aimpoint off? not change batteries or leave covers on in a duty type gun?

    Thats like advocating using a club, instead of a carbine, because it might not be loaded.

    Bob
    " Some people say..any tactic that works is a good tactic,...I say, anything can work once" former ABQ swat Sgt.

Page 3 of 12 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •