Who shoots their #1 with factory open sights?

[PowPow]

First part of deer season in Alabama you can't see more than 50 yds through the leaves.  
My eyesight will never be as good as it is now.
I plan to give the factory sights on my 1-rsi a try.

Who else hunts using the #1's open sight?
What's your experience?

[mattmillerrx]

They will be just fine for that.   

But, I would still prefer a receiver peep sight.  I used one by NECG that fits the Ruger ring mounts last year.  And will go back to it when hunting the type of cover you describe.  My hunting is currently in wide open country and I decided to go with one Nikon's BDC Omega scope to give me shooting out to 200 yards or a little farther--I have other guns better suited to this range but love the 45-70.

My experience with the factory sights is limited to range use when I first got the gun.  I realized my eyesight was not good enough to shoot this sight well and I ordered the peep sight.  My experience with the peep has been very nice but did not get a shot with it last year at any game.  But groups were outstanding off the bench using this sight set-up. 

A big plus of the open sights over the scope is the gun carries and balances just perfect.--Of course mine is not an RSI, so can speak for those.

Gotta love those #1's.

[PowPow]

trip to the range.
shot 5 at 50 yds shots with the 1-rsi's open sights.
hit within an inch of where I was aiming, so I am a little more confident about it.

from where I put my cheek on the stock, the 0.07" front bead is a 10 MOA dot, so 50 yds may be  the limit.

[MePlat]

Why would you say 50 yards would be the limit?

[PowPow]

I dunno...small deer maybe.
What do you consider a reasonable limit for the Ruger open sights?

[MePlat]

It depends on who is doing the shooting.  How much they practice.  200 yards shouldn't be too difficult to a practiced man or woman.
I routinly shoot irons on hand guns and they have .125 inch fronts.
Shoot decent at 100 yards off hand.   
I have a #1 in 458 mag and can do quite well at 100 yards for the bench
You do know you shoot off the top of the sight not behind it.
That makes a difference.

[PowPow]

Yeah, 6 o'clock hold is explained in the owners manual. My results were based on a 6 o'clock hold. Seems like trying to balance a marble on a bowling ball. Have  more time to practice though.

[PowPow]

Yesterday, I connected on a neck shot at 80 yards on a 100 lb doe with the open sights on my #1-RSI 30-06.
6 O'clock hold.
Doe was still, quartered toward me.
The shot landed within an inch of where I thought I was aiming.
(The shot goes where you point it; the goal is to get it to go where you THINK you are aiming).
I think with a little more daylight a 120 yard shot is feasible for me.

[drdougrx]

I gave up trying to see open sights on most of my rifles.  I put Leupi 2.5x scout scope on my #1s in 45/70.  Fabulous!!

[PowPow]

I gave up trying to see open sights on most of my rifles...

I am getting there; wanted to try it before it was just too late. The VX-II 2-7 is going back on.
But, boy, it sure was nice to carry around without the scope.

[drdougrx]

I agree....tough to be 29 (over and over and over again!)

[Darrell Davis]

I tried it with my #1s - 45/70, as I thought it would be nice to have that option is needed even though I planed to scope the rifle.

BAD IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The recoil, even with loads in the 1600fps range was painful.

I had already installed a good recoil pad before shooting the rifle, but the PAIN was not helped one bit by the pad!

Found out it was because of the low head position needed with the iron sights which was slamming the comb of the butt stock into my face.  OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the scope in place is was plesently surprised and have gone on to shoot loads as high as 2500fps with the 45/70 and no problem.

At first, I was wondering if I was man enough to shoot this rifle.  Sure glad the higher head positioon splved the problem!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[PowPow]

Okay, this is weird.
Posted about my success with open sights a couple weeks ago; 80 yard neck shot.
Put my Leupold VX-II 2-7x33 back on my #1 because I got invited to hunt a place that offers long shot (200 yds is long in bama) but you have to count points.  Sighted it in at 100 yds, good L-R, maybe an inch high.

Yesterday, one doe walked out while I was climbing the tripod
From 2:30 til dark, saw 12 does, waiting for a wallhanger to walk out.
I was snapping photos of them and texting them to my buddies who were at work.
Near dark, a tasty-looking doe walks out 50 yards away.
Head down eating, put the crosshairs between the ears and MISSED!!! The head filled up my scope and I MISSED!!!
Wasn't nervous or anything; just matter-of-fact "shoot this one before it gets too late".
Went to the range today, first cold barrel shot at 100 yds was good L-R, about an inch high.
Only thing I can figure is I hit the one twig hanging down in front of the whole field.
My bad; guess I should have waited til it walked away from that tree, or shot one of the other 11 that walked out.
OR go back to open sights.