Scoped or Nonscoped

[Kates]

This is my first year with an Encore pistol in 7mm-08. I have been shooting with open sights and am impressed with its accuracy. How many of you guys shoot open sights? Do scopes take alot of getting used to due to a small field of view?

[MnMike]

Depends on what you do with the gun and your eyes. I use irons on my .45 Win Mag and my 10mm. I don't try to shoot these beyond 50 yards. My eyes aren't that good, but this is fine for drives in woods and swamps. The quick shooting of irons are great for this.

On longer ranges a scope is essential for a pistol. I use a 1-4X on my 7-30 and a 2-8X on my .223. Pistol scopes are a problem to shoot quick. They are touchy. I shoot these off a portable rest I built or use a tree or other informal rest.

I have been meaning to try a red dot sight.

mike

[Redhawk1]

Depending on your range of intended use. Me personally, I prefer a scope for long range shooting. For under 100 yards I use a red-dot. JMHO.  

[Bullseye]

I used to always scope em. Now about half of my 13 barrels are not scoped.  I scope barrels that are meant for long range (223 etc.).  My deer hunting barrels are each way.  I have a 375 scoped and a 30-30 and 45-70 unscoped.  Have a 41 mag each with a scope and without a scope.  If I hunt along a field edge and plan to take a long shot I take the scoped gun.  If hunting in a treestand with a 50 yard shot potential I take the unscoped ones.

I used to never be able to shoot open sights accurately, but I have really worked on it over the last year and half and now prefer open sights for shot at deer 75 yards or less.  I shot a deer last year with the open sighted 45-70 (my first one with open sights).  So I guess it depends on the situation but if you are shooting good with open sights at the distances you will hunt at, you may not want a scope.