Thread: Going ‘old school’

350 m with open sights is very very good ol school....great in fact

Originally Posted by doinit

350 m with open sights is very very good ol school....great in fact

I suspect that we have been sucked in by scope manufacturers to thinking that "older" eyes can't shoot open sights - when in fact its largely a matter of knowledge and technique.

We had an "ANZAC" shoot recently with Lee Enfields. I shot open sights, some had aperture sights - but all original issue sights.

I happened to win it by one measly point, thus surprising myself mightily as I very seldom shoot open sights. However the guy I just beat and myself between us would have consistently hit the vital zone of a deer from 4 out of 5 shots standing at 100M, the same sitting at 200M and 3 or 4 out of 5 prone (no slings) at 300M - and both of us much closer to 60 years old than 50 . . . .

Obviously low light and other factors might have changed the results quite a bit but I reckon it goes to show how "old school" can still bring home the bacon!

Those wee 1-5x20mm objective scopes really make a rifle point nicely. So saying that I use a 3-9x33 on my stubby 308. It sits on 3x for bush hunting but I can crank it up to 9x for cross gully shots etc. I am sorted for 10 to 300m. I get a way bigger buzz out of close shots in the bush but that is just me. I don't use any of the powers in between on my scope. I could just have a 3 and 9x scope. Ha ha. I will admit that as I age, my eyes aren't as crisp as they used to be and a bit of magnification for steady shots certainly helps.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Loving old school, rangefinder in the top pocket and that is it. I have a few fun rifles that I know right where they are out to 350m with nothing but hold over. I'm pf the opinion for actually shooting shit, knowing the rifle well to 350m is probably superior to something more technical.

I assume your talking basic scopes rather than open sights?

OPs first post in this thread

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

Who out there is turning their back on the current trend of long range hunting and deliberately setting up for short?

I recently bought a new Leupold VX3i 1.5-5x20 for my little Model 7, and I bought the only one in stock in the whole country. All it seems you can buy these days is a 6x Xoom variable with turrets illumination etc. All we see in the magazines is adverts and articles about gear for taking your animals at longer and longer ranges.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not having a go at those that are into it, as it’s an interesting and enterprising part of the sport. I’ve just found it’s not for me anymore. My long range rifle is on the way out, to be replaced with a walnut and blued ‘classic’. Maybe something in 7x57.....

Anyone else been there done that?

The open sights thread

But I actually do have two open sights rifles involved. A TOZ 17 that I just got and is getting its superb rear elevation sight calibrated. A 45-70 with Skinner peep sight fitted, which I will try to stretch to 300m for a laugh. Needs tested to 250m.

Back in the day I shot over 250 deer with my Marlin 30-30,mostly Waipakihi,Umukarikari,Poronui,at all ranges out to around 400m,just aim higher!,my mates 308 was we thought the long range rig,now days with fast loads,untold projectiles,range finders,drop charts etc it seems amazing I managed to fluke any deer with my 30-30

Quote.A 45-70 with Skinner peep sight fitted, which I will try to stretch to 300m for a laugh. Needs tested to 250m.

Have the same thing...doesn’t do too bad at 300.....Ive heard “stories” further out,not for me....as with most,it takes a few rounds to find “the spot”.....I wasted a box of 20 on a gong 200mm in diameter,at 300......only missed 4.....

Isn't this what you meant by old school

This morning I came across a yt video which to me embodies the true ethos of hunting. I don't think I have ever seen better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBy9VW-BQvA

Originally Posted by Woody

This morning I came across a yt video which to me embodies the true ethos of hunting. I don't think I have ever seen better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBy9VW-BQvA

Yeah Woody I have watched a bit of Randy’s stuff and I get it. His stuff is mostly really good, bearing in mind he’s in the US and it’s all about product endorsement..... I like that he’s a public land hunter, and does the hard yards off his own back.

I should have named this thread ‘going moderate’. I’ve just bought the scope for the new ‘all rounder’ a VX3i 2.5-8. Just a middle of the road scope that can be used in every hunting situation in NZ, on a middle of the road .308. Light ‘enough’, powerful ‘enough’, accurate ‘enough’ for everything out to 300, and thats ‘enough’ for me!

Originally Posted by Woody

This morning I came across a yt video which to me embodies the true ethos of hunting. I don't think I have ever seen better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBy9VW-BQvA

I really like his channel too. Seems a decent guy. He sure puts in the hard yards; especially when you think that he is often hunting at 11,000 feet! Been binge watching the channel a bit this week.

Yes, and Jim Shockey and his muzzle loader are also genuine.
Incidentally, lasy weekend was start of season shooting at Te Puke rifle club. I have a plain VX3 duplex 2.5-8*36 scope on my 6.5*55. From cold bbl start I shot 7/7 bulls at 600 yards with group anslysis @.97moa, using a pack only as support.
I've never shot a deer at that distance so I guess I prove to myself repeatedly that really high magnification scopes are special purpose for small game at long range and for F class type super precision competition. I used to hunt rabbits and hares in my young days and sell them dressed for pocket money. 100 yards with apeture sight on Rem .22 was quite normal. A low power scope is a great asset in dull light though and I really loved my first one; a little Bushnel Banner 2 1/2* post and crosshair. It got a heck of a beating and standard equipment on hunting trips was a bottle of clear fingernail polish (from the missus) . Whenever the little scope got another bash it would be placed near the campfire for an hour and then the rims of the lenses resealed with the girlie glue. Lasted me for years

I've found "older eyes" dont do dialing. Cant see the numbers without my glasses. Holdovers with set parallax suit me and 300's pretty much as far as I'm happy to shoot at animals.

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It is a bugger isn't it

Originally Posted by erniec

It is a bugger isn't it

Yeah it certainly is I bought a Bushnell with 22lr and 17hmr spare turret caps a couple of years ago. Trying to read the bloody things in daylight was bad enough let alone at dusk.
Sold it and bought a Nikon Rimfire with a reticle full of little bloody circles. Works ok if you can remember what ranges there for.

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