Iron sight load development?

[Lucky6547]

Do you guys that shoot iron sight center fire guns develop loads with the iron sights or with a scope and then verify with irons?
Thanks,
Ken

 

[joshb]

At my age, I shoot iron sights( i.e. Older military rifles) for fun with BIG 24 x36 in. targets. I use 2" red duct tape for my X. If I hit any where near the X, I feel pretty good, even with my glasses. None of those guns can wear a scope except the one K-31, and that one shoots the cheap and very accurate GP-11 ammo. I have the dies for it, but not the time right now. It's a future project. I hesitate to say that I have one at the smith, as we speak,getting drilled for scope mounts for fear of a thrashing from the collectors. Then I can work on load development. I have wondered how the pros do it, so I'll stay tuned.

 

[FatBoy]

I work up a load with a scope, then shoot a reduced match at 100y with a scope and then irons out of a sling to get good zeros from position.

 

[Lapua40X]

I develop loads with the sights I intend to use the load with. Probably got into that habit because I don't want to mount scopes on rifles (e.g. vintage military rifles) that weren't intended for scopes and require modification to accommodate that style of optics.

 

[nwflycaster]

My eyes aren't good enough for working up loads with my iron sights. So I always put on the scope and work up my loads at the max distance available to me at my home range which is 300 yards. At least I know I can trust that I have the ammo working and the rest is up to the best that my eyes and skills will let me do, a miss is all me.

 

[Lucky6547]

Thanks for the info...so do you notice differences in group sizes with and without a scope?
Thanks,
Ken

 

[dcali]

I used to try to do it with irons, but I found that I'm just not good enough. Now I just put a scope on for load development. The groups are smaller (more representative of the ammunition's potential), and you can use one of those Sinclair practice BR targets with all the little bullseyes on it. Saves a lot of target changing.

 

[people]

If a scope can be easily fitted then yes.