Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Scout Scope vs. Iron sights - forest hunting?

Which of these two styles would be ideal for forest hunting? Or would a conventionally-mounted scope in either fixed 4x or 1.5-5/2-7x variable work a bit better?
Typical yardage would occur between 25 and 50 yards, maybe 70-90 at tops.

Opinions?

I don't know if better is correct, but I'd love to have a rifle with irons only on it. Very simple, light, quick to shoot, nothing to fog or really have issues with. If my max in an area was 90, it'd have irons only on it.

My eyes being what they are, I have found nothing that compares to a Leupold 1.5-5.

An occasional issue I've run into with a forward mounted scout scope was glare/reflection off the occular lense when the sun was low in the sky during last light. At times, this has killed any low light ability, but I'd also have a hard time picking up iron sights under the same conditions. If looking for better low light ability at those close ranges, I'd lean towards a conventional mounted low power scope with a good field of view and a bold reticle.

If used during good light where picking up iron sights was no issue, pick your poison.

Best

Receiver [peep] sight with large aperture mounted far astern with a large blade or fiber optic front sight.

I'd run a traditionally mounted scope over a scout setup everyday of the week and twice on Tuesday.

Assuming some light, I have no issues running an aperture either.

The fiber optic open sights are pretty good in low light at woods ranges if your eyesight is good. An aperture rear with a fiber optic or flat faced ivory bead up front is likewise quite effective. Neither is as good as a low power scope when the light gets really dim. I've been happy with a conventionally mounted, fixed 2.5x scope in the woods. Never tried a scout scope so can't comment.

I hunt in VT, CT, NY and sometimes Maine.

In VT they always had a 3" spike horn rule and now the deer must have a fork horn!

A 4X worked there for years and now most of my rifles have variables set at about 4X.

There is no way I would want to hunt with a scout scope or irons unless forced to.

Most of my shooting is at the range and there I like even more magnification. A 2.5-8 is a nice scope. The best scope that I have in that range is a Kahles 2-7. The 2.5-8 Conquest is also superb and the 2.5-8 Leu. looks nice on a safe queen.

Though I have a Ruger Frontier which can use a conventionally mounted scope or the scout, I`d prefer the conventional method for your use.

Have both and use both, but a conventional 1.5x5 you mentioned or a conventional fixed 2.5x would do great for your purpose.

To me perfection is a conventionally mounted scope in QD mounts, as backup to the aperture rear sight. I could never cozy up to the "scout rifle" concept.

Scout scopes are pretty lousy in dim light, both because of the forward mounting and the low magnification.

One of the "secrets" to a bright scope is relatively short eye relief. The closer the scope to the eye, the less light from the sides will interfere with the view. If you want to prove this to yourself, tape a tube of light cardboard around the the rear eyepiece of a cheap scope, then look through it during low light. The view will be really bright!

Magnification also helps in dim light, essentially by getting us closer to the target.

I use iron sights a lot, and a wide aperture with a bright front sight (whether fiber-optic, white or bright metal) will allow accurate shooting in amazingly dim light. But range is limited. A scope of at least 6x is a LOT brighter than either the best irons or a scout scope.

I must also mention that I've killed running game at 10 yards with a 6x....

Forest hunting has a unique set of demands and fixed 6x optics have no role. A good variable is always the answer,unless it's a scout,then irons are the answer.

I run low X variables on my rifles, even in Alaska and the puckerbrush and 'wait a minute' thornbrush of Africa. A good scope set on 1.5x is fast and deadly in forests or deep cover. With a 32mm objective lens or thereabouts it will be easier and faster to use in poorlight as well. Irons are, for me, only to be used if a scope craps out.

VXIII 1.5 -5......Scout scopes ....no bueno.....for anything...

The 4.5-14x is far faster,more reliable and way more flexible.

I dunno...the longer tube on it would lead one to think it was more flexible...but neither one have any flex in them...rigid as hell....

Tube length is handy for allocating eye-relief when mounting,but as far as hard use goes I've far more faith in the 14x's mettle.

Exactly.



Righto again.

No dot sight,the best of both worlds?

At the ranges cited, "25 and 50 yards, maybe 70-90 at tops", good irons are great during good light.

For low light situations (morning, evening, dark overcast, etc., I still prefer a low power scope.