Open sites or scope for hogs.

[Masterhunter]

Which is best? I have used scopes on both my hogs, set on 2.5
power. I have 2, 30-30s a Win. 94 & a Handi single shot. The Handi has a 3-9 Weaver on it and the 94 has open sites. Was thinking scope might be better for more accuracy (old eyes ain't what they used to be) but open sites would be much faster if attacked, although I do carry a Ruger .44 MAg. pistol also.

 

[Shot]

why not leave the way it is? This way, depending on the terrain, you can choose which weapon you want to use. As I am sure you know, in a thick brush country, there tends to be no long distance (150-250yard) shots, therefore a open site will be better IMO. Not to mention the faster follow time you will have.

 

[easymoney]

IMHO,
For open country, use the scoped rifle and in the close brushy "have to take the shot now" situation the open iron sights are much prefered. It all depends how and where you hunt. Out here we could easily have either of the above situations in the same hunt...

 

[Speckmisser]

I have to agree with the guys here... you have the perfect combination. The 30-30 is good in the tight stuff, and open sights allow quick target acquisition and a faster follow-up in the lever-action rifle. The Handi, with only a single shot (what caliber?) is more suited to using glass for precision shooting in areas where you'll likely have to stretch one out.

I'll add, as I often do, that the Winchester 94 was made to shoot with iron sights at ranges inside 150 yards. I've always thought that, unless your vision required it, a scope on that rifle is overkill (I used to call it blasphemy, but hyperbole doesn't come across well on the web and I got tired of people taking it personally).

You mention you carry a .44 mag. I'd say with that on your hip and the scoped rifle on your shoulder, you are pretty well equipped for almost any hog hunt. Use the .44 up close (where you'd use the iron sights) and use the rifle out at distance. Sort of obviates the need for the Model 94, but you should hunt with that occasionally too... just to enjoy being in the field with a great lever action.

 

[Uncle Ji]

Hard to beat a levergun with open sights for quick shooting in thick cover, I've been using my Marlin 1894 44 mag for this purpose for the last 30 years. One thing i'd like to suggest is that you add a good receiver mounted peep sight which increases the sight radius and the peep naturally allows for quick centering of front sight. I have a Williams 5D on my Marlin, and a XS Ghost Ring on my Winchester 94 Ranger Compact both excellent sights I highly recommend.

 

[BobcatJess]

I agree with the guys about having 2 rifles for different scenarios
I personally use a Winchester 30-30 with open sites. That is just my choice...but there have been many times that I wish I had that longer range rifle available at the time to reach out and touch those piggies.

Jess.

 

[johnnywalker]

I use a Winchester 94 30-30 with a Brushnell Trophy scope, with see-through rings for a quick up close shot. I have the scope zeroed at 50 yards and the open sights at 25 yards. I'm stalking a hog right now. Went Saturday before last and found a spot with a couple of good areas of rooting. So went back this Saturday and got there at first light. Didn't see any hogs, but now the whole area back there is tore up with rooting. I'm going back in the late afternoon to climb to the top of the hill on the opposite side of that valley and glass until dark.

 

[Franklin3]

I'm surprised noboday has mentioned elevating your scope mounts so you can utilize your iron sight as well as your scope. Looking into a scope over a morning eastern sky can really screw up your vision when the sun gets captured. A simple adjustment and your looking through iron sights below your scope.

 

[bux-n-dux]

I have a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington I bought to hopefully use for pigs and as a pack rifle for deer hunting in the wilderness. It has a fixed power Bushnell trophy scope, and see-thru mounts so I can utilize the iron sights as well. It's zeroed at 100 yards with the scope and 50 with the iron. I have thought about removing the scope, but I can hit a 2 inch group at 150 yards with it, and I may need that for deer this year. It balances well and mounts and holds tight, as the old Marlins do.





bux-n-dux