RE: The old debate
 

I love shooting my grandpa's SKS with iron sights, it's really easy out to 50 yards, and I have done well out to 100 yards when I really concentrate, but I like scopes for 100 yards or more, but I despise them for any shorter distances, because it's too confusing.

IMO, they're both great.

RE: The old debate
 

To me the challenge of using iron sights is the challenge of trying to get the deer closer not trying to see ifI can make a shot at a deer that is 100-200 yards away. I have always been able to make very clean ethical shots with my bead sighted Remington 870 Wingmaster. None of these shots have been longer than 50 yards. The buck I took this year was at 20 yards with a double lung pass through. The challenge of taking that 150 class buck was waiting for him to come that close so I knew I could take an ethical shot. To me it would not be as challenging to take a 100 yard shot just because I could. I love watching deer up close not through a scope. To each his own though because a challenge to me may not be a challenge to the other guy in the woods.

RE: The old debate
 

I learned how to shoot with iron sights. Up until 4 years ago I did not even own a scope, and now I have scopes on three rifles. I can still shoot accurately out to 100 yards (within 5-6" consistently) with iron sights/peep, but will know only choose to use iron sights if I know that I will really only have quick and short shots in cover. Otherwise I will use a scope for other situations. To hunt with an ML in Minnesota you are restricted to iron/peep sight, so I am bound to use them for at least that.