r/canadaguns • u/Dry-Strategy2525 • Aug 07 '26

Gun and gear reviews Higher calibre Iron sights

What’s your guys best suggestions for a nicer rifle with iron sights? Feel like everything I see is only ment for scopes now

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

9

u/swift_gilford Aug 07 '26
  • lots of lever actions still rock factory irons
  • Tikka Artic and Battue
  • Ruger Scout

Feel like everything I see is only ment for scopes now

Optic construction and quality has vastly improved in the past couple decades to where not running an optic for the most part is doing a disservice.

"irons don't fail" mentality was always wrong and should have been "irons fail less". If your rifle eats shit, something is bound to go.

5

u/Iokua_CDN Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

Browning Bars (including the cheap 800 dollar intersurplus ones) have irons.

Cz 600 Lux  has irons.  Cz 600 trail is SUPER easy to throw irons on. Really, any gun with  a full length rail is basically  an iron sight rifle.

Henry  homesteader and the Alcor 223 have irons and are semi auto.

Lots of the old fashion bolt actions from Intersurplus are iron sights. Super easy to get a 3006 for cheap. Or even a 9.3x 62 for an African Safari dangerous game round.

Most Lever actions have irons still have irons.  You got cool options like a Winchestor 1895 in 3006 with irons. That's a rad lever action and very nice. Henry supreme has them too.  A nice marlin 45 70  would be lovely too.

There is quite a few classic rugers in cool calibers for bolt actions. Like dangerous game or guide rifles. Those are all iron sights and high quality 

And at the end of the day, a rail mounted peep sight  and a banded front sight can make any gun an iron sight rifle.  My cz 557 I did this. Rail mounted NEGC peep sight  on the rail and a clamp on front sight made it my Budget Tikka Arctic.

Edit I just have to say,  I love irons. Every gun I own actually has irons. From my 22 rifles,  to my shotguns with a bead sight,  to my cz trail I added irons, to the cz 557 I added irons. Irons are great and I love seeing them on guns.  To many new bolt actions don't have any,  but most other guns still do

3

u/NorthwindX7 Aug 07 '26

High caliber far range or stopping power? I'm guessing you mean stopping power because of no optic so I'd say marlin 45-70.

3

u/Happytanker7 Aug 07 '26

Browning BLR 300 win mag. Beautiful rifle, comes with great iron sights. Bonus points if you track down a stainless takedown version

2

u/waitwhatnothing Aug 07 '26

For classic style bolt action rifles that are in production there’s the Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan, African and Guide Gun. From Winchester there’s the Model 70 Safari and Alaskan. 

2

u/H0B013 Aug 07 '26

Here to make my obligatory "build a scout rifle" comment

4

u/preferablyoutside Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26

Check our Intersurplus, plenty of iron sights options on there.

As far as scopes being the predominant choice, it’d be like bemoaning the coming of the Kentucky Rifle in Brown Bess era, the world has turned

Edit- What’s with the hate on Intersurplus? They sell used firearms at a decent price? There not enough M4 clones in there for the LARPers?

2

u/Iokua_CDN Aug 08 '26

Love Intersurplus!!

They would be great for OP

Semi auto browning Bars 

Bolt action 3006 and 6.5 swede rifles

Even some 9.3x62 dangerous game bolt actions

Like tons of cool options with history and style

1

u/cmiller82 Rouge River Arms Aug 08 '26

I have two. Savage Model 10 FCP. Rear peep, front sight with a scout rail in case you want just want irons as a backup. It weighs less than 7lbs, which is awesome for deer/moose where you are carrying the rifle more than shooting it. Currently they have the Model 110 Ridge Hunter and Scout v2, while heavier, they are a good option.

Second, Henry Long Ranger. A little heavy, but a beautiful rifle that I feel is almost too nice to carry in bad weather.

1

u/Conscious_Bid_8762 Aug 08 '26

I love my marlin trappers 45/70 and .357 Botha re awesome have a guide gun in .44 mag to that’s also a blast. Depends what your after. Sks are fun to but not large caliber

1

u/Flat-Dark-Earth Big Bore Specialist Aug 09 '26

I like my rifles with iron sights when using medium and big bore cartridges.

Ruger M77 Hawkeye, Winchester model 70, CZ550/557/600 and Sauer 505 all offer iron sights.

Also virtually every lever action has iron sights.

1

u/Flat-Dark-Earth Big Bore Specialist Aug 09 '26

A few examples. Yes the one is scoped but comes with irons.

1

u/DashCameraman Aug 10 '26

CZ 600 lux maybe? IDK if that's quite "nice" enough

1

u/ManufacturerMuch5116 Aug 13 '26

Finnish Mosin :)

1

u/BrotherLefthand Aug 07 '26

But... why?

Any milsurp will do ya. Mosin, enflied, mauser, whatever. All battle rifle calibered and all with irons.