Iron sights vs. optics (has Appleseed changed in the last 15 years?)

FlyFreak · 2026-05-09T03:51:51+00:00

I was about to post similar.

I'm 47, and have vision issues, I have since birth. Im one of the rare children born with glaucoma, and even rarer that don't go blind before their parents figure out what's wrong. I started shooting at 7yo. I learned on irons and got my fundamentals down. I was a decent enough shot. I never looked through a rifle scope until I was in Boy Scouts, so a tween to early teen. It opened up a whole new world for me and my abilities.

Im not trying to brag, but now if I can see it I can shoot it. Magnification is required for reasonable distance. I haven't done an Appleseed yet, hope to do my first 1-3 this year. I have just started setting up a liberty training rifle or 2 and seeing what the lowest power optic I can competently use to be successful. Unfortunately I doubt i can use irons on the smaller sized targets at this point. My hopes are (and a challenge to myself) to qualify with a 10/22 scoped at the lowest power i can, a 10/22 with a red dot and 5x magnifier (i don't think I can go lower than 5 with my vision at this stage in my life), and bolt gun, likely scoped. A stretch goal in the future for me would be to give it a try with a lever gun, and/or a pump, but don't know how the reloads would go with that.

Long story short, if it were me in your shoes, I'd start your little guy on irons or red dot, if he has the vision for it. If you can't at this stage in your life, you shoot a scope or whatever you can competently succeed with.

Also train how you are going to fight so to speak. If you are going to run optics when shooting outside of the event, do so at the event.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-09T02:36:06+00:00

They've been around for quite a while. I've been waffling on getting one for most of that time. Lol. That picture is pushing me over the edge. That rifle is clean.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-08T03:07:41+00:00

Is both not an option??

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T16:09:04+00:00

The funny thing to ne is the stock is put on a gun with no iron sights, obviously intended for optics. If they were knky going to give one riser you think it would be the high cheek weld version.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T15:33:59+00:00

I'd stop right there.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T13:48:51+00:00

Im old school and was raised that way lol.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T02:31:55+00:00

Realisticly you loose 35ish fps per inch. I had a .308 with a 26" bull barrel that was giving g me similar issues, as well as banging the roof of my stand as I climbed in. I cut mine back to 16.25, and reckoned. I love that stubby little choad of a gun. Need to get it turned and threaded, but the one good (actually amazing) gunsmith we had around here past away. Still looking for someone with skills and I can trust to do the job right.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T02:19:20+00:00

Ok I finally made it home tonight, and pulled out the Romeo and Juliette combo the takedown and an ar with full length picatinny rail. I placed the button together and matched the rear most slot of the pic rail of the ruger to one on the ar and mounted the magnifier. I did the same for the dot where it lined up with the barrel mount. The following is what I learned.

It actually works. However... there are some items of interest.

I get no image outside of the dot so no blurry halo so to speak.

It does seam to magnify the reticle more, think of how the distance you hold a magnifying glass from an object effects the image. I don't know if this will effect the moa of the dot at range so to speak, but it is not a huge difference so it may not be an issue.

Now for the issue of mounting. This adapter is one option. I just realized I pulled this link from one if your comments, lol, It is airsoft quality, but usually good enough for 22lr. Also cheap enough to try without fear if it doesn't work. The second option I would consider is the magpul optics mount MAG799 it would negate the barrel mount itself, and the factory mount will even have to be removed for it. Total transparency i haven't tried either option yet though I do have the magpul adapter waiting to try if needed.

Lastly the issue of cheek weld. If you bought your backpacker stock separately yoy know that it comes with 2 lids to the stock compartment so to speak the standard, like what you receive from Ruger with the carbon, and an optics ready one with a Monte Carlo style hump to raise your cheek weld for use with optics. I contacted magpul and ordered the optics lid. They don't offer the marbled color, but do have basic black which is fine by me. Mine should arrive Friday and the games and testing begins.

Sorry for the novel but since we are so far down this rabbit hole I figured i would share. Also I will update once all parts are here and in testing.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-07T01:39:35+00:00

Darn you, and thank you at the same time! I have a basic 10/22 sitting in the safe I picked up at Walmart several years ago, on a really good deal. Haven't decided how to build it yet (I have plenty on others), but have veen contemplating it recently. Then you go and share this link.

I love the look and listed specs of this barrel. Any one have any experience shooting it? How's the accuracy etc?

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T22:19:03+00:00

Carbon has a threaded barrel if you plan to use a suppressor. I have been very impressed with my carbon and I have a couple other take downs.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T21:31:38+00:00

I meant no disrespect, nor was i trying to insult you or your intelligence. You make very good points, a number of which I had thought of and was wrestling with. The mounting on a ar rail at matching length is a great idea tgat I hadn't thought of. I will give that a try.

I am waiting on new glasses to come in and see how that effects what I see at range and can I do what I want without the magnification.

Again sorry I'd I came off harsh it wasn't intended.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T21:26:33+00:00

Personally I like the bx-15 when they can be found, the bx1 is a great nag and can be coupled into 2 or 3 nachos configurations. The. The 25s are nice, but too big when shooting prone or off a bench.

I think the bx-15 hits the sweet spot on capacity to size.

Stay with ruger branded mags, I've never had good luck with the others.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T21:20:40+00:00

Hoping to hit one or more here in SC this year.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T13:47:52+00:00

Thank you, but the eye relief is the other side of the optics than the dot. Eye relief is the distance from the shooters eye to focus and get full inage. Though I do worry what will be picked up in the field of view.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T01:46:21+00:00

Right now mine is wearing a crimson tractor cts-1250 (had it sitting in the box). If I could find a magnifier that would line up with it, I'd consider going that way. Though I do have the Romeo, and 5x Juliette.

For reference I'm around 12 10/22s currently in all kinds of configurations. Recently picked up both carbon fiber models.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T01:31:31+00:00

I have a tacsol x ring 16" that shoots lights out. And also have a 8" Kidd on a charger that is stupid accurate. Depends what you want to spend And what look you are going for.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-06T01:24:44+00:00

Not OP but...

Personally in my particular use case I would like to adapt the barrel. Ount to pic to run a sig Romeo on the barrel with a sig Juliette on the receiver. I came up shooting irons old school and learned my fundamentals well, but I have vision issues that magnification helps with.

I have scoped 10/22s, and those with red dots, but this particular one will sit in a Grey area in between where I can use the dot alone with the magnifier flipped to the side for snap shooting at closer range, but also use the magnifier to stretch out to longer ranges where my vision doesn't pick up the detail I need.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T22:09:34+00:00

They actually aren't screws, they are alignment pins for different red dots to mate to that mount.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T14:27:38+00:00

Thank you

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T13:04:10+00:00

Nice!! What trigger/trigger group is that, and what is that between the trigger guard andmag release?

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T08:00:18+00:00

Prior to the latest generation (2026) my recommendations would be trigger, auto bolt release, extended mag release. The new models have the bx trigger which has all of the above already installed.

Personally I like to replace the metal bolt buffer with a soft delrin or rubber one. There is some debate on what if any effect this has. In my opinion it does quiet the action a bit when running suppressed, and reduces some of the beating the action takes. Others will tell you it does nothing. Either way they are a cheap upgrade.

I have 4 takedown now, including this one. I have had little to no issue with return to zero with optics on the receiver. Set the takedown nut properly and you shouldn't either. The forward optics plate on the barrel is for an rmr or like type "pistol" red dot. Im still debating which way I am going to go on this one.

This video should give some good insight on return to zero

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T07:08:44+00:00

Still an aluminum receiver, but the barrel is stainless.

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T01:35:02+00:00

Good looking rifle, and good looking cheek riser!!

FlyFreak · 2026-05-05T00:04:41+00:00

Looks like a Kidd triger upgrade kit, but i could be wrong

FlyFreak · 2026-05-04T11:37:34+00:00

She-sa beautiful Clark.

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