How do I do with irons? I can hold sub MOA. Here's the trick: don't focus on the target; and, shoot at a target big enough to allow for recognition of a target/sight relationship which can be discerned though picture memory as being consistent from shot to shot. Focus on the front sight. It must be razor sharp. I use a .038 rear aperture which gives me a sharp front sight as well as a defined target. You must shoot with confidence that good results are indeed possible. You will get good results when you eventually see the target/sight relationship consistently from shot to shot. It helps to see the target/sight relationship as a two dimensional one, like picking out a particular photograph from ones that look similar. Some might visualize this as a pumpkin on a post.
No doubt, the mental process to establish a sight picture with irons is not initially easy; but, with practice, an understanding for a consistent sight picture can be realized. A champion Service Rifle shooter can produce scores at LR almost as good as what would be likely with an optic on the same rifle. This shooter may in fact actually prefer irons to a scope for a multitude of reasons.
Keep in mind, most people who shoot with a scope are using the scope as a substitute for marksmanship. Having no skill, the scope's resolution of the target/sight relationship out weighs their shooter errors, helping them to get good results at SR in spite of not knowing anything about shooting. If you know these folks, tell them that to get a good result with irons they will first need some marksmanship training, primarily to learn how to build a muscularly relaxed position, since any tension in the position will undermine results, even when the sight picture is consistent from shot to shot. Since shooters having this experience will not understand that the actual source of error was from inconsistent recoil resistance, they may repeat the error, incorrectly concluding that shooting well with irons is not possible.
Shooting the Service Rifle with irons is as fascinating as it is fun. The real challenge is accepting the reality that good shooting is not about perfecting equipment but about marksmanship development.
