Just because some of us have AR's and handguns with red dots, magnifiers, lasers, and lights on them doesn't mean we are not capable of standard, basic marksmanship. I grew up shooting everything that moved with a Marlin 39a lever gun with open hooded sights, then I finally got my first bolt gun in middle school, a Ruger mk77 in 22-250, I killed every white tail I ever shot for the next 15 years with that rifle and a 7x scope. I didn't get my first AR-15 until 2007 and it was a Rock River, it served me well for a few years (the first three were without an optic or red dot) until I discovered better quality options like LMT and KAC.
I did most of my quals with open sights when I was in the Army and I still practice shooting my flip-up irons from time to time. Those "gadgets" that some of you see as handicaps or as accessories for "wanna-be commandos" are actually the opposite. I have lights on my rifles so I can see at night when I am not using Nods, that's pretty self explanatory. I have red dots on all of my SBR's because my time on target and splits are faster, the shot timer doesn't lie lol. I also run a red dot because how else will I accurately put a shot on target at night when using NV? Why do I have lasers, well because they make for easier target acquisition when using NV as well. Why do I have NV and Thermal optics, well because I don't have super powers that allow me to see in the dark or low light conditions very well and that just so happens to be when pigs like to mess ******** up out at the ranch/farm. Magnifiers are handy in flip-to-the-side or twist-off mounts so that they are easily added or removed should they be needed in extended range situations or for target ID further out. That said, I can consistently hit man-sized targets at 400m with a 2 moa red dot so they see little use on my rifles, but I am glad to have the option.
Suppressors take the edge off of the shot which reduces stress to the shooter and they also reduce the report which helps to confuse the animals and delay their departure for a follow-up shot. Short barreled rifles reduce the overall length of a rifle which is handy when moving in and out of vehicles and SxS's and when in confined spaces with or without others. They also help to keep the overall length of the rifle to a more manageable size when used in conjunction with a suppressor that adds another 5-8" to the end of the gun.
I still have open sight rifles, my JM stamped Marlin 336 RC 30-30 is still used regularly to drop pigs and other varmint in the brush and it even comes along to the deer stand a few times a year. More than half of my hand guns still have regular iron sights on them as well, but I can't deny the benefits of RDS's, magnifiers, lasers, lights, NV, Thermal, etc. as they have their place in modern times depending on your needs. Why wouldn't I give myself any and every advantage possible to increase my likelihood of placing my shots more accurately and more quickly with the addition of these devices?
This doesn't mean that one should stop practicing without those items, you should always practice for a SHTF scenario incase those gadgets do fail you or should you find yourself with a rifle that lacks those features. There's no replacement for being competent and practicing your craft. I do agree that most would be better served with more ammo and practice time than they would with buying more accessories for their guns, but that doesn't mean you lump anyone with a red dot into that category. To suggest that you're a hack or fool for employing these aids is close minded and arrogant, besides to each his own. I guess I need to go back to playing video games huh, oh that's right, I don't own any lol.
