1st&2nd deer I ever shot was with a lever action, iron sights. Last year in Montana, with a .444 marlin, @ 140 yrds down hill. 1st was in Mississippi at age 10, I think it was a 35/40 winchester (long time ago), @ 65 yrds.
I think that iron sight shooting is an almost lost art. I hit target clays @ 300yrds this year iron, took like 20 tries, but got it. I also choose my Mod.700 adl .270w cause it was the only 700 w/iron sights.
Sometimes the scope just gets off for some reason, but you can always bank on good iron sights if you practice