Now that I'm on my 4th go around, I've noticed a few things about "Iron Sights" that are starting to annoy me and perhaps some of you have noticed the same. For starters, all of my characters are above the skill and strength requirement needed to wield the following weapons effectively.

My biggest complaint falls on the "AR" series weapons. That includes the "Serivice Rifle" (AR-15/M-16 semi automatic) and the Assualt Rifle (M4-A1 full auto). The "Marksman Rifle" (M4) is also an AR series, but I'm not including that since it comes with a scope. For starters, the Service Rifle and the Assualt Rifle use 2 different ammo types. I'm not sure at what point in the history of the entire world, that a 5mm round ever exisited, but since both rifles are based on the "AR" platform", they should both use 5.56mm ammo. 5mm ammo shouldn't even exist in this game. The rifles from Fallout 3 both used 5.56 ammo, so, you would think that would have carried over? Regardless, my complaint is with the Iron Sights. On both rifles, the frames of the iron sights, when zooming, take up 25% or more of the screen and are so thick that you can barely track what you are aiming at (unless it's standing still). This is a big problem if you are not using VATS since this weapons are meant for medium to close combat. Both of these rifles need to be re-tooled to thin out the walls of the carrying handle so that they don't obstuct the view as much as they currently do. This distraction is so annoying that I hardly use either of the weapons. In fact, I don't use any AR variant after level 15. By the time you get a hold of the Marksman Rifle, the 5.56mm round is all but useless except for the Light Machine Gun. As a side note, the rate-of-fire with the Assualt rifle is way to high and "laggy" when squezzing the trigger. Conversaly, the Service Rifle is way to slow in it's firing rate and also laggy.

Next, and more prominetly, are the various battle rifles, bolt-cation and semi-auto alike. Starting with Varmint rifle w/o scope, it seems like long range shots (when enemy head is smaller the front sight apature) are favored at the right most portion of the the front sight (while kneeling). The Comboy Repeater seems to hit at the top right potion of the front sight. The Hunting Rifle seems to hit where ever the "green dot" is (well below the top of the front sight post), which makes long range head shots impossible since the front sight post covers up what you are aiming for. Grant it, once you add a scope to these weapons (where applicable), they are dead-on accurate. Ideally, the front sight post should cut-in-half, the target that you are aiming for and the bullet should intersect "horizontally at the dead center of the front sight post and "vertically" where the front sight post cuts-in-half the target in question. The Gun "This Machine" (M1 Garand- misson reward) is the most accurate with Iron Sights, but it too has a right side bias at long range. The thing is, battle rifles are "supposed to be "sniper rifles" with out scopes. I rely on these weapons to fill in a role that falls in between my Anti-Material Rifle and my Sub-machine gun. I hope Bethesda can "refocus" the sights on these weapons. Note: I haven't used the Trail Gun or Brush Gun enough to comment on their bias.

http://www.varminter.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=8344

5mm remington rimfire mag

For the RoF on the Service rifle turn up mouse sensetivity a notch or two.

The Iron sight, I've allways had an issue with certain weapons depending on the weapon in any game.
NV however has a greater spread variation meaning standing still and crouching will give you a very accurate shot.
Standing and moving even with a scope and max range takes practice and some luck. especially with fast shot.

To get the feel of the iron sights of a particular weapon check out the the green / red X spotter when not in iron sights.
The service rifle and its variants actually aim fire above the weapon by a fair bit so in iron sights just lower the muzzle down a bit to hit where you want.
Greater ranges mean more adjustment, but crouch you still should get a max perception range shot without too much trouble.

As for taking up the screen, just take it as imposed tunnel vision meant to make you check your flank before focusing on one specific foe.

I did notice Varmint rifle hits slightly to the right. But gun which have sights totally off is plasma pistol. You can not use sights at all (was not testing it after newest patch).

As for complains about service rifle and rest ...service rifle is not M16. Gun designs in game might be loosely inspired by some real world weapons but that's about it. There is no direct connection.

That's why I said screw it to the iron sights, turning it off and having the weapons still look like it's aimed, but not lined up with the sights is way better.

switch to 3rd person
crouch
aim with your rifle (rightmouse default)
switch to 1st person while aiming

voila both sights and "crosshair" visible. lets you see where your gun really shoots and how far the sights are off

Ding! Exactly. The service rifle is not an AR-10/AR-15. For one thing, the charging handle appears to be on the side as opposed to the top.