For older shooters eyes
- Thread starter mrt949
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This is for general shooting like paper punching .Getting old is difficult, but the alternative (dying young) is less attractive (to me, sometimes).
If it is for the range only, the right glasses can do wonders. Those stick-on soft plastic bifocal things at the drug store can be useful. If you can afford a special pair of glasses just for the range, you can get the front sight in focus with a single-prescription lens in your shooting eye and a plano (no prescription) in your off eye.
For the street, I just tell my optometrist to put the bifocal line a little higher on my dominant eye, so I can see my front sight clearly. She gets it.
You are right, barrel length plays a role - 3" Model 13 is in focus better than the 1911, but both are workable (for me) with the same shooting glasses.
Have fun. (As one of the most ill-tempered, negative, grumpy, snarly old-men-with-aches-and-pains on the face of the planet, I'm not out-of-line suggesting to you that you try to have fun - and just let the miserable, irritating parts of getting old go on by, and not get to you.)
Regards,
Andrew
If it is for the range only, the right glasses can do wonders. Those stick-on soft plastic bifocal things at the drug store can be useful. If you can afford a special pair of glasses just for the range, you can get the front sight in focus with a single-prescription lens in your shooting eye and a plano (no prescription) in your off eye.
For the street, I just tell my optometrist to put the bifocal line a little higher on my dominant eye, so I can see my front sight clearly. She gets it.
You are right, barrel length plays a role - 3" Model 13 is in focus better than the 1911, but both are workable (for me) with the same shooting glasses.
Have fun. (As one of the most ill-tempered, negative, grumpy, snarly old-men-with-aches-and-pains on the face of the planet, I'm not out-of-line suggesting to you that you try to have fun - and just let the miserable, irritating parts of getting old go on by, and not get to you.)
Regards,
Andrew
jglsprings
New member
I thought my arms were shrinking... maybe you should look at adding a little length at the wrist....
Here about ten years ago I was in the laundry room and couldn't read the fine print on the soap box... I turned on the light and said to myself "That is better....... wait a minute this is horrible!!"
It's been down hill ever since.
Here about ten years ago I was in the laundry room and couldn't read the fine print on the soap box... I turned on the light and said to myself "That is better....... wait a minute this is horrible!!"
It's been down hill ever since.
Since you're talking paper punching, why not get one of those pinhole disc jobs to attach to your shooting glasses? They give you an aperture sight which brings both near and far into focus. I'm still using The Farrsight Optical Disc I bought from Brownell's years ago. Works great for my sexagenarian eyes. Unfortunately it is no longer made but Merit and several others are still sold.
I'll second both the opening up the sides of the rear sight some, and the Merit adjustable iris thing that sticks to your glasses. The Merit iris disc qualifies as magic. You adjust it to your eye until it sharpens up both of your sights and the target. It's amazing, it really works!
I'm 63 and still shoot with the irons only. I do find that using 'no-line' bi-focals is a help...I just tip my head back a little to see the front sight clearly. I was a pilot by profession before retirement and have always had my 'no-line' bi-focals ground with the magnification element a little higher in the lens. This allowed me to see the instrument panel better, and, coincidentally, it's the same distance from my eyes as the front sight on a 6" barreled S&W. That hi grind line takes some getting used to and you may not like it at first. But there may be a better way and far cheaper...
I also use cheap Walmart "cheaters"...1.5o or 1.75 alone, that is not in conjunction with my prescription glasses. I shoot better with these than with the prescription lenses and I don't have to tilt my head back. You'll find fi you try them, that you will only be able to see the front sight in focus, the target remains a blur of varying shades of gray depending on the power. I use only the strength necessary to give me a sharply defined front sight, any more and you lose the target altogether. They're good for target use, but for hunting, I use my regular prescription lenses.
The cheapies also work very well for hi-power across the course competition. At the short yardages, 200 & 300, I use a center of mass (Navy) hold using a wider than average front sight on the AR, to allow me to see the post overlapping the bull. I get good elevation and windage alignment that way. At 600, I use a 'frame' hold. That's holding the front post flat against the easily seen line between the target frame and the berm. Obviously, I have radically adjusted 'come-ups' for that 600 "frame" hold. With the Garand, the M1 Carbine, and 03, I have no choice but to use the standard 6 o'clock hold, since sight width is not possible but they're only shot at the 200 yd line in CMP competition. I use the "cheaters" in the same 1.5 to 1.75 or even 2.0 powers.
As to your question on barrel length, I do like the shorter barrels now in handguns, but shoot the longer, 6" ones equally well. For me, I find the shorter ones are easier to pack around the farm, and may balance better in my hand as I've gotten older.
Those cheap lenses are really the secret...as the old gunny said, it's all about the front sight...YOU MUST FOCUS ENTIRELY ON THE FRONT SIGHT. With those cheaters on, you can't focus on the target no matter how hard you squint...you can only see the front sight clearly. Ah..............if I'd only known 30 yrs ago...I'd have made Distinguished with the Pistol.
Regards, Rodfac (Using my son's computer while away from home...hence the 30cal vs Rodfac discrepancy.)
I also use cheap Walmart "cheaters"...1.5o or 1.75 alone, that is not in conjunction with my prescription glasses. I shoot better with these than with the prescription lenses and I don't have to tilt my head back. You'll find fi you try them, that you will only be able to see the front sight in focus, the target remains a blur of varying shades of gray depending on the power. I use only the strength necessary to give me a sharply defined front sight, any more and you lose the target altogether. They're good for target use, but for hunting, I use my regular prescription lenses.
The cheapies also work very well for hi-power across the course competition. At the short yardages, 200 & 300, I use a center of mass (Navy) hold using a wider than average front sight on the AR, to allow me to see the post overlapping the bull. I get good elevation and windage alignment that way. At 600, I use a 'frame' hold. That's holding the front post flat against the easily seen line between the target frame and the berm. Obviously, I have radically adjusted 'come-ups' for that 600 "frame" hold. With the Garand, the M1 Carbine, and 03, I have no choice but to use the standard 6 o'clock hold, since sight width is not possible but they're only shot at the 200 yd line in CMP competition. I use the "cheaters" in the same 1.5 to 1.75 or even 2.0 powers.
As to your question on barrel length, I do like the shorter barrels now in handguns, but shoot the longer, 6" ones equally well. For me, I find the shorter ones are easier to pack around the farm, and may balance better in my hand as I've gotten older.
Those cheap lenses are really the secret...as the old gunny said, it's all about the front sight...YOU MUST FOCUS ENTIRELY ON THE FRONT SIGHT. With those cheaters on, you can't focus on the target no matter how hard you squint...you can only see the front sight clearly. Ah..............if I'd only known 30 yrs ago...I'd have made Distinguished with the Pistol.
Regards, Rodfac (Using my son's computer while away from home...hence the 30cal vs Rodfac discrepancy.)
I have the progresive glasses & a farsite disk with various holes ,but now it is getting harder to see at the indoor ranges .I have CT LASER GRIPS on my m60 smith . Well at least it beats the alternative (had a double bypass in 1988 at 38yrs old still working a regular job 48 hrs a wk now 60 yrs old ) 
Next i will try opening the rear sight .
Next i will try opening the rear sight .The solution is simple. You need glasses or contacts. Period.
Rather than buying new guns and sights, go to the eye doctor and actually solve the problem. Chances are you need them for more than just
shooting paper. Things like driving and reading are important too.
If you can't stNd the idea of corrective lenses, save your money for LASIK.
Rather than buying new guns and sights, go to the eye doctor and actually solve the problem. Chances are you need them for more than just
shooting paper. Things like driving and reading are important too.
If you can't stNd the idea of corrective lenses, save your money for LASIK.
Like 30CAL, I spent a career as an airline pilot. I had 20/20 vision until my late 30's when I needed reading correction. In my late 40's I needed help with intermediate vision and in my late 50's, I needed a touch of distance vision correction. I have been wearing tri-focals for sometime now and I find I use my reading lenses for shooting. It brings in my front sight nice and sharp with the target being a little fuzzy in the distance. Even without glasses, this is the proper way to acquire a target.
I used to have a pair of glasses strictly for shooting but I found I couldn't see the target downrange when I wanted to analyze where my round went so I quickly ditched those for the regular glasses as I got tired of constantly switching glasses.
Yup, getting old sure beats the alternative but, it doesn't mean one has to become weak. Each night while I am ending the evening, watching TV with my wife, I take my carry 1911 and hold it one handed, with arm outstretched as if in the shooting position. I hold it straight out for a 10 count and then switch. I do 50 of these with each arm. It helps keep the muscle tone in shape for shooting. I also practice trigger management and follow thru about 30 or 40 times with each hand. Makes it a lot more fun to shoot when I do get to the range as I find my arms/hands are rock steady and I shoot better than most of my peers.
Putting a full magazine into a 1 1/2" grouping is almost as thrilling as shooting a hand flown Cat III approach in a commercial jet to touchdown in what amounts to zero/zero conditions.
I used to have a pair of glasses strictly for shooting but I found I couldn't see the target downrange when I wanted to analyze where my round went so I quickly ditched those for the regular glasses as I got tired of constantly switching glasses.
Yup, getting old sure beats the alternative but, it doesn't mean one has to become weak. Each night while I am ending the evening, watching TV with my wife, I take my carry 1911 and hold it one handed, with arm outstretched as if in the shooting position. I hold it straight out for a 10 count and then switch. I do 50 of these with each arm. It helps keep the muscle tone in shape for shooting. I also practice trigger management and follow thru about 30 or 40 times with each hand. Makes it a lot more fun to shoot when I do get to the range as I find my arms/hands are rock steady and I shoot better than most of my peers.
Putting a full magazine into a 1 1/2" grouping is almost as thrilling as shooting a hand flown Cat III approach in a commercial jet to touchdown in what amounts to zero/zero conditions.
'no-line' TRI-focals here with 3 focus areas, but it's still a pain....
1) Add a laser for low-lighting situations, but they aren't a lot of help on paper plates in bright daylight
2) Try a different sight system http://www.advantagetactical.com
If you can make a pyramid, you can use this
"put the dot on top of the triangle"
.... see their color selector page and click a color in the right column
http://www.advantagetactical.com/colors.htm
(the kit comes with all the colors... 25 possible color combinations)
Signed,
Dirt is a little older than I.
1) Add a laser for low-lighting situations, but they aren't a lot of help on paper plates in bright daylight
2) Try a different sight system http://www.advantagetactical.com
If you can make a pyramid, you can use this
"put the dot on top of the triangle"
.... see their color selector page and click a color in the right column
http://www.advantagetactical.com/colors.htm
(the kit comes with all the colors... 25 possible color combinations)
Signed,
Dirt is a little older than I.
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Chunkychuck
Inactive
I have for the last several years had my glasses made with an upper bi-focal lens mostly for when I have to work on things over my head. I've found they work well when I am shooting because it is more natural to tilt my head down to catch the bi-focal than to tilt it back.
My trifolcals are strange.
Astigmatism, Myopia AND Presbyopia all corrected in the lenses.
I've had them several years, I tilt my head one way to read on the computer monitor through the bottom of my glasses, but at the exact same distance, I have to tilt my head the other way to look through the top of my glasses to see the gun sights. I should be used to them by now.
That's why I got the Advantage Tactical sights on my every day carry, big and easy to see even if slightly out of focus. There used to be another similar product, where half a triangle is the rear and half the triangle is the front sight and you just "complete the shape" but I think that other company might be gone now.
I figured I won't have time in an emergency like I do at te range to be rocking/nodding my head back and forth to find the "right spot" in my glasses to see the front sight then re-adjust my head to see the target, but I can look at a target and "complete a shape" on the sights at the same time instead of not watching a target to focus on a front sight or trying to nod my head at a bad guy real fast to focus back and forth.
Astigmatism, Myopia AND Presbyopia all corrected in the lenses.
I've had them several years, I tilt my head one way to read on the computer monitor through the bottom of my glasses, but at the exact same distance, I have to tilt my head the other way to look through the top of my glasses to see the gun sights. I should be used to them by now.
That's why I got the Advantage Tactical sights on my every day carry, big and easy to see even if slightly out of focus. There used to be another similar product, where half a triangle is the rear and half the triangle is the front sight and you just "complete the shape" but I think that other company might be gone now.
I figured I won't have time in an emergency like I do at te range to be rocking/nodding my head back and forth to find the "right spot" in my glasses to see the front sight then re-adjust my head to see the target, but I can look at a target and "complete a shape" on the sights at the same time instead of not watching a target to focus on a front sight or trying to nod my head at a bad guy real fast to focus back and forth.
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Simple indeed, and good advice. I am an optician, and we can help you solve this more than likely. A lot does depend on your personal visual requirements,(nearsighted, farsighted, over "40
) as to how to best solve this problem.I personally prefer to work with the person and the gun(s), pistols or long guns, to clearly define the different distances needed, and determine any compromises that may need to addressed.
Just like guns, you can't do everything perfect with one, and this may entail a separate pair of shooting glasses, which compared to what we spend on guns/ammo will be cheap.
Stop by some local optical shops and mention your issues and see which guy/gal seems to take an interest, as they are more than likely gun friendly.
Hope this helps!
One thing this thread tells me is that all of our eyes age differently. I have a problem that is somewhat different from the ones I've read about here. My UNCORRECTED vision gives me a clear picture of the front sight. However, I can't see the target at all, without distance lenses. And, my distance lenses reduce everything at arms length to a blurry approximation of a true image. I also have terrible reading vision for which I need corrective lenses. My solution has been to go to progressive lenses with an uncorrected strip in the middle. That helps a lot, but it isn't perfect, especially with rapid fire. Finding that little area of uncorrected lens and lining it up with the front sight ain't easy.
A more promising solution for me has been wider rear sights. I actually shoot fixed sight revolvers more accurately than I do target sights because the fixed sight groove is generally somewhat wider than the rear sight notch on a target sight. I also have no problem visualizing the white dot front sight on the Novaks on my 1911. I've never looked into replacing the adjustable rear sights and ramp or patridge front sights on my revolvers with Novaks. I wonder if there's someone out there who's done that or who knows who can do it?
A more promising solution for me has been wider rear sights. I actually shoot fixed sight revolvers more accurately than I do target sights because the fixed sight groove is generally somewhat wider than the rear sight notch on a target sight. I also have no problem visualizing the white dot front sight on the Novaks on my 1911. I've never looked into replacing the adjustable rear sights and ramp or patridge front sights on my revolvers with Novaks. I wonder if there's someone out there who's done that or who knows who can do it?