help for old eyes and peep sights!

B

bamaranger

New member
I have several rifles w/ Williams peeps that I had removed the "target" style screw-in aperature and used w/ the "ghost ring" and have always been pleased w/ the results.

But as of late, my 50+ eyes have started to find the front sight fuzzy, especially on short barreled carbines. Longer barrels, like the Garand and a CMP .22 are fine, but on my little .357 Marlin lever, I was having trouble seeing the front sight clearly.

The other night, I fitted the target aperture onto the peep. Improvement!
Enough that the 6" gong out the side door at 100 yds was once again a viable target. It is not like twenty years ago, but its an improvement. To say I'm pleased is an understatement.

I suspect that an even smaller aperture would yield greater results, but it might not be a practical field sight. For now the smaller aperature as opposed to the "ghost ring" is a solution.
 
I long ago gave up on open sights solved the problem with scopes and Red dots. Modern optics are much improved so these 65+ eyes find little joy in open sights.;)
 
My eyes are young but defective lol. Lately i have been struggling with my marlin 1894 and 50 yards has been the max i can really use it, have been considering a scope but don't know which route to go to keep it light weight.
 
someday

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For now the small aperture on the peep is an improvement.

I would rather not scope my handy little levers.
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Certainly I understand I have an adult son who is old school with firearms, but for me to enjoy I need precision shooting which in my youth I could do with open sights but now it's scopes and love the power, nothing like seeing the clear bright crosshairs come on target.
 
My eyes are young but defective lol. Lately i have been struggling with my marlin 1894 and 50 yards has been the max i can really use it, have been considering a scope but don't know which route to go to keep it light weight.
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Many light weight scopes out there, I have a Redfield 2-7x33 excellent clear glass and the small foot print would look good on your Marlin, at 2x super wide field of view makes shooting a breeze at 50 yards.
 
Many light weight scopes out there, I have a Redfield 2-7x33 excellent clear glass and the small foot print would look good on your Marlin, at 2x super wide field of view makes shooting a breeze at 50 yards.
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Just looked that up, price isn't too bad. I was hoping to find a single power scope that is pretty small but i might just have to go with that works. I would really like to extend the range of my marlin out to 100 yards.
 
Just had cataracts removed from both eyes and am amazed at the difference it has made in my ability to see the gun sights. Now I can't wait to see what its like to try trap and see the clays clearly.
 
I had the same problem. I solved it by using some cheap Walmart reading glasses at 1.25 or 1.5 power. Makes the front and rear sights clear and the target a tad fuzzy but improved my scores a lot.
 
My problem with some mil-surps are with the mid mounted rear sight. I don't have a problem with the normal rear peep like a Garand or Enfield but the Mausers and K31's are a challenge.

I bought a Mojo front and rear aperture setup, you have a peep on both ends. It really improved my shooting on the Mausers.

M48Amojo02.jpg

M48Amojo03.jpg
 
Just looked that up, price isn't too bad. I was hoping to find a single power scope that is pretty small but i might just have to go with that works. I would really like to extend the range of my marlin out to 100 yards.
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You may be able to find a smaller 4x however the Redfield is versatile and fair priced for quality, 100 yards no problem.
 
You didn't mention if you were wearing corrective lenses of not ! I wear progressive bi-focals and can now use iron sights again !
 
The smaller aperature is mimicing..

a pin-hole lens for a camera.
That sharpens the depth of field.

Used extensively on aerial cameras before the CCD were developed.

For the Marlin, consider using the tang mounted rear sight to increase your sight radius.
 
I'm in my late 60's, and can still use peep sights with a fiber-optic front bead - available in the same bead sizes as Ivory/Gold, and in red ot green (whatever suits your vision better.

They're available in multiple heights, all w/3/8" dovetails, from Williams (FireSight), TruGlo, and Hi-Viz.

70233brobpsset.jpg
63331fp94seset.jpg


TG95450RR.jpg


The Hi-Viz comes with 6 interchangeable light pipes, of different sizes/color green/orange:

MML_small.jpg
 
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Hmm!

jroth I had not thought of a tang and that is an idea thanks.

Petah, fiber optics huh? How do they hold up. I tried them early on for bow sights and broke them constantly, in and out of trees, etc.

Several IDPA guys are shooting fiber optics on their pistols w/ good results. Pistols are giving me fits now as well, 4" or shorter bbl esp.
 
I've been shooting/hunting with FO sights ever since they were first introduced (1980's ?) - and haven't broken or lost one yet.

IMHO, anyone worried about it can install a front sight hood with a hole cut in it's roof to admit light.

.
 
Don't forget Laser Eye Surgery...my mother had pretty bad vision problems as she cruised thru her 60's...
night vision was almost completely gone...she couldn't drive at night, couldn't see much better in daylight...
after the surgery, she felt like she had a new eye in there!!

Doing ONE at a time, and waiting for complete healing between surgeries is the smartest way to do it...
that way if you get an infection, it only bugs one eye for a couple weeks, then once treatment is completed, you're good to go :)
 
Not so sure that surgery is an option for old eyes. FO sounds interesting.

I ain't that bad yet, just started using "readers" but my depth of focus has definitely changed. Had great eyes for years, and the change is at this point......aggrevating. As said before, a longer bbl is no prob, I can still shoot the Garand, a Mossberg CMP .22, well.

But stubby carbines and handguns are another story and I've slipped there for sure.

Somebody mentioned perscription glasses..I've not gone that route yet.
 
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