Too old for iron sights?

[Charlie98]

Peeps on leverguns? Perish the thought!

I can't focus on the rear leaf any longer without glasses, but then that messes up my distance vision. For me, the solution is a receiver mounted peep. I was trained on one, way back when my eyes were much better, and most of the rifles I have that can take them have them... including my lever guns. In fact, even my tacticool AR's still wear peeps in lieu of them new-fangled dotty looking sights.

 

[Mobuck]

Using a red dot on a handgun increases my "hit probability" by approx 50%.

 

[stagpanther]

I have "double astigmatism" so no irons at all work for me on a handgun (though reddots work fine). I tried everything on my lever guns--including peeps--but even those are distorted blurs. As a last resort I tried a Williams firesight front paired with the marble's bullseye rear EUREKA! I can shoot with just irons again. Drawback is--marbles only makes them for dovetail slot fittings (couldn't put one on my BLR).

 

[ms6852]

There are 3 rifles that I shoot with iron sights at 200 yards. A 513T Remington, a 52C Winchester, and a Pedersoli Sharps. In all honesty I cannot see a front bead sight or blade in the front but with the open sight or the aperture front sight I can see the center of the target very well. I just make sure that there is a black back ground with a 3 inch red circle, or a white background with a 3 inch black circle. Also I use two different prescription glasses. One for reading and one for distance which what I shoot with.

What sucks now is that my cataract is getting bad but not bad enough for surgery yet but things look very hazy right now so I now am shooting the iron sight at 100 yards.

 

[Charlie98]

As a last resort I tried a Williams firesight front

Ha! I bought a Marlin 1894 that came with a Firesight. At first I was aghast at that neon ugly thing stuck on the end of my classic wood and steel rifle... til I used it. I think I have 3 of them mounted, now.

 

[Mr. Mike]

I get a chuckle When I read some of the replies here and some of you are calling yourselves old in the 50's and 60's. I will be 77 this coming Friday but I concur that failing eyesight of us seniors has prompted the use of other than open iron sights. I have a few rifles set up with the 'red dot' type of sighting and it seems to be working out OK. Of course this is for shorter ranges as I hunt in Michigan and where I hunt shots under 150 yards are common. Most under 100 yards! As we age we must do what we can to remain in the field. I can see the day coming where we will only be able to sit by the fire and listen to the younger crowd brag about the big one that got away!

 

[stagpanther]

I can see the day coming where we will only be able to sit by the fire and listen to the younger crowd brag about the big one that got away!

More like they successfully dropped them at 1,000 yds using irons only.

 

[Charlie98]

I get a chuckle When I read some of the replies here and some of you are calling yourselves old in the 50's and 60's.

It's interesting... one of the odd things about eyesight is it's not age definitive. My 20-year old daughter, who has her mother's eyes, unfortunately, has worse eyes than mine at 52. Poor eyesight is a sure way to at least make you feel old.

Many people poo-poo things like aperture or peep sights... before they even try them or learn how to use them correctly... in favor of glass of some sort. To each his own, though...

 

[Don Fischer]

Peeps on leverguns? Perish the thought!

I can't focus on the rear leaf any longer without glasses, but then that messes up my distance vision. For me, the solution is a receiver mounted peep. I was trained on one, way back when my eyes were much better, and most of the rifles I have that can take them have them... including my lever guns. In fact, even my tacticool AR's still wear peeps in lieu of them new-fangled dotty looking sights.

Next time you go out to shoot one of them, try taking out the center of those rear peep's, they just unscrew. Try it without them. I think you'll find them a lot faster and the front sight will still center itself on the rear sight.

 

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

I'm near'er to 74 than 73 and still prefer Iron Sights & Peeps over scopes. I have always found Iron ~user friendly vs those fragile gas & glass thin walled tubes with their hair line thick cross+hairs. ish!!
I know and accept my vision limits and because of. I seldom shoot beyond 150 yards these days when sighting down on anything. Be it Iron sights or scopes.

Oh BTW: I'm a believer in "if I pass on a shot because it exceeds my stern rule. Not molesting what-so-ever there likely be another chance. " If not. Hey that's OK too I got to see and enjoy walking in and out of some of Mother Natures most magnificent scenery and that alone is worth the price ($) I paid for the trip. Simply put. Deer to take home is just a bonus.

BTW: Canning stew meat and chicken instead of venison is pretty darn good eaten vittles over the winter. "Near as good as venison is."

 

[stagpanther]

Next time you go out to shoot one of them, try taking out the center of those rear peep's, they just unscrew. Try it without them. I think you'll find them a lot faster and the front sight will still center itself on the rear sight.

That's pretty much the idea behind the marble's bullseye--except they take it one step further and give you an outer ring--I can't explain why--but much faster and more effective for my bad eye than any peep I've tried (skinner, lyman and at least two others).

 

[stagpanther]

I'm near'er to 74 than 73 and still prefer Iron Sights & Peeps over scopes. I have always found Iron ~user friendly vs those fragile gas & glass thin walled tubes with their hair line thick cross+hairs. ish!!
I know and accept my vision limits and because of. I seldom shoot beyond 150 yards these days when sighting down on anything. Be it Iron sights or scopes.

Oh BTW: I'm a believer in "if I pass on a shot because it exceeds my stern rule. Not molesting what-so-ever there likely be another chance. " If not. Hey that's OK too I got to see and enjoy walking in and out of some of Mother Natures most magnificent scenery and that alone is worth the price ($) I paid for the trip. Simply put. Deer to take home is just a bonus.

I honor you for that.

 

[Dano4734]

At 65 I now have everything scoped I hate not being able to iron sight my old lever actions but age takes it’s toll different on every person

 

[Drm50]

I'm 68 and got bifocals 3 years ago. I have a few rifles that I still can see the
irons. The most of my rifles already had reciever sights , I can still use them ok.
In the woods hunting I don't use aperature , just shoot through the hoop. I have
a dozen rifles with scopes, all bolt actions. I sold about half my big game rifles ,
all the magnums and some varmit guns. They were all bolt action too. The most
Powerful rifle I have now is a 30/06, the largest bore 47/70

 

[Charlie98]

Next time you go out to shoot one of them, try taking out the center of those rear peep's, they just unscrew.

I have... I call it the 'Cowboy Ghost Ring.' If low light is an issue, that's a quick fix, but I prefer using a bigger aperture insert instead.

 

[Drm50]

If I use aperature in woods, I have some that I have reamed out and the Williams Twi-Lite aperature. For jump shooting deer in heavy cover I go without.