How to aim with bi-focals?

[g_gunter]

Hi all,

This is for those of you who are probably older and are battling aging eyes like mine.

How do those of you with bi-focals use your sighting system on your handguns? Do you look through your upper lenses (for seeing far away) or do you use your lower lenses (for reading)? I don't know if I just need my prescription changed or not since I am having a little trouble lining up my sights through my upper lenses. If I use my lower lenses (reading lenses) I then have to cock my head way back (looks kinda funny) to see my sights.

Thanks,

g_gunter

 

[Sisco]

Tilt your head way back! That's the only way I've figured out how to do it with tri-focals.
Got new glasses last week, asked if the intermediate portion of the trifocal could be put at the top of the lens, It can but at a price. Somewhere in the $300 range and the glasses have to be pretty large sized to make room for it.
I'm going to give one of these a try instead http://www.eabco.com/css_sts2.html

 

[Chuck Dye]

Doctrine says focus on the front sight and let the target and rear sight blur. Personal preference says experiment and find what works best for you (a fine excuse to shoot more.) For recreation and competition, you may find that a pinhole helps. A pinhole increases the depth of the field of focus and can bring the front sight and target within that field. Vendors such as Brownell's have them specifically for shooters and they also are popular with jewelers' and watchmakers' supply catalogs. There is some argument among the self defence crowd that practicing with a pinhole may be a hindrance in a defensive situation where the pinhole is not available. I'll leave that angle to others.

edit: Ooops! Sorry Sisco, checked the link after posting. Grrrrr!

Has anyone here tried any of the "fly's eye" glasses with the full field array of pinholes? The hype suggests they might even replace prescription glasses for some uses.

 

[Gary H]

I'm an Optometrist with an office two minutes from the local range. I'm also an older guy. The lower section of a bifocal should work just fine with folks under about 47 years old. As you get older, your reading portion becomes overly strong and trifocals work the best. You would want to use the middle lens. "No line" progressive lenses can work, but for those over 47 it becomes iffy. For competition, I have found that the B&L Multifocal contact lens works great. I fit the lower add power. This will not work for those of you with a good bit of astigmatism. When moving fast, you won't find any glasses solution. The bifocal type contacts provide vision at all distances, but you pay a price. Your vision is not nearly as good as with quality glasses.

 

[hso]

For antisocial ranges I practice without my prescription glasses. I also practice looking over the top for the same effect. Yep, things are fuzzy, but my "focus" is on defensive shooting and don't want to depend on my glasses being on when needed.

 

[sm]

48 with bi-focals. IIRC 1.75.

Experience similar advice GaryH shared
My doc is a shooter, he took that in consideration when advising me. I'm not as bad as some. I often shoot without bi-focals, just don't ask me read or sign anything. I'll keep a set of inexpensive dime store "readers" handy, range bag, and such for that ( and for use by others in squad whom in same shape, sad bunch that can't see where to sign score sheet, read stage instructions )

I cannot shoot shotguns with bi-focals on...glasses not high enough on face, raise head and see miss. So I shoot with safety specs only. I do have a set of static stick- on magnificatons that I've used. Can be placed on any set of glasses,shooting, sun...not scripted...not for seeing targets, but marking scores.

Use a good doc that shoots. I worry about front sight. Learned to shoot without sights...maybe my mentors were teaching a whippersnapper something not needed for another 40 yrs. How to adapt and such.

 

[Art Eatman]

I wear trifocals. I have an add-on oval lens (1/2" by 1") glued to the upper-inside corner of my master-eye lens. It gives the same view as the middle part of the trifocal: Sharp at arms' length.

It's perfect for a razor-sharp view of the sights when using the Weaver stance.

At very close range it wouldn't be needed, but out beyond ten or so yards where good sighting is needed, it works like a charm.

, Art

 

[cbjessee@NH]

At 45, I gave no line progressive a try but had no success. Enterprise sells ghost ring sights for some handgun makes. I thought I'd try them on my SIG P226.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

I would have to look for it again, but I recall seeing an advertisement for a low-power optic disc that was set into the rear aperature sight of AR15's and M14's. It was designed for older shooters so they could focus normally on the front sight blade.

ANM

 

[renaissance]

Tried them all

I've tried all of the solutions suggested here.
I get the best results with Perscription Shooting Glasses.
Focused at Front Sight distance.

One interesting variation is:
Dominant Eye focused at front sight distance.
Other eye focused at infinity (For the target)

Shooting with both eyes open, i found a problem with this set up.
Normally shooting with both eyes, I have no problem distinguishing the correct target from the "Ghost".
But with this glass arrangement, the "Ghost" target comess in stronger because the non dominant eye is FOCUSed at the trget distance, and it is harder to ignore.
I solved this problem by putting a small piece of scotch tape over the glass where the ghost target normally appears. I now see everything except the target with the non dominant eye and it all works out pretty good.

For combat games the two focus style works best for me.
For bullseye or shooting groups, the straight focus at front sight pair is best.

The Merit Iris does not work for me at all with both eyes open.
Sight with one eye closed and the Merit is OK as long as there is lots of light.
The merit "dims" the target for me too much in low light situations.

( It's a bitch, when your eyes start aging" - 67 and still trying to compete with the kids - who am I kidding?)

PS:
Anybody know a "shooting savy" Optical Professional in NOrthern VA. ?

 

[Ryder]

That's great Gary H, but what about those of us who ARE 47?

 

[danbh]

Well, I am 59 and have progresive lenses. It takes a little getting used to but I have no problem. Focus on the front sight and shoot.

 

[MichaelJay]

I'm 41 and had cataract surgery two years ago – nothing seems to work. Since my eyes don't 'focus' any longer I have been looking for that magic solution that just doesn't seem to be there. I use bi-focals and carefully line up gun to target, then slightly tip my head up and use the power for the sights. Taking my time I can now achieve a 5 inch pattern at 15 yards with a J-frame snubbie. Ten years ago, that would have been about 2.5 inch pattern.

I mostly shoot 4 or 6 inch .357, shooting double taps for speed are usually both upper torso hits, 2 inch barrel is usually one in the nine ring and one in head! Course I pass it off – like that's where I intended the second shot to go. Actually, I'm glad it was still on the paper and not in the ceiling or the lane next to me – 'cause that's how it was when I had the cataracts.

I have seriously considered some type of laser pointing device (grips, etc.) on my GP-161 for home defense. My best defense for now is a 12 ga. with no. 4 shot.

My father also had cataract surgery, but was active duty highway patrol at the time. His right eye is set for close distances less than 4 feet and the left eye is set for long distance over 15 feet. He shoots using a triangle stance: right eye on gun sights and left eye on target. He is now 65 and can normally shoot a 2 inch pattern at 15 yards with his S&W 686. Disgusting.