I knew that I didn't see my sights real clear and my hands aren't as steady as they once where hell, I'll be 79 nest month. Today I put on my 1.5 reading glasses from Menards hardware and the sights cleared right up. I use a 6x6 swing plate at 25 yards, now I know some of you young bucks laugh at such a large target but it works for me. I loaded some of my favorite 150 grain 358477 bullets over 6 grains Unique in .38 Special cases in my 4" 686 Smith and when the plate swung 4 times out of 4 shots I grinned and came home. I know many wouldn't consider that much of a shot but for this old codger it sure looked good.
Improved my shooting 100%
- Thread starter e rex
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Col. Harrumph
Member
Right behind you at 69. I find the closer the target, the better my score.
berettaprofessor
Member
Yes, the 10-spot is easy to stay in from one foot away
It's actually a pet peeve of mine; all the posts where people show pictures of their group or brag about their group sizes and don't disclose the range. Hey, buddy, I'm pretty good from 5 yards away too, especially with rifles.
DTL
Member
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At 70, I'm content with a day using two different 9mm's and keeping 50+ rounds in 6" at 20-25yrds. Handguns are just defensive tools these days, no more long range, reloading or hunting anymore. Did it today with my Beretta APX and Shield 2.0 using Norma 115 gr. FMJ. Under 4" at 10 yds with defensive ammo. And being OK with ourselves is all that matters.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
As long as I can hit minute-of-enemy, Im happy- well as much as ever anyway. Im a kinda miserable person IRL......
Bazoo
Member
That's a pretty stiff load for 38 special. Glad you're running them in a 686. Not bad shooting, especially considering your vision. Glad to hear you got some improvement and some fun.
1KPerDay
Member
Depends if you mean 6” or 6’.
if you’re hitting a 6” plate at 25 yards more often than not you’re better than a lot of young bucks I know.
illinoisburt
Member
Most people I see at indoor ranges seem challenged to keep all their rounds on a B27 (24x45) at 21 feet, much less 25 yards. Good job!Depends if you mean 6” or 6’.
if you’re hitting a 6” plate at 25 yards more often than not you’re better than a lot of young bucks I know.
I discovered that the reading glasses fix works for me several years ago. 1.5 reading glasses make handgun or long gun sights nice and clear, and I can also see the target clearly. Probably doesn't work for everyone, but it's worth experimenting to see what you can come up with.
If that doesn't work, try using whatever corrective vision you need to see the target clearly, and a good, bright green laser. Even compared to the reading glasses and no blurry vision issues, the green laser cuts my handgun groups in approximately half. Here's 15 rounds from my CZ 75 P-01 with Green Crimson Trace CMR-203 laser at 11 yards. With irons, my groupings are approximately 2x this size.
The P-01 is the top right gun in this photo:
If that doesn't work, try using whatever corrective vision you need to see the target clearly, and a good, bright green laser. Even compared to the reading glasses and no blurry vision issues, the green laser cuts my handgun groups in approximately half. Here's 15 rounds from my CZ 75 P-01 with Green Crimson Trace CMR-203 laser at 11 yards. With irons, my groupings are approximately 2x this size.
The P-01 is the top right gun in this photo:
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Skeptic13
Member
I have been wearing reader to shoot open sights for a while now. I am just not a very good shot without them.
doubleh
Member
I have five years on you, e-rex and did the reading glasses thing for quite a few years. It finally became time to remove my cataracts last December and now I can see my sights with no help. How nice it is to only need readers to actually read or do close work. No more restriction on my driver's license now to boot. Essential tremors are my offhand shooting problem now even though I can see my sights just fine.
MrChicken
Member
I've been using readers since my early forties when shooting.
Have to wear eye protection, might as well put on the cheaters
Have to wear eye protection, might as well put on the cheaters
DustyGmt
Member
Well I'm probably what you would consider a young buck, 33, and 25yards is quite a spell. Especially at a 6x6 in my opinion. I would say you did pretty damn good, just wondering why you didn't fire the last two in the cylinder, conserving ammo or just wanted to quit while you were ahead?
I know if I miss my last target shooting trap and it's the fourth or fifth round and the fellas are ready to pack it in and close up it drives me insane, like I can't leave satisfied unless the last target is a hit. Same with general shooting and plinking, I can't make a miss the last thing I do before I pack up to go. It's an OCD thing I think. That's why it pays to shoot well every time, all the time.
DustyGmt
Member
I love those "dot torture" targets. They really help improve accuracy and speed too. I don't have a shot timer but even a simple stop watch function on your watch can add an element of challenge and speed.....
Dusty, I haven't been able to buy primers for over a year so conservation is always on my mind. That and I hate to go anywhere with just an empty piece so the ride home had two in the wheel.
Started at around 58 with 1.0s
mokin
Member
Glad to hear that you guys are still shooting!
Bazoo
Member
I'll have to look into that loadiń myself. I have the RCBS 38-150-SWC that I've been working with out of a GP100 and my wife's 686.
I've got a nice full power load with 296 in magnum cases.
I've got a nice full power load with 296 in magnum cases.
J-Bar
Member
I have recently been wearing my regular spectacles with oversized safety glasses in front of them, and my indoor groups have improved. 77 here. The safety glasses were about $12 at the local gun store.
Bruce D Pease
Member
At 80 I am better distance wise than I was at 70. Cataracts done … news internal lenses …. I asked dr to set them for distance cuz I shoot. She did a great job got the right set up for my shooting. I now see front sight and target better and my scores are better in that my groups are smaller. A minute of bad guy is good
Sorry but this is off topic. I am a newbie here and am clueless as to how to ask a question about primers or anything else for that matter.
Could you please advise me on how to ask a question about primers?? I tried going to general gun discussions/primers but get nothing.
Scooter22
Member
Yup. I don't need to wear glasses yet all the time but dollar store readers I use daily. Grab several at different strengths to try at the range with open sights. You'll be surprised how well you can see. Plus it's CHEAP. I ask my eye doc about using them and he said no problem. You won't hurt your eyes.
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