A question for those of you who wear "reading" glasses.

[Hokkmike]

Took my Winchester .44 magnum Wrangler out last night. I bought it as a "back up" rifle and loaner for friends would might need an "emergency" gun to shoot. I also wanted a Winny since they are now historical.

It was darker than usual and overcast with a slow drizzle starting up at the range.

I used the .44 mag Leveroution ammo. (GREAT STUFF)

At 50 yards I printed 3 hits across the center of the target holding dead on.

But here's my problem. Because of being older and requiring reading glasses for up close work (otherwise my vision is perfect) I can see either the target (no glasses) or the gun sights (with glasses), but not both.

At 100 yards I hit all around my smallish (one of those "exploding green dot targets you get at Gander) target. Not really good enough for deer hunting in my opinion.

Is there a way of modifying my gun without mounting a scope that will make sighting any easier? Or, are there any other tricks you have learned to deal with this problem. I DO NOT want to put a scope on it.

Maybe I'm just out of luck and am limited to shorter ranges with this gun?

My friend who was with me had exactly the same problem.

 

[natman]

A peep sight with a small aperture will increase your depth of field and help some.

While nobody can focus on the target and the front sight at the same time, when you're younger you can switch back and forth. When you get older your eye can't do that anymore, so you need different prescriptions.

The sure cure is to mount a scope.

 

[Guns and more]

I use the shooting glasses with the little bifocal area. About $13.
They let me focus on the sights, as I'm told I should.

 

[BullSkater]

I have had to scope my rifles for the same reasons. You can get bifocal glasses with the the bifocals on top and bottom. Some pistol shooters use them.

 

[General Geoff]

Aperture sights are probably what you want. With a rifle, the front sight should still be within focus for a far-sighted individual such as yourself, and the rear aperture is supposed to be blurred out.

 

[Walkalong]

1.0 power dimestore glasses. They clear up the sights pretty good, but don't blurr the target too bad.

 

[MinnMooney]

I'm in the same boat as you are. My ability to use open sights started to fade about 4 or 5 years ago so I went 100% scoped rifles... until I found out how well an aperture rear sight works. I bought one for a Marlin 336 that I used to have and liked it so much that I bought another. This latest one has an adjustable aperture which is even better. You can adjust the size of the opening until everything is clear. Now I focus clearly on both the front bead and the target.

P.S. "They" tell me that one's sight only gets so bad (usually within 3-4 years) and then levels out for decades. Good news!

 

[gregj]

Similar situation, but shooting handguns with bifocals was a real PITA. Started shooting IDPA and it became a real issue, never felt like I could see the front sight. I went to my eye doctor, and wound up getting a set of shooting glasses. The left lens is single RX for distance focus and the right lens is single RX for close focus - approx 1.5" from the end of my index finger when simulating an iso grip. So far these have worked out great for me, should have done it a long time ago.

 

[fcs25]

As a firearms instructor I have found that using low powered reading glasses a good choice for older shooters[over 40].

 

[Mike In Charleston]

I just passed 59 and had to go 100% scopes on all rifles. I can still get by with no glasses or weak glasses for handgun but I'm only looking at hitting center mass and not a 1" grouping.

 

[kda]

My bi-focal prescription correction for the distance to my pistol sights (when shooting) is +1.25. So I went to Walmart or Walgreens and found the "eyeglass" section and sorted through the various reading glasses with that correction magnification.

When I find glasses that look like the old granny glasses ... wide but only about 3/4 to1" high, I buy them. When I am shooting, I slide them up my nose and focus as you should, on the front sight. When done or doing something else, I slide them down a bit or just look over the top.

I guess I can get away with that because my long distance correction is so slight I really don't need one. But with the correctly shaped granny style glasses, it became pretty easy for me to manage. And the drugstore glasses are only about $10. They are usually not plastic lenses, like those from the big opticians, so they don't scratched up like the expensive plastic glasses either. Last a long time.

 

[1-cavediver]

I'm in the same boat as you, pefect vision except for "up close" reading.

After messing around with regular bi-focal reading glasses for a couple of years I went with B&L multi-focal contact lens and couldn't be happier. I can read fine print up close again and my distance vision is still perfect. I never considered contacts until a friend of mine mentioned he had them and how happy he was with them. I got fitted the next week and have't looked back.

http://www.bausch.com/en_US/consumer/visioncare/product/softcontacts/soflens_multi.aspx

 

[David E]

I can see either the target (no glasses) or the gun sights (with glasses), but not both.

No one can focus on both at the same time, regardless of age.

I have a fiber optic front sight installed on my Trapper .44 rifle and it really stands out, even without reading glasses.

 

[Blowingsky]

I used to need reading glasses but eventually my distance vision got soft too. So I just got "progressive" glasses. Distance at top, computer distance in the middle and reading at the bottom. It makes a world of difference with a 1911 and an 03A3 and I use it with a scope too (had to adjust the reticle focus is all) and I can see the reticle sharp and the target. Best of three worlds.

It didn't improve my marksmanship, unfortunately that turns out to be a "practice" and "put in the effort" deal. But I can now clearly see how bad I am.

 

[oneounceload]

I went from wearing two contacts to wearing one - one eye is set for distance, the other for short close-up work

 

[ants]

You're in good company.

My solution is the same as these fine fellows:

Walkalong 1.0 power dimestore glasses. They clear up the sights pretty good, but don't blurr the target too bad.

fcs25 As a firearms instructor I have found that using low powered reading glasses a good choice for older shooters[over 40].

Mike In Charleston I just passed 59 and had to go 100% scopes on all rifles. I can still get by with no glasses or weak glasses for handgun but I'm only looking at hitting center mass and not a 1" grouping.

My bi-focal prescription correction for the distance to my pistol sights (when shooting) is +1.25. So I went to Walmart or Walgreens and found the "eyeglass" section and sorted through the various reading glasses with that correction magnification.

1.25 works for me, each shooter has to experiment a bit to find the right combination for him/her. If possible, find shatterproof lenses. If not, you can wear shooting glasses over the top.

 

[CooperThunder]

I wear a bifocals contacts for my right eye (I am right eye dominant). Before I went for my CCW I went to see my eye doctor and he worked on my contacts until we got it right. So now everytime I go target shooting, I wear those contacts.

 

[Guns and more]

As a firearms instructor I have found that using low powered reading glasses a good choice for older shooters[over 40].

I would think you'd require safety glasses.

 

[ants]

You wear safety glasses over your corrective lens,
unless your corrective lens is already safety material.

 

[paradox998]

Easy solution. Take a pair of glasses, any will do. Take a piece of electrical tape, cut a circle of it about the size of a pea. Put in on a wood block and use a punch to make a clean hold in the center. Place the tape on the glasses so that when you look through the sights you are looking through the hoed. The pin hole will give you pretty much infinite depth of field like a pin hole camera. Works real well, cost nothing.

 

[JimGun]

I am far-sighted and have been wearing glasses since my mid-forties. I normally wear progressive lens, but I had a pair of shooting glasses made that were bifocals. I can read up to six feet away with the small "focal" but had the other part allowing me to see accurately at 20 yards. I find that from 20 to 200 yards I have no problem. I also had them colored yellow since it brings in more light. Hope this helps.