Experts Chime In: Bifocal/Trifocal sighting

[doc540]

Ok, I wear trifocals, but it's the same principle in question.

If I tilt my head slightly and focus on the sights of my Colt DS, the target is out of focus, but I can shoot pretty well, COM at 10-15yds.

The problem is having to quickly sight for SD shooting and remembering to tilt my head. That could become a problem in a fecal fan world.

BUT, strangely enough, when I don't tilt to my mid-range vision and just focus through my long range prescription and on the target (making the sights out of focus), I can still shoot pretty darned well.

How do guys sight and shoot when wearing bifocal or trifocal glasses?

 

[Steve C]

I have no-line bifocals and about the center of the lens change is about where the front sight is clear. I can find this in slow fire. When shooting timed targets like steel at close range I simply look at the front sight and don't worry about it being perfectly sharp, center front sight vertically on the target, squeeze and you will hit it as long as you don't jerk the trigger.

 

[Jim Watson]

For fun, I have shooting glasses with the right lens ground to focus on the front (pistol) sight. About a trifocal intermediate.

I can get hits at self defense ranges through my Varilux street glasses' distance Rx without having to remember to cock my head as I pull the gun.

 

[Dienekes]

5/8" dia jeweler's spot in upper LH corner of my master eye lens, focal length to front sight. Placement is right for Weaver stance.

Worked perfectly for 20 years, incl the last few years of an LEO career.

Rifle iron sights are another matter...

 

[tipoc]

I wear bi focals with the lower portion of the lenses focal point being where my front sights are (the top portion are set for driving, walking around, etc.). To shoot defensively I tilt my head up a bit to focus on the front sight. Works for me.

tipoc

 

[James T Thomas]

contortions

"doc540:"

I do the same as you; with the mid focus portion. I have not experienced the moderately good shooting with the distance focus as you have, how ever.
One thing I make habit by practice is to lower my pistol to "low ready," that is pointing at the ground a few yards to my front, and with the arms extended, following each shot I take. I then search through my medium distance focus for the front sight blade as I'm raising the pistol to eye level. And then, there it is. In focus. This proceedure creates a reflex that precludes picking up that front sight in the far distance portion of the lens.
Using this procedure, I will have to raise those arms and use my eyes all slow but surely quick.

Sighting a rifle is more difficult as when placing my cheek on the stock, I must cant or rotate my head into a strained position to use that middle grind in the glasses.