Eyes getting old (70)

[taxifolia]

Have a newer stock Ruger 10-22 and want to get good at 50 feet offhand. Problem is with my reading glasses - can see rear sight well, the front bead is fuzzy, and I can't see the target. Thought about how to fix problem. One option is changing sights - found these:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=898854#productTabReviews

Any advice and or experience for my problem ?

Thanks

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Options?

I have a similar problem at 50; I prefer sights with distinguishing colors.

I just bought a 1,250 FPS pellet gun that has very similar sights but the front is green and the rear is red.

I'll poke around and see if I can find a pic

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=715234

 

[Carne Frio]

Have you tried a low power ( 1-4 ) scope ? Or a red dot ?

 

[Lonerider357]

I also have that problem! I shoot Cowboy Action and just shoot without my scrip glasses, sights and target are all equally fuzzy but I can see good enuff to hit them.

 

[taxifolia]

I have a similar problem at 50; I prefer sights with distinguishing colors.

I just bought a 1,250 FPS pellet gun that has very similar sights but the front is green and the rear is red.

I'll poke around and see if I can find a pic

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=715234

Thanks 1775. Understand re dual colors. Have found I see green well - have Hi Viz green front pipe on Ruger Mark III and another. Painted rear replacement square notch blade on Mark III pink / red (finger nail polish works well) - hard to see, so repainted a white "post" on.

After lousy wet spring and a couple sunny summer weeks, back to our rain last couple days.

 

[taxifolia]

Have you tried a low power ( 1-4 ) scope ? Or a red dot ?

Thanks CF. Have not tried either. Want to stay low tech - "iron sights" - old fashioned I guess. Have shot red dot on friends AR variants - fun at 100 yards. It was easy to see the dot - at 100 yards, that target looked pretty small.

 

[2low]

I work with a very experienced and intelligent police officer at a local military surplus store. He has been with the force for 43 years and he has the same problem. He has told me that if it wasn't for red dot sights then he wouldn't be able to qualify with a rifle. He swears by their effectiveness and he used to be against anything except for irons and/or a scope. His precinct uses EOTechs but he purchased a cheaper electronic optic for his .22. EOTech makes a rimfire sight that retails for about $350 or so, but you can still get a quality optic for around $100-$150. Red dots are parallax free and offer great target acquisition and allow you to shoot with both eyes open. More importantly they allow you to focus on your target rather than the front sight post.

If you have your heart set on irons, the previous posters hit the nail with the multi colored fiber optic sights. I still think that irons are a must but a good red dot or holo sight can offer a great improvement over irons when eyesight is an issue.

I wish you all the best with whatever road you choose and i hope it works out for you. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

It's a LOT harder to come up with glasses that will let you use rifle iron sights than it is a set for pistol sights; the differential in distances between the front sight and target is a lot more. I'm only a little younger than you and can't use irons on the AR or M1 anymore. The compromises are just too much. My solutions are a good optic.

I recently picked up a S&W 15-22 and put a Bushnell TR-25 1X 3 MOA red dot (Optics Planet, about $89) on it. I use it out to 50 yards and find it excellent.

 

[taxifolia]

I also have that problem! I shoot Cowboy Action and just shoot without my scrip glasses, sights and target are all equally fuzzy but I can see good enuff to hit them.

Guess its a compromise - clear sights, fuzzy target - or clear target, fuzzy sights - or fuzzy everything

CAS - let me guess - Ruger Vaquero ??? Gotta love the .45 LC.

 

[Art Eatman]

My solution to the iron sights problem was to have an insert-lens glued to the upper/inner corner of the lens of my master eye. Elliptical, about 1/2" by 3/4" inch. It gave me the same picture as the middle portion of my trifocals, which were just right for arms-length vision. I thus had clear sights with slight fuzzing of the target. Worked fine for IPSC-style shooting and for iron-sight rimfires.

Don't need the help since my "Cadillac" surgery, though. Whole new world.

 

[Jim Watson]

You need less add than your reading glasses to see the front sight clearly and the target passably. Something more like the intermediate section of trifocals or computer glasses. A peep rear will take care of that end.

Art has a good solution.
Hansen Eagle Eye glasses are made that way.
http://www.hansenseagleeye.com/

 

[ball3006]

I was extremely near sighted until a couple years ago when I had my cataracts removed and 20-20 lenses installed. Before I could not see the front sight clearly nor the target. Now I can see the front sight and the target but not the rear sight. I can't see a pistol rear sight clearly either. I have only been shooting guns with an apature sight, red dot, or scope. But, it is nice to not have to wear glasses like I have been for the last 60 years.....chris3

 

[Harley Quinn]

I went for complex glasses that are tri focals...

Pretty specific for shooting, are good for reading and working in the shop/vehicle, close up stuff, also...

Top of glass is set for front sight, bottom part of glass is for near, rear sight and middle is for distance...Need to move head a little to align, then fire

I don't wear them much other than above mention...

It is a problem we all face as we age...
Good luck...

 

[j2crows]

Man, I had the same problem with fuzzy iron sights all my shooting life. After Lasik eye surgery it got much better but, that was almost ten years ago and things are starting to get pretty fuzzy again. I shoot right handed and shooting left handed I can see the sights pretty good but, can't get used to shooting left-handed. Many, many years ago one of my brothers and I were playing, "cowboys and indians". He shot me in the far right corner of my right eye with a B-B gun!! I think that's my main problem other than age.

 

[taxifolia]

I work with a very experienced and intelligent police officer at a local military surplus store. He has been with the force for 43 years and he has the same problem. He has told me that if it wasn't for red dot sights then he wouldn't be able to qualify with a rifle. He swears by their effectiveness and he used to be against anything except for irons and/or a scope. His precinct uses EOTechs but he purchased a cheaper electronic optic for his .22. EOTech makes a rimfire sight that retails for about $350 or so, but you can still get a quality optic for around $100-$150. Red dots are parallax free and offer great target acquisition and allow you to shoot with both eyes open. More importantly they allow you to focus on your target rather than the front sight post.

If you have your heart set on irons, the previous posters hit the nail with the multi colored fiber optic sights. I still think that irons are a must but a good red dot or holo sight can offer a great improvement over irons when eyesight is an issue.

I wish you all the best with whatever road you choose and i hope it works out for you. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.

First - Thanks to all for your advice. Sounds like we are all getting old.

I ordered the Hi Viz from Midway this AM:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ductTabReviews

They have dual green fiber optic rear and front comes with both red and green pipes - 3 sizes each I understand. I'll start with the biggest front pipe, use lower power reading glasses, and hope it makes good compromise - maybe a little fuzzy but visible sights and fairly clear targets at 50 feet.

Had to laugh at myself yesterday at the range - was shooting at Birchwood Casey Dirty Bird multi-colored target with green bull, using reading glasses to see sights - funny - there were 3 green bulls - was not sure which one to aim at :banghead:

Thanks again.

 

[rodregier]

I've read that older bulleye pistol shooters often switch to optical sights because they simply can't see any variant of iron sights properly even with corrections.

I've been using optics for most of of my long guns to maximize their accuracy for a long time. Dot sights are a great option too, and they are getting small enough that they're practical to use under most conditions as well.

I'm chasing more and more complex corrective optics myself :-(

 

[taxifolia]

I've read that older bulleye pistol shooters often switch to optical sights because they simply can't see any variant of iron sights properly even with corrections.

I've been using optics for most of of my long guns to maximize their accuracy for a long time. Dot sights are a great option too, and they are getting small enough that they're practical to use under most conditions as well.

I'm chasing more and more complex corrective optics myself :-(

Thanks. Just did a little test - used my older, lower power reading glasses and the Dirty Bird target on my garage door at about 40 feet. Learned as I suspected - higher power glasses give clear gun sights and fuzzier targets - the older, lower power not as clear gun sights, but pretty clear target - all in all, the lower power reading glasses seem to be acceptable compromise, at least for now.

Lived in Ottawa a year and a half back in late '60s - beautiful city - awesome Parliament building.

 

[bigedp51]

You can buy a cheep pair of clip-on sunglasses and drill a small hole in the lens and it will sharpen your vision for shooting. This system is like the aperture on a camera and increases your depth of field and brings near and far into focus.



Or buy the Lyman or Merit adjustable diopter.





Or spend big bucks and buy Gehmann.