The joys of glasses

[Ruger745]

Hi everyone, how are you all today?
I was at the range this weekend sighting in my Winchester 70, and this was the first time that I have shot with my prescription glasses. It's strange, I used to be able to shoot out to 200-250 yards at 4-5 power on my scope, however with my glasses I had it up to 10X and the bulls eye was still small for me. I was wondering if this is normal, if anyone has had this problem, or if anyone has advice?

Thanks, have a fantastic evening
*cheers*

 

[metalart]

I can definitely see a little better with my contacts than with my glasses....

 

[prid93]

Shooting a rifle with optics while I have glasses on always causes me problems. Contacts are slightly better, but if I can I prefer to shoot a rifle that has an optical sight without either glasses or contacts (that does not include safety glasses.)

Unfortunately most of the time that is impractical as it is helpful to be able to see everything else around as well .

 

[A-FIXER]

They messed up or you need bi-focals, like the rest of us OLD PEOPLE. lol

 

[PCCUSNRET]

I have tri-focals and still have to peek over my glasses to see with some scopes. Some of my older scopes are no longer useable for hunting as I can't get them to focus at all past 30 yds. I have started replacing most of my older scopes with ones that allow for focusing for distance and clarity (hope that makes sense). The best scopes I've found for my personal use are the Nikon Monarch scopes. Most of my shooting is from the bench at 100-300 yds and most of my deer are taken at under 100 yds.

 

[Hardtarget]

I'm 61 and have been wearing glasses from age 40. I don't have a scope on any of my rifles...yet.

I shot this weekend also. Both guns have the old syandby "iron sights". Maybe the worst type of sights for my vision. The best I could do with my K-31 @ 100 yds was a five shot group of 4".

Your post really interested me because I've been thinking that scopes would be the life saver for me. I never thought about the problem the combination of glasses and scope would have. Maybe I need to shoot a friends rifle,(with scope), before I decide.

Vision problems really stink.

Mark

 

[tyeo098]

Couldnt you 'adjust' the scope to match the prescription in your shooting eye?

Kinda like offsetting?

 

[mongo356]

I have had glasses for as long as I can remember. I use contacts and glasses when giving my eyes a break from the contacts.

Lately the glasses help me with long rifles & iron sights. I have no definite answers but it seems the glasses help me to keep the same cheek weld, where contacts allow for a less than perfect mount and makes it a little less consistent. Especially with peep sights.

Keep pressing on, I bet the more trigger time you put in the better it will be.

 

[briansmithwins]

I usually wear contact lenses that my eye doc optimized for distance vision. Since disposable lenses are relatively cheap, I can have a different prescription that works well for shooting.

BSW

 

[prid93]

I shot this weekend also. Both guns have the old syandby "iron sights". Maybe the worst type of sights for my vision. The best I could do with my K-31 @ 100 yds was a five shot group of 4".

Mark,

I'm only 19 and I have the same problem with the K-31 standard irons...with any v-notch irons for that matter. I just can never consistently line the tops of the sights up (Very hard for me to focus correctly) and always have a large vertical spread. I try and put peep sights on all my rifles...peeps in addition to shielding the non shooting eye works wonders for me.

Dan

 

[wingman]

I use trifocals glasses with various scopes, I can shoot with or without glasses I do need to adjust the ocular lens for with or without.

Honestly I have used scopes nearly forty years and simply no longer enjoy shooting with open sights which I trained on, while open sights may be fine for plinking nothing beats a scope for precision shooting.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I wear glasses from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. I sight in my optics wearing my glasses. I've had to adjust the ocular lenses on a few borrowed rifles, but that's about all.

 

[HOOfan_1]

Couldnt you 'adjust' the scope to match the prescription in your shooting eye?

Kinda like offsetting?

I know binoculars are supposed to have a special feature for that, I suppose scopes might too.

I've been wearing glasses all day, every day since I was 8 years old, so I wouldn't know if I have the problem or not

 

[sansone]

well your glasses supposedly corrected your vision to 20/20 so, you should be able to set the scope focus to the 20/20 setting and see perfectly with your glasses on.
some scopes will have a little graphic on the focus bell.
if not, somebody screwed up (if they are new)

 

[JMSUN]

I have not had any problems with scopes, but binoculars give me fits.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I have not had any problems with scopes, but binoculars give me fits.

I usually use them as monoculars instead, close 1 eye and just look through 1 lense. Especially on the tiny little pocket models

 

[bearman49709]

I've worn glasses for 40 years now and have never had any problem with scopes. You may have adjusted your scope to work with your poorer eyesight and need to adjust it for your new glasses, or you may have your head back to far trying to protect your glasses from the scope when the gun recoil's?

 

[b7tac]

My corrected vision with contacts has always been significantly better than with my glasses. When I go shooting, the contacts go in.

Another option would be to buy fewer guns, and get laser eye surgery. Maybe I should heed my own advice

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

No glasses. And hope it stays that way.

 

[jnoble87]

I have glasses and I have contacts....When I shoot, the glasses come on. They keep me from getting anything in my eyes. Should something happen and the scope comes back and tags me in the face, I'd rather have something in between my eye and the hardened aluminum lip on the scope. I'm blind otherwise, lol.

 

[Ro1911]

I only own 4 scopes counting two reddots and a rimfire scope, so I'm not an expert, but it sounds like an eye relief problem. If you use a scope with very little eye relief then your glasses may be keeping you from getting close enough I've never had this problem but my grandfather did, he just bought better scopes with better eye relief.

 

[oldpapps]

It's no fun getting old/er but it is better than the other option.
I've been on the other side of glass or plastic for better than 55 years now.
We all are different. If I can reach 'it', I can see 'it'. Can't reach it, can't see 'it'.
When I shoot slow for the best accuracy, I take my glasses off and use the scope to see. Can't see the target without looking threw the scope. For rapid/quick firing (see the deer) I must have my glasses. I have contacts and they are great for distances but I have to have glasses to see up close. I have astigmatism and bi-focal contacts just don't work for me.
My son was the reverse. He couldn't see anything within 10 feet with out his glasses. He had LASER surgery and now sees at 20:5 with both eyes.
What it breaks down to is we have to deal with what we are given and do the best we can.
So, yes it is normal to see differently with glasses, hopefully better. Next time you see your optometrist tell him/her of your needs and things can be adjusted, a little, to help.

OSOK