Trouble Focusing

[bja5006]

hello all,

to the point:

open sights rifle (mosin nagant m91/30 to be specific)
i am having trouble focusing when aiming open-sighted.
obviously i need rear sights, front pin, and target to line up (well target on top, but you know what i mean)

if i focus on the target, the rear sight is really blurry
if i focus on the front pin, the rear sight is less blurry, but target clearness suffers.
if i focus on the rear sight, front pin blurry, target very difficult to pick up

what is your method for looking through open sights?

i'm talking about hunting too, where i will (hopefully) be shooting brown fuzzy things against a background of other brown fuzzy things.

i have 20/10 vision so it's not my eyes

thanks!

 

[Beagle-zebub]

What you're experiencing is normal. EDIT: Why the hell did I put that in there?

My understanding is that "the front sight is your friend," meaning that it is what you should focus on. Your brain will supposedly align the rear sight with the front one.

I'm primarily a shotgunner, though, so it's highly likely that I'm wrong.

I've had some success with focusing on the rear sight, and then the front sight, in quick succession.

 

[Ringtail]

Its my understanding as well that with both rifle and pistol you should focus on the front sight and let the target be an indistinct blur. Your eye can't keep both the front sight and the target in focus at the same time. With a shotgun, I believe you focus on the target.

 

[Wheeler44]

Focus on the front sight. The target WILL be blurry. Just shoot the same blurry spot.

 

[Strongbad]

Focus on the front sight.

Here's the kicker. If you're cross-eye dominant, this could be part of your problem. I'm right handed but left eye dominant. If I try to shoot with both eyes open I have to really concentrate to sight an open sighted rifle with my right eye. Closing my left eye introduces other complications. Depth perception, focus, etc. Needless to say, I have trouble with open sights. It's something I'm working on.

 

[bja5006]

yeah i'm cross-eye dominant. maybe that's why it's so hard for me.

i just hate scopes though

 

[Zeede]

Huh, I've always shot my rifles and pistols with one eye closed. Although, the eye I leave open is my dominant eye, so maybe that's why it never bothered me.

I shoot all my shotguns with both eyes open though.

Cameron

 

[foghornl]

Front sight....target....BANG!

The rear sight will pretty well align itself, although it will be fuzzy. The human eye does have a limited focal range, so what you are experiencing is normal.

 

[ambidextrous1]

You can increase your depth of focus by viewing sights and target through a small aperture; that's the way a "pinhole camera" works.

Merit Optical makes an adjustable aperture for shooters; it's attached to your shooting glasses with a suction cup.

I make my own by clamping a piece of black plastic electrical tape between two sheets of plexiglas and drilling a small hole in the tape; then the tape is stuck to the shooting glass lens in the appropriate place.

You'll want experiment to find the optimum hole diameter. I'd suggest 3/32 inch and 1/8 inch diameter for your first assessment; then go larger or smaller until you have what works for you.

 

[cracked butt]

FRONT SIGHT. FRONT SIGHT. FRONT SIGHT. Aim at the blur down range, just aim at it the same way every time.

If you are cross-dominant and don't want to shoot with the other side of your body, try this:

Put a piece of scotch tape over the lens of your shooting glasses (you are using shooting glases right!?) in front of your dominant eye. This will cause your brain to switch to your non-dominant eye, but will not cause the strain that closing one eye causes.

 

[rocinante]

To me when you are actually aiming you do the three point juggle but focus on the front sight as you are pulling the trigger and keep it still. I thought it was counter intuitive but I listened and wow I started hitting things. I don't see worth a flip up close any more either.

 

[30Cal]

Front sight
Front sight
Front sight

That's about all you need to know. Also, a smaller rear aperture will help make the target a little less fuzzy.

 

[Float Pilot]

front sight!

See the sight, win the fight!

 

[xm21]

Bja5006,surplusrifle.com has an article on the mojosights rear aperture sight that has 3 different size apertures that might be the ticket.An aperture sight works wonders for old eyeballs.You just concentrate on the front sight and the eye will center it in the rear sight all on its own.

 

[Swampy]

bja5006,

YOu are getting good advice Bud. Focus ONLY on the front sight and you will hit the target. It's normal for the target to be blurry. The human eye can only focus at one distance at a time and for marksmanship... that distance has to be at the front sight post.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever