Author Topic: Old Eyes and Iron Sights (Read 1819 times)

Bounty Hunter · « **on:** December 29, 2006, 08:31:46 AM »

Hopefully someone can help me with this "age old" problem. Yesterday I went to the range and shot my Super Blackhawk Hunter 44 mag. After months (years) of denial, I now admit that these 56 year old eyes ain't what they used to be. The factory front sight on my SBHH is a ramp with an orange inset. I could barely find the front sight as I sighted through the rear sight. The front sight would just blend or fade into the target. I DO NOT want to put any kind of scope on this gun yet. If there are other "mature" shooters who have experienced this, what have you done to correct the problem. I have looked on the internet for a fiber optic front sights but have been unable to find one to fit the Ruger SBHH. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated because I hope to get several more years without scoping this gun.

44 Man · « **Reply #1 on:** December 29, 2006, 09:03:05 AM »

Bounty Hunter, I have found as I got older (60 now) that I have had to move to all shorter barreled guns. 4" barrels are perfect, but I can manage a 5" or 5 1/2" but nothing longer without a scope. I just can't pull the front and rear sight into focus at the same time with a longer barrel. I did try a pair of glasses with the focus set at 24". That is where the front sight is when holding a hand gun for me. It worked fine for the sights, but trying to see the target at the same time was difficult. Even tried a pair with the right eye at 24" and the left at distance. That would probably work once you got used to it, but it sure made me walk funny! You might call Ken Kelly at Mag-na-port and ask him about sight options. He can do the C-more sight blades on that gun. Those have worked well for me. This 5" barreled Ruger has a C-more on it. 44 Man

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** December 29, 2006, 11:28:24 AM »

like 44 man i can shoot a short barreled gun better then a long. What works the best for me in a single action is a good rear (like a bowen) and a think black flat blade that allows light to be seen on both sides when centered in the back sight.

2 dogs · « **Reply #3 on:** December 29, 2006, 11:57:01 AM »

I put a Bowen target rear and a Clements Custom Guns undercut front on SBH Hunter. Black on Black sights are the easiest for me to see.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** December 29, 2006, 12:26:59 PM »

I have just the opposite problem, my distant vision is excellent but I'm blind as a bat up close. Those short barrel guns are useless to me. I find that a revolver with a 7.5" to 8-3/8" barrel is about as short as I can shoot with decent accuracy. But those 9.5" to 10.5" barrel revolvers really get the front sight out to where I can begin to see it clearly and groups shrink to 1/3 or less of what a 5" or less length barrel gives.

So first you need to know is your problem not able to see up close or far away.

Luckyducker · « **Reply #5 on:** December 29, 2006, 02:04:37 PM »

I am in the corner with 44man on this issue. I have a Blackhawk 41Mag w/6.5" barrel and it wore a reddot scope on it for a while but my two sons wanted the iron sights back on it and I sold the mount and scope. Truthfully the B-square mount wouldn't keep it solid enough and every time I took it out to do any shooting or hunting I'd have to tweak the adjustments to put it "on". I shot a friends SBH with a short barrel (don't know exactly what length it is because he had it cut and crowned) and I was amazed at how well I could shoot with it, but when I try to hit with my BH I just can't get good sight acquisition. I am going to see if there is a beefier scope mount out there when I get a little money, just bought myself a 22/250 Handi and Burris BlackDiamond varmint scope for Christmas HEE HEE. Then will get either a 2X or 2X- ?X scope for the SA. I wish I would've bought the hunter model first but I got an attack of the cheaps!

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #6 on:** December 30, 2006, 01:08:48 AM »

An undercut patridge front sight will be the best answer for sharpening and blackening a sight picture for most people. You'll have to use a custom, as none are available from the factory. The Bowen rear sight will also help, as the top and notch are crisp, as opposed to the factory blades that are not sharp edged and therefore reflect sunlight, etc. A problem with red ramps and fiber-optics is that they shoot to different points in different light conditions. The " bad" news for you is that the 2X scopes and red-dots will be the very best option, in the end, for most people on revolvers.

44 Man · « **Reply #7 on:** December 30, 2006, 04:27:04 AM »

AND I definately agree that lots of light on the sides of the front sight helps a lot. Thats easily done with a small file if you need to open up the rear sight a little. But alas, most of us will give in to a scope mount at some time if we really wish to shoot like we did when we were younger. That just means that you need more guns! Some with scopes and some without. What a wonderful problem to have! 44 Man

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #8 on:** December 30, 2006, 06:05:27 AM »

I'm considering one of those adjustable diaphrams that stick to one's glasses. I see several people at the local gun range using them and the principle appears sound to me.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #9 on:** December 30, 2006, 06:23:39 AM »

Dusty, attempt to borrow and try one of those Merit Discs, before you buy one ( ~$65) . The principle is sound, but may not help enough or at all. I bought one a couple of years ago, and it actually didn't help me. It wasn't until this year that my Opthalmologist advised me that the center of the retina in my right eye is gradually deteriorating. A Merit disc will now make my sight picture almost disappear. In some applications, I'm shooting left eyed.

Castaway · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2006, 12:43:52 PM »

If a disc works for you, you have another option. Any disc will work. Take a card and punch a hole in it, hold it up to the pistol annd see if you can see the front sight any better. While you're at it, see if you still can see distance. One Ragged Hole sights may be the thing. The sight is an aperature that mounts on the existing rear sight base.

Ahab · « **Reply #11 on:** December 31, 2006, 05:38:34 AM »

I'm 66 and like 44Man, find the shorter barrels work fine for me. I wear progressive lenses and can find the right head tilt where everything comes together. Your eye doctor should be able to help with the right prescription if you tell him what the problem is.

Bounty Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2006, 06:27:09 AM »

Many many thanks to everyone of you for your suggestions!! Sounds like I have many options to try. I think the first option I would like to try is to change the front sight to a solid black ramp. Next I might try a fiber optic front sight if I can find one. Does anyone know who might sell either one? I have tried several online stores and have found several front sights for the Redhawk and Super Redhawk but none for the Super Blackhawk Hunter.

If none of the above works I might just have to red dot this revlover and buy another single action with a shorter barrell because that seems to work for many of you. Wouldn't that just be terrible?

Anyways, thanks so much for your response. You have been very helpful. Hope I can return the favor sometime.

Bounty Hunter

millwright · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2006, 06:56:47 AM »

Bounty Hunter I mounted the One Ragged Hole peep on my 7 1/2 sbh 44. It certainly helped these 61 year old eyes. I painted the front sight with bright blue finger nail polish and can see it very well. I am still thinking about a scope but haven't made up my mind on what kind of mounts and scope. I can still hold inside 5" at 100. Not great but I can hunt up to 50 or 60 with no worries.

sgtt · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2006, 05:46:58 PM »

Try Brownell's for the fiber optic. If they don't have it chances are it isn't made yet. I went fiber optic on my Single Six, BFR, and Browning Buckmark. They do help. I scope most of my serious hunting guns though. I also have a pair of shooting glasses with an adjustment on the top of the strong eye. Takes a little getting used to but, it also works. I believe they are Dycott.

Possum · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2007, 03:47:22 PM »

One Ragged Hole sight is a good deal to try for 24.99. I like mine a lot and found I shoot just as good of groups easier with it. For the money, it would be worth a try.

COLT45 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2007, 09:05:36 PM »

I am 70 and wear tri-focals--the mid-range works for the computer and pistol shooting. BUT -the center lens mean I have told my head up --So I had a pair of glasses made ( cheap frame) with the center RX. Now the whole lens can be used. With good vision one can focus on the front sight and the target is a little blured. With my computer/shooting glasses the front sight is sharp and the target is a little more blured , but doable. I shoot Cowboy -rifle,pistol (fixed sights) and shotgun just fine.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2007, 10:52:40 PM »

I use orange fluorescent paint - which get my eyes focused on the sight faster.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #18 on:** January 08, 2007, 02:52:07 AM »

Being almost 60 myself I know what you are going through. I wear bi-focals. I've shot handguns for 40yrs. in hunting, target shooting, indoor leagues, PPC, silhouettes & alot of plinking. All my target pistols & revolvers are Black on Black sights (with smoker). My hunting pistols & revolvers usually have a colored front insert ( color to your preference). Then scopes on T/C for longer shooting. If you wear glasses and target shoot you might want to try the Lyman eyeglass Diopter ($18),used one when I shot indoor pistol league. IT REALLY WORKS! Don't give up on pistol shooting, there's alot of different ways to work around these problems. GOOD LUCK!!!

TGFOGAL · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2007, 02:51:35 AM »

I have tri-focals and can see the sight better with the center lens but the target is bad, so I use the Holo sight on the 454.
It is great, I have shot two deer on the run, one shot each. The Holo is small and doesn't make the gun too big.
The J-point is smaller and I would like to put one on the 44mag.

John R. · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2007, 05:49:42 AM »

I put a Bowen Rough Country rear sight and a S&W DX front sight base on my Bisley. I can interchange front sight types or height as I wish. My favorite front sight is a SDM fiber optic in green color. It's really easy to pick up in all light conditions.

ggeilman · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2007, 01:12:51 PM »

44Man have you tried progressive lenses? They have a spot in the middie of the lense for medium, ie 1'-3' distances, along with the bottom area set for bifocal. I just got my new ones and it really helped my aim although I am 10 years younger. It takes about a month to get used to, but what a difference they make and are much better than a standard bifocal.

bearbeater · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:34:58 AM »

Hey
I have the same problem. I got cheep pair of safty glasses and held a position of fire. Then put a greese pencile mark on th glasses. covered the greese mark with tape then drilled a number 41 drill hole throughthe mark 3/32 inch. then through the glasses things came in focus. helps in long guns also.
Bearbeater