Author Topic: Prescription glasses work for open sights? (Read 2580 times)

ba_50 · « **on:** June 06, 2003, 11:45:08 AM »

Hi,

I would love to go back to lever actions but even the front sight is slightly blurred now.

Will special prescription shooting glasses solve the problem? Thanks. Bob

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2003, 12:42:34 PM »

I'm into bi-focals and cheap. So I just use my reading/computer glasses for shooting the lever actions as well as pistols. Targets are blurry but the sights are in focus. Be sure the glasses are made of safety glass or plastic.

Quiet Burp · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2003, 04:37:08 PM »

I've got a pair of what I call "work shop" glasses that focus at about arm's length (that also means about foresight length). Like C.R. says, it gives a sharp foresight, but it don't blur the target as much as the more close focused reading glasses do (for me, any way). I'd given up on open sights too, until I discovered this trick. By the way, have you tried a small apperture? That's a big help too.

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2003, 08:42:28 AM »

Quote from: Quiet Burp

I've got a pair of what I call "work shop" glasses that focus at about arm's length (that also means about foresight length). Like C.R. says, it gives a sharp foresight, but it don't blur the target as much as the more close focused reading glasses do (for me, any way). I'd given up on open sights too, until I discovered this trick. By the way, have you tried a small apperture? That's a big help too.

As quietburp eluded to........
Try placing a piece of black electrical tape over your shooting eyeglass where you would normally look through when sighting w/open sights. In my case, I'm left-eyed and left-handed so I place it over the upper right corner of my left eye glass. Hope you're following this OK............
Now. place a small hole in the center of the black patch and you have in reality a pin-hole camera lens that will put the sights and target in focus again! Try it....It works!

Jim

Sixgun · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2003, 09:54:05 AM »

I had not shot with open sights for several years because I just couldn't figure out how to make everything focus right. A couple of years ago the club that I shoot silhouettes with started shooting NRA cowboy rifle silhouettes. It was too fun to not be involved. I went to my eye Dr and explained what the problem was. He really went the second mile on my eye exam and I ended up with some really good lenses in my glasses. I went to a Williams Reciever sight on my Marlin 39a. I can now focus on the front sight and still see the target ok.

One thing to always remember, that YOU ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE FRONT SIGHT ONLY!!!! When I remember that and can do it for the whole match, I turn in an incredible score. When I forget, my score goes down.

What I see when I am shooting at a silhouette is my front sight in perfect focus, the silhouette is there but my concentration is on the front sight. I don't even pay attention to the apature. It is supposed to center everything automatically and it does every time when I don't pay any attention to it. All it is, is the little hole I look through to see the front sight that I am concentrating on getting into focus.

It works too. I have shot my NRA Grand Slam and have shot a perfect 40/40 score in a practice match. I have done this with 54 year old eyes that have been looking at computer screens for the last 20 years. I have had bi-focals most of that time. Give it a try

Sixgun

Krag2 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2003, 11:36:50 AM »

:grin: I've had a case of "Old Eyes" for several years now. I wear contact lens normally which gives me good far vision. I have a pair of drugstore specials for reading. I also have a regular pair of glasses in case something happens to my contacts. My Dr. being a hunter himself suggested getting a varilux style lens in my glasses for when I shoot my pistols and muzzle loader with open sights. They work perfect! With a slight adjustment of my head I can pick out the correct portion of the lens to view the iron sights on any gun of any barrel length. It just seems to happen automatically, I don't really make a concious effort to do it.

IronKnees · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2003, 02:56:00 AM »

Years ago, a friend and colleague of mine who was a competition shooter, improved my handgun shooting literally over night! He had me to concentrate my focus on the "front" sight, and the "target" only... The rear sight, although obviously also in the equation was only a blur, and with just a bit of practice, I improved my accuracy with off-hand shooting by about 100%...

Now, as far as lever action rifles (or any other kind for that matter) I still claim not to be able to shoot that well at a distance, still can not see the open sights well enough to hunt with them, and have gone against the "traditional" view and have mounted scopes on my hunting lever guns. I.E., my 1895SS Marlin .45-70, and my Marlin 336 .30-30... I realize that many folks feel that scopes and slings on these guns are inappropriate, but since I simply can not hit with them at any distance without a scope, and since I can drive nails with when WITH a scope, I've bit the bullet so to speak, and use scopes on them...

But try that focus thing on just the bull and the front sight, with only secondary awareness on the rear sight, practice with it a bit, and I'll bet you find, as did I, that it does work... Just IMHO... Dave

ba_50 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2003, 10:30:41 AM »

Thanks everybody for your ideas. I need to do something if I want to shoot handguns etc. The last 3 sound promising. REA

savageT · « **Reply #8 on:** June 13, 2003, 11:18:32 AM »

Quote from: ba_50

Thanks everybody for your ideas. I need to do something if I want to shoot handguns etc. The last 3 sound promising. REA

Take it from someone who has experienced this problem for more tha a few years.........You won't get glasses to help! Either they work up-close, midway, or at infinity. One plane of fucus at a time. With a front sight and rear sight you must choose one in focus, the other blurry. That's why the black patch with the pin hole is the only answer......unless you want to go to an eye surgeon for laser surgery. Good Luck!

Jim

DennisB · « **Reply #9 on:** June 13, 2003, 06:35:47 PM »

Since I wear bifocals I use those plastic clip-on sunglasses. I manage to scratch 'em so there's always a "bad" set laying around. Then I hit on the idea of blotting out a dime-sized circle with a black felt tip pen over the area I sight through. In the center of this I drilled a small hole. IT WORKS!! Since I've accumulated several old sets, I now have a "custom" aperture in the range bag, another in the hunting kit, and a spare in the truck.

longwinters · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2003, 04:09:08 PM »

I got sick and tired of the bi-focal thing. Besides having astigmatisms I was far sighted. I had a thing called pure vision done. They replace the lenses in your eyes with artifical lenses. These are not mono vision lenses like they give people with cataracs (sp?) get. These have rings (alternating near then far then near etc...) and your brain learns to use them in a short period of time. What a new world. Without my glasses my vision was 80-100. Now I am 20-25. So I wear cheap dime store glasses if I need to read in low light. But otherwise my vision is excellent.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2003, 01:46:50 PM »

If you already wear glasses, try what I did. After your next eye exam, when you take the prescription to your lensmaker (that's who suggested this), ask to have the lens set up trifocal with large lens set for distance, small center set for the end of your outstretched arm and hand and lower lens for up close reading. The middle works great for handgun sights, carbine front sights and computer screens. Comes in handy for desk and loading bench too. Graduated lens' make me woozy, but the defined (lined) were easy to work with. Only costs a couple of dollars more. FWIW.

tominboise · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2003, 04:31:01 AM »

Longwinters, tell us more about the lens replacement thing. Did I understand you to say that they took out the lens inside your eyes and replaced them with an artificial one? What did it cost, and is it a standard thing, or something on the fringe?

Blind inquiring minds want to know...

ba_50 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2003, 10:29:52 AM »

Blackhawk 44,

My vision is great at a distance but not so good up close and medium range, so not sure if your method would work.

I tried putting some electricians tape on my lenses with a hole in it and it worked. It was awkward trying to find the hole and unless both eyes were open, I wouldn't be able to see a deer without looking through the hole.

The aperature makes sense. Probably use a scope too.

Ba-50

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2003, 02:28:24 AM »

My best combination is bifocals and peep sights.
Open sights $uck to begin with IMO.
The peep functions much like the pin hole glasses, and corrects your vision to a degree. Not quite as effective, but close enough for me, and no tape to mess with.

ba_50 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2003, 04:36:47 AM »

I can still see the front sight fairly well, so maybe a peep would work. The front sight on an M1 rifle is still good. Now if Henry Firearms would just drill and tap their .22's for a peep! Can't have everything I guess. Thanks.

Ed Harris · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2003, 09:07:21 AM »

Most people will get a good sight picture with reasonable target definition using a shooting glass with 0.5 diopter less than their reading prescription. If the reading glasses you need for the morning newspaper are 2.0, try going to Walmart and getting some cheap magnifying readers at 1.5 and try them with your pistol. For long barreled rifles like muzzleloaders you'll want 0.75 less +/-

Once you have confirmed what works, then you can have a proper pair of shooter's bifocals made, with your normal reading prescription in the bottom third for close work, adjusting the sights, writing in your journal, and the -0.5 or -0.75 in the upper two thirds for actually looking at the sights!

ba_50 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2003, 04:14:40 AM »

That's a feasible, cheap way to check it out with reading glasses. Thanks. Bob

BrushBuster · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2003, 06:15:15 AM »

For me the cure has been

1. Varifocal Lens'

2. Aperture (peep) sight

3. (most important of the three) Fibre-optic front bead (green)

with this combination you can shoot both eyes open, and focus only on your target, everything else looks after itself.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2003, 01:47:01 PM »

Brush Buster
Enlighten me on "varilcal lens"?
thanks Jim

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2003, 01:59:55 PM »

I am sorry on my last post it's to read Varifocal lens. I must need to tx to the older forum as I use trifocals. Do we have spell check here?
Jim

BrushBuster · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:33:30 PM »

Jim n Iowa:

Varilux is another term describing this type of lens. The lens has no visible transition lines between long range and close up vision, just a transitionaly ground lens that allows one to shift your vision up and down to find the focal point, or move the head up and down to accomplish the same thing.

It becomes instinctive, but takes a little getting used to if your used to bi or trifocals. To another person, it looks like you have just plain glass lenses.

cocojo · « **Reply #22 on:** December 07, 2003, 08:45:26 AM »

I had the same problem and I found that the williams peep sight works the best for me. Scopes are getting out of focus and blurred even after I tried to adjust them and the rear of the iron sights are out of focus. But for me the peep is the way to go and I use to be big into scopes. I did find that the Fast Focus Bushnell Trophys are great scopes for this problem with their quick focus adjustment. I put the williams peep sight on my Pre 64 Winchester 94 this year and shot a nice button buck.
Good Luck

ba_50 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 09, 2003, 04:07:58 AM »

Yeh, I figured on getting a reciever sight like the Williams because they don't have all the knobs in your field of view. It would still be nice to use a rear sight if possible. Would save $50 too. Thanks

Kurt · « **Reply #24 on:** December 18, 2003, 09:26:50 PM »

Has anyone seen those peeps with the little correction lense in them? My gunsmith has one in his NRA comp rifle, he said they are approved now. He is a national competitor. It might be a custom jobby. I think it's 1/8 or 3/32''. I looked through it and said "I think you got a ball of lint in yer peep" He laughed .Will see if I can get more info and get back to yas.

Blackhawk44 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2003, 10:24:35 AM »

ba_50, you might be suprised the next time the doc checks your eyes. I thought I could see just fine at distance until I put on the glass' he made. Either my trifocal or BrushBusters varilux will help tremendously. For me its just easier to handle the defined lens over variable. A receiver sight is good, tang sight great. Even at that, a blade front (especially white stripe AO or Redfield Sourdough) has it all over any bead. Now windage and elevation are both defined. You'll be suprised how much distance it will add.