Author Topic: Shooting accuracy and older eyes (Read 1945 times)

charles p · « **on:** April 23, 2009, 12:26:47 PM »

When I was 20-45 years of age, I thought nothing of taking 400+ yard shots at deer. I had a Rem 700 in 30-06 with a 3-9 gold ring Leopold and a Browning BBR in 25-06 with a VXII Leopold. Now I'm 62 and I have a dozen or more deer rifles with better scopes, better ammo, and cleaner rifle barrels and I can't shoot nearly as well as I could in my younger years. Finally I can afford what I want, but my range results aren't improving. I wouldn't dream of taking a 400-500 yard shot now. For one reason, I don't want to drag a deer that far.

Is anyone else in my boat? Bad to grow old, ain't it!

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2009, 12:29:07 PM »

Wanna heck I CAN'T drag one that far.

My distance vision is about as good today as it was 30 or more years ago. Currently 20-30 both eyes. At one time it was 20-80 left eye and 20-250 right eye.

What hurts my shooting now more than vision is my unsteady hands.

Catfish · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2009, 01:35:26 PM »

Back in the 1970`s I shot a bambi just at the close of shooting tim the next to last day of season. It droped just 1 mile from the truck. It was around 40 lbs. field dressed and I thought it was over a ton before I got it to the truck. Since then it doesn`t matter to me how far the deer is from me, it how far do I have to drag it. Most of what I shoot any more is loaded where it falls.

torpedoman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2009, 01:43:04 PM »

The best thing i can say about getting old is that it does have a slight edge on the other choice.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2009, 02:12:31 PM »

While I will be 62 in june, my shooting doesn't seem to have fallen off as age advances. Except for shooting open sights and my pistols. My long range vision is still fine, but the irons sometimes seem fuzzy. Good light is a real help.

As far as dragging game, I often can manuver my little pickup pretty close.

If it is in really difficult spot, I come to town and visit with some of my exstudents and tell them I just killed a deer/elk and NOBODY could even get to it with a ATV

A couple of them usually take the bait, say tell me not a problem we'll get it out.

Teaching did have some benefits.

Double D · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2009, 02:27:34 PM »

Quote from: charles p on April 23, 2009, 12:26:47 PM

When I was 20-45 years of age, I thought nothing of taking 400+ yard shots at deer. I had a Rem 700 in 30-06 with a 3-9 gold ring Leopold and a Browning BBR in 25-06 with a VXII Leopold. Now I'm 62 and I have a dozen or more deer rifles with better scopes, better ammo, and cleaner rifle barrels and I can't shoot nearly as well as I could in my younger years. Finally I can afford what I want, but my range results aren't improving. I wouldn't dream of taking a 400-500 yard shot now. For one reason, I don't want to drag a deer that far.

Is anyone else in my boat? Bad to grow old, ain't it!

Some years ago I went up to the range to work on some loads. While I was shooting a car drove up. Bouncing out of the car were couple of teen age boys followed very slowly by a white haired old man wobbling along on a cane. The boys started unloading from the car gunboxes sand bags and spotting scopes and ammunition. As the old guy walked by he looked at me, winked and said, "as long as you have grandsons you still can go hunting and shooting, even when you are in your 80's."

1marty · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2009, 02:41:52 PM »

I'm 65 years old and wasn't able to see the target with iron sights at 100 yards. My wife made me go to a new optomitrist and now the bulls eye looks as clear as ever. As far as dragging deer I now go up hill to hunt so I wind up dragging the deer downhill. I need a pill for this and a pill for that but if you act old you'll be old.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2009, 05:53:28 PM »

In my case walking even 50 yards at a very slight incline has me huffing and puffing so bad I have to sit and rest ten minutes to get my breath back. My days of dragging deer are behind me.

Val · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:30:51 AM »

Getting old is not for wimps.

jro45 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:48:35 AM »

I just turned 60 and my shooting is as good as ever. I have a frend who is 66 and shoots better then he used to. So his age improved shooting.

Syncerus · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2009, 04:07:11 AM »

Take a kid shooting. You can make him do the work and you can pass on your skills to another generation of shooter.

the jigger · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:25:09 AM »

One's eyes can be helped greatly with quality optics. Unfortunately there is not a lot of help for shaky hands. I shot competitively for ten years; off-hand, open sights. Now I wouldn't take an off-hand shot at any distance.
As far as retrieving game, if I can't drive to it I won't shoot it.

the jigger · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2009, 07:27:49 AM »

Sorry!
I forgot to mention, I'm 70 years old.
Pay close attention to my signature!!

1marty · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2009, 02:14:03 PM »

I hate excercising at 65 but even when I was young I forced myself every day to do it. I need to rest more often going up hill when I go hunting but I'd rather die while hunting then in some old age home. I guess what keeps me going is looking and preparing for next year's hunting and after hunting season, fishing season.

Catfish · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2009, 03:12:29 PM »

I have one of those mules that drinks gas instead of eating hay. It takes me where I want to go and all I have to do is turn the key. AND I never run out of breath !

I bought one for my father-inlaw to get around my pond to fish, but he up and died on me so in my old age I`m finding other uses for it. We had it out yesterday useing it as a portable shooting bench. We worked our way back to 700 yrds. while working with our reach out and touch them guns, and neather of us got tired.

George Foster · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2009, 12:46:11 AM »

I am 64 and I feel I shoot better now than I did when I was younger. I haven't used open sights since I was in High School though. My distance vision remains 20-15 although I have to wear reading glasses. I do exercise every day lifting weights and walking and I feel great.

Ahab · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2009, 08:49:14 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on April 23, 2009, 12:29:07 PM

Wanna heck I CAN'T drag one that far.

My distance vision is about as good today as it was 30 or more years ago. Currently 20-30 both eyes. At one time it was 20-80 left eye and 20-250 right eye.

What hurts my shooting now more than vision is my unsteady hands.

Amen, wish my hands were as good as my eyes.

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2009, 12:23:01 PM »

At 67 most rifles have scopes or peep sights,handguns are a little harder now,but some thing are better hard now.

jeclif · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2009, 09:30:46 AM »

looks like I am in the right place at 65 my eyes are oook not good but my hands
are shakey and like the guy above if I can't drive there I aint shooting

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:00:52 PM »

once had an older guy tell me you can't stop the movement (shake )so learn to control it . His idea was make a slight circle and as your sight are alinged time the trigger pull to break then . I have been trying it with mixed results . if you use the same gun alot it seems to work somewhat.

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2009, 05:53:41 PM »

one of the best shots i know does it just that way. heck i try to do it that way.. just let off when the crosshair covers the target in its little trip around..its frustrating sometime ,,but sometimes im on an can hit what i want to.. no need to tellum what getting old is gonna be like.. young fellas don t have a clue.. i once was one,, i was of the same mind.. surely it won t happen to me.. what was i thinking

slim

Camp Cook · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:36:25 PM »

If you shoot one with wide enough antlers it's not that hard to drag them.

I dragged this one appr 550 yards.

Ok so it took me about an hour to drag it with all of the breaks I took...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om4NX1Iktt8

Oldshooter · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:44:51 PM »

I have to get some new glasses. I can see the target or I can see the sights. Now with a scope and my glasses I do ok, but when at the bench for a bunch of shots everything gets blurry so i have to let the "barrel cool" a little longer. Usually my first shot of the day is my best. With open sights I'm a bear hunter, With a scope I can hunt squirrel.

charles p · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2009, 03:57:46 AM »

How about cataracts. Who has had them removed and did your vision change? I have cataracts but they are not ready to remove.

Hank08 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2009, 07:50:31 AM »

Charles P, I'm 78 and my cataracs had been getting worse for several yrs. In Jan. I noticed my sights were getting harder to see and Dr. said it was time to remove the cataracs. This was done in March. right eye 1st then 2 weeks later the left one. After healing for several weeks I was able to read his 20/20 chart without glasses. I've worn glasses since 1952.
I still have to have a bifocal for upclose and he put a little prescription in the upper glass too.
I can see now as good as I ever have. I've shot competition all my life. I have no problem with shakiness yet. Had my 1st test under fire this past weekend at a Mt. man rondevoux,
traditional muzzleloader, iron sights, offhand, targets as small as 1/2" rebar at 60 to 70 yds.
Never missed any, took 1st place in rifle and 1st place in pistol. My sights were sharp. As soon as that catarac starts to fuzz up your shooting eye vision, get them removed. It's a simple procedure, takes about 15 min. per eye, cost about 10 grand but medicare and my part B paid for it. Sure glad I got it done.
H08

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #25 on:** May 03, 2009, 09:58:28 AM »

Hank08 you make all us old timers feel better.

Bearskinz · « **Reply #26 on:** May 08, 2009, 05:25:25 PM »

As a rule of thumb, deer show up as light gets bad, making scope mandatory for accurate shot placement. Older eyes will require optimum lighting for effective use of iron sights.
Several years ago an older fella in western Maryland was found dead in the snow with an eight-point tied to a drag line behind him. What a wonderful way to go ! ! !

Savage_99 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 08, 2009, 05:49:30 PM »

Its very tough being old. While my eyes are ok my body is 70 yo. I walked up the dirt road at the camp today for a couple of miles. It was cool, no excuses.

To be honest I was quite tired when I got back just over an hour later. Keep in mind I was on the road and not up in these hills.

I got a few new Kimbers to have lighter rifles. Suppose they will help some.

Wish I was young again but its not going to happen.

james · « **Reply #28 on:** May 08, 2009, 06:04:58 PM »

I just put an old Bushnell 3/4 inch scope on an air rifle and I noticed the crosshairs were fuzzy but the target was clear. When I put on my dollar store reading glasses the cross hairs and target were both clear. I tried to adjust the focus on the scope but it didn't help. I drug out a couple of Leoups and Burrises and they were reasonably clear w/o my glasses. I guess I'll start carrying my reading glasses... just in case something besides my memory gets fuzzy.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** May 09, 2009, 04:36:09 AM »

Been wearing glasses since I was a 11 or 12 and needed them before that. Don't recall what it's like to have naturally good eyesight.

No matter, the older I get the better I shoot. Practice and better equipment make a difference.