Author Topic: handguns & old eyes (Read 1842 times)

pastorp · « **on:** September 19, 2009, 04:36:16 AM »

Sure is getting hard to shoot well with a handgun anymore. My old eyes just aren't up to the job. I've tried scopes and never got the hang of using them. Thinking about a holographic sight.

Anyone find something that works for you to help there tired old eyes?

Regards,

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2009, 07:17:29 AM »

More then getting hard... $:-\$ dang near impossible for me!

I cannot see the sights on my handguns or rifles well enough to shoot accurately. Peep sights and fiber optic sights help some as do 1X reading glasses. Kinda discouraging...

'specially since I'm rediscovering the joys of handguns, leverguns and open sights again, thanks to GBO...

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2009, 07:24:04 AM »

Havn't tried the Halo's yet but the lazers have helped , granted their not cheap , however they do help a bunch for target practice in low light shooting .

Don't plan to have one on my CCW guns though , never liked the idea of putting a dot right in front of me for the bad guy to sight at .

stimpy

Keith L · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2009, 07:49:55 AM »

I have a holosight on a Buckmark and I really like it. It does an outstanding job and is easy to see.

In CCW you don't have lots of time to worry about precise aiming. If you truly need the weapon the bad guy is closing on you so fast you better have shot your weapon so much that you are close enough when you point it. Lots of the time you have will be used up getting into the firing position.

Brett · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2009, 08:36:14 AM »

My guess is you probably would not use the sites in a critical defense situation. Your attention will be focused exclusively on the eminent threat. It will most likely be strictly point and shoot. Both my carry guns have rudimentary sites that are pretty close to useless, especially with aging eyes.

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2009, 09:09:33 AM »

One thing that I have found as the eyes go away is that I have had to limit the range that I use the handguns , 20 years ago I used a iron sighted 22 revolver to hunt tree rats , now its just paper punching at shorter ranges unless their scoped and even those ranges have gotten closer .

stimpy

Keith L · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2009, 10:37:27 AM »

Quote from: Brett on September 19, 2009, 08:36:14 AM

My guess is you probably would not use the sites in a critical defense situation. Your attention will be focused exclusively on the eminent threat. It will most likely be strictly point and shoot. Both my carry guns have rudimentary sites that are pretty close to useless, especially with aging eyes.

That is what I was trying to say.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2009, 11:14:08 AM »

For a defense gun lasers are the way to go. Just put the little red dot where ya want the bullet to go and fire. Not legal most places for hunting tho. I guess some sort of red dot sight the smaller and tougher it is the better would be best for hunting and target shooting but I just suffer thru with irons and shoot closer ranges than I used to.

Yankee1 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2009, 03:42:22 PM »

Hi All
I had vision problems "glaucoma" And could not see my pistol sights very well or even road signs. My eye surgeon installed lens implants and now I can see my sights very well.
The lenses are AcrySof IQ made by Alcon Laboratories Inc. of Fort Worth Texas. There is no discomfort having them put in at all.
Some people have trouble just putting in eye drops but this procedure is very easy with no discomfort. I'm 76 years old.
Yankee1

pastorp · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2009, 05:06:54 AM »

Yankee, I watched my wife's cataract surgery and I an't going to do that until I absolutely half to. Thats why I struggle along like GB.

Regards,

Yes I know it don't hurt, But!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2009, 07:39:57 AM »

A good red dot scope is really the way to go...made a world of difference to me.

...Chris

p15camborne · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2009, 11:16:06 AM »

Quote from: Yankee1 on September 19, 2009, 03:42:22 PM

Hi All
I had vision problems "glaucoma" And could not see my pistol sights very well or even road signs. My eye surgeon installed lens implants and now I can see my sights very well.
The lenses are AcrySof IQ made by Alcon Laboratories Inc. of Fort Worth Texas. There is no discomfort having them put in at all.
Some people have trouble just putting in eye drops but this procedure is very easy with no discomfort. I'm 76 years old.
Yankee1

I'm 63. A cataract in my right eye forced me to start shooting left-handed. When my vision became too bad in the right eye, my eye doctor replaced the lens with the AcrySof IQ. I can see much better now with my right eye. The surgery was necessary. After the operation I figured I'd be able to start shooting right-handed again. I shot right-handed all my life, but, to my suprise, I'm shooting left-handed. I prefer the eye with the natural lens. Some day that lens will also need replacement, but for now I prefer the natural lens. Just my experience.

Yankee1 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2009, 04:47:50 PM »

Hi Pastorp
I think you would have been better off not to watch the procedure.
The person having it done does not feel the incision. He or she feels the cool water washing away the cloud from the inner surface of the eye. Then the lens is injected into the eye, Again no discomfort. Distilled water is put in again. Again no discomfort.
I believe watching it would make one believe that it would be much worse that it actually is. The reason I make it a point to tell people about it is because I realize how much apprehension it can cause people who are thinking about getting it done.
Regards
Yankee1

pastorp · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2009, 07:10:09 PM »

yes Yankee1 I believe your right about that. I should not a watched.

Keith L · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:41:30 AM »

I have to agree. I had my right eye done last year and it was not a bad experience. I have other eye problems in that one, so my vision will never be perfect, but it is much better, to the point where I can see from it again. I am quite glad I got mine done, and I think you would be as well.

kynardsj · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2009, 01:00:49 AM »

I can relate to old eyes not seeing sights like they used to. Red dot's and holo sights are great if you want a scoped style pistol. All three of my iron sighted ones now have painted sights. Contrasting front and rear has really helped me. Fingernail polish is great for this job. Cheap, doesn't chip off easily and comes in most any color you might want.

Autorim · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:16:17 PM »

I totally empathize with you. I am 69 and shoot my handguns a lot. If I really want to hit anything, I use the guns with the red dot sights. Iron sights are fuzzy. I shot Friday afternoon with a friend who is 40. We shot several hundred rounds from 10 to 100 yards. We did not place a lot bullets on a 30 x 40 paper at 100 yards.

I could place nearly all of my shots in a saucer at 15-25 yards with irons- the fliers would have been in a dinner plate - all two hand off hand shooting. At 25 yards, it took me 4 shots with a 6 inch 617 to hit a 2 inch wide wood block.

My defensive handguns are both XDM9's with lights and a laser on the under lug. I would say that anything or anybody inside of 25 yards that I choose to shoot is in deep s---.

Sights are fuzzy, but I encourage you to shoot anyway. Hell, it's fun and good for you. Every now and then you will hit something.

44 Man · « **Reply #17 on:** October 03, 2009, 03:47:26 AM »

With my stigmatism, I see three front sights, but I keep shooting anyway and am still a passable shot. I do find that I need more light around the front sight than I used to. A bigger opening on the rear sight helps me a lot, as does shorter barrels so the sights are closer together. And for a defensive weapon, a laser is the way to go with vision problems. 44 Man

coyotejoe · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:15:43 AM »

I love the Burris Fastfire sight. They have unlimited eye relief, unlimited field of view and at one ounce they probably weigh less than the adjustable open sight they replace. They have nothing to turn on or off, just remove the hood, point and shoot. I attach the hood to my holster with a short leather thong so that it pops off when the gun is drawn and it doesn't get lost. I've tried scopes and full tube red dots and find a handgun so equipped is no longer a handgun. They're very accurate if you have all the time in the world but quick point shooting is out of the question and the limited eye relief doesn't fit my long arms. They also add a great deal of weight and bulk to the gun and require big bulky holsters. I now have three handguns equipped with the tubeless red dots, a Burris fastfire on my AMT .22 mag, a Dr Optik on my .357 and a cheap Chinese version on my S&W 22A and I really can't imagine going back to irons.

Old Fart · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2009, 08:32:08 AM »

For the most part I just guess really well.
I've had decent success with this method.
All those years of looking down over the sights gives you a feel for it.

I've got two rimfire handguns with scopes on them.
Both are good enough shooter to use them.
It's been my experience that if I can shoot off a rest and find where I'm pointing they work well.
The little smith auto I have one scope on tightened up from about a +3" pattern at 25yds to about a inch and a half or less.
But you have to dork around finding where you're aiming. Can be a bit frustrating at times.
The other is a 17hmr revolver.
It's my close range praire dog and varmit plinker.
The scope on it makes it deadly out to nearly 100 yds with me shooting.
Someone who's still steady handed could probably do better.

Those are the only handgun scopes I have out of a couple dozen handguns.
Not likely to put scopes on any of the others, may try one of those red dot thingies or a laser grip some day.

lester · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2009, 02:06:35 PM »

I put a Pentax red dot on my Ruger Mark III Hunter back at the beginning of the summer. Even after lasik surgery a couple of years ago it's been getting harder to line up iron sights and focus on the front sight. The red dot was so much quicker and easier, my groups immediately got better. Problem with the 30mm tube style sight was it was just too bulky for field carry. So, the other night on the way home I picked up an NcStar D4B holographic sight. Much smaller, lighter, but provides basically the same sight picture as the tube style red dot. A couple of scissor cuts on my Uncle Mike nylon holster and it slides right in, nice and secure. Can't wait to sight it in at camp this weekend.

Lester

Hodr · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:21:49 PM »

A red dot on my .308 handi elk rifle.
Ghost ring on my 357 mag Winchester Trapper hog rifle/varmit.
2000 rounds through my Keltec P11 9mm for CC so I no longer really have to look at the sights to know where it hits.
I don't shoot at anything 200 yds out with old tired eyes. That covers the rifles.
I don't plan to shoot at anyone I am far enough away from to outrun. That covers the Concealed Carry.

blindhari

The Hermit · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:52:46 PM »

Since the late 60's, one gun usually with me is a S&W chiefs special in .38 special. Like kynardsj, I have painted my front sight with fingernail polish and can shoot soda cans at 25Ft. Thats with a 2" barrel.
I have a Colt .22 revolver and a Ruger MKIII 22/45, that both are super accurate. Try Painting the sights to make them stand out.

The Hermit

pastorp · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:03:52 AM »

I've been painting my sights for years :)sure helps but I still need to shoot close anymore.

Joe, something like your AMT 22mag set-up is what I want to try. That dosen't look too bulky.

Regards,

lester · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2009, 03:36:35 PM »

Gents -

Range report on the NcStar D4B i mounted on my Ruger MKIII last week. Sighted it in at camp this weekend. Took six shots to put it into the 10 ring on a standard pistol target at 25 meters. Next 24 shots were ALL in the same ring...pretty much shot the bull out of the target. Needless to say, I like it VERY much! Here's a couple pics of how it looks, including one in the holster that I modified skightly....

Lester

1marty · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2009, 04:11:17 PM »

I'm 66 and for several years with glasses I had trouble seeing the target. I was buying my glasses at one of those chain optical store. I recently went to a small private store. He examined my eyes, made new glasses and now I can see the 10 ring out to 150 yards. I have a feeling those chains just give you anything.

HAMMERHEAD · « **Reply #26 on:** October 15, 2009, 10:16:28 AM »

I'm adding my Trijicon Reflex sight to my Mark II NRA Commemorative with a Weigand no drill mount. I've had it for about ten years, and it is one tough sight, plus they don't use batteries (fiber optics and tritium/phosphor).
The aiming triangle is sharp and clear, unlike some cheap red dots and holo's that their 'dots' end up looking like a cluster of grapes. Worth the extra money IMO.
I had a Millet 1" red dot sight that was a good value at under $100.