Author Topic: Shooting With Glasses (Read 3245 times)

Swampman · « **on:** November 21, 2011, 11:32:58 AM »

I have ramped up my handgun shooting quite a bit lately and it's the first time I've shot them a lot since I started wearing bifocal glasses. I can see the sights fine when looking through my bifocal. I can see the target fine when looking through the top lens. How are you guys dealing with this?

MePlat · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:06:41 PM »

Since even with 20/20 your eyes will only focus on one thing at a time i don't see what the problem is.
Are they not still focusing on one thing at a time now??

Swampman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:07:58 PM »

I either can't see the sights or I can't see the target at all. That's the problem.

MePlat · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:14:20 PM »

When you focus on the front sight even with 20/20 the target will only be a blur. the farher the target is the more blur you have.

Swampman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:21:12 PM »

The blurr is so bad at 10 yards I can't tell what I'm shooting at.

MePlat · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:23:27 PM »

Then you need to make a trip to the eye doctor and see what the problem is. My buddy shot with glases and still does but his target was very blurry but he still could make it out some at 50 yds and he was a whale of a shot.

MePlat · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:29:50 PM »

I use varilux glasses and i don't have that problem. As long as I know where the target is i am okay.

tacklebury · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:30:24 PM »

Don't know if this is any help, or maybe you already tried them, but these are supposed to let you use your upper lense so you see the target and it uses the optical route through the disc to bring the sights into focus. Might be worth a try. I don't wear glasses, so I don't know personally, but I've seen friends and guys at the ranges using them. 8( Good luck figuring it out man.

Hit or Miss · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2011, 03:54:23 PM »

I just got bifocals last week, so I'm still trying to get used to them! I shot a few cylinders Sunday afternoon and I can see the front sight great with the target blurred out. With a 7 1/2" barrel the distance seems to be ok for me to see the front sight through the top of the lens. I got the no lines models. I haven't gotten any of the bottom feeders out to try any quick pistol work yet so I don't know how that's going to work yet.

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:21:18 PM »

I've been shooting with bifocals for years

For me the trick is look at the sight and target through the top part of the glasses without going into the lower part. Don't know if I just need to get new glasses but I slide the glasses down my nose just a little getting the bottom of the glasses out of the way for a clear picture.

If that doesn't work use one of the high capacity semi autos to put more holes in the target

Good luck,

Bulletstuffer

PS If you think shooting is tough with bifocals stay away from golf wearing them

mechanic · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:22:36 PM »

Swampy, I've had bifocals since age 32, but they get increasingly stronger, and like you, I can't focus on two objects at different distances. I use the upper vision, focus on the target, and align with the front sight, which is admittedly a bit blurred. After a while, you will shoot instinctively this way.

Ben

Dee · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2011, 04:44:36 PM »

I agree mechanic. I was an instructor both in handgun, shotgun, assault rifle, and SWAT, in my younger days, and never shot less than Master for 20 years. Now at age 62, sight picture theory is OUT THE WINDOW, with old eyes. To explain it to younger bucks, is difficult to impossible, and for them to comprehend it, is like wise. One just compensates in some way.
Remember when John Wayne held up a rifle, and a shotgun, and asked the old Indian: Near? Or Far? And the old Indian replied NEAR, and was thrown the the shotgun?

pghrich · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2011, 11:57:57 PM »

MERIT OPTICAL DEVICE, It works like magic, pghrich

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:02:45 AM »

Quote from: MePlat on November 21, 2011, 02:14:20 PM

When you focus on the front sight even with 20/20 the target will only be a blur. the farher the target is the more blur you have.

Well said and this was a big turning point for me as I started hitting what I was shooting at when this was done. Please note that even a small target "like a Squirrels head" has a large center to hold the sight on when this was done.

Fast forward a few decades and I did have to go with the prescription glasses but my eye sight is still good enough that they are not required for driving. I like to wear them when shooting but the regular, or non bifocal lens, makes it much harder to focus on the front sight good enough to get that desireable blurr on the target.

That is what I try to do though...get a good focus on the front sight.

ironglow · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:26:52 AM »

I have handguns but don't use them much but rifles can be used fairly well with a peep sight, since the rear sight normally is allowed to go "fuzzy" anyway. Don't know if a peep sight is practicable with a handgun though..

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:50:28 AM »

I fight the same thing. My long distance vision is near 2020 but my old eyes cant focus up close anymore and i too have bifocals. Ive also tried transition lenses and neither work for me and because of it the groups i shoot today are about double in size from what they were 15 years ago. I actually do better without anything then i do fighting glasses and the best glasses i have are cheap cheaters from walmart. I get the least powerful ones and they will allow me to focus a bit better on the sights without making the target dissapear. Keep one thing in mind. If you have to compromise on focus allways compromise on the target focus rather then the sight focus.

WD45 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2011, 05:09:41 AM »

It sucks gettin old don,t it

I've got the same problem and found the lineless type work better for be as there is no cut and dry line. I do find that larger sights / dots with wider rear sight help but won't help to make small ragged hole groups. I seem to have a bigger problem with scopes and the crosshairs than with pistols.

zoner · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2011, 07:00:04 AM »

the front sight,rear sight,and target are 3 different distances from your eye, your eyes can focus on any one of the three, but can't focus on three objects at three different distances at the same time. Focus on the front sight. It will be razor sharp but the target and rear sight will be a bit fuzzy. If you are having trouble focusing on the front sight with your bifocals(I wear em too) go to walmart and buy a pair of cheap reading glasses that match up to the lower part of your bifocals. Look at the front sight, start your trigger squeeze, when you do it right the gun should actually "surprise" you a little bit when it goes off and your bullet will hit what your shootin at. When you look at the front sight, then the rear sight, then the target, then back to the sights etc your eyes will give up and all three will be fuzzy. When you decide specifically what yer gonna look at and do it, that object will become sharp and clear. That object should be the front sight.....Mike

Swampman · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2011, 11:55:49 AM »

I'll try some of my low power reading glasses.

ratdog · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2011, 10:51:00 PM »

i have the same problem i have 20-2 0 vision but i can't see the front sight . my focals dive me nuts i paint my sights on my pistols white or purple ive have done this on my rifles to or change out sight with fiber optics most all my handy's have scopes now.it's btch getting old some times.

Dee · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2011, 01:26:04 AM »

I now have a red dot on a squirrel rifle, and a Browning Buckmark. A scope on my AR, and also a barrel mounted laser. Thankfully, I put a tang mounted marbles site on my old 94, and I can see the front post sharp and clear with the aperture that close to my eye. 2020 at a distance, and 20blurry up close.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2011, 01:37:48 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on November 22, 2011, 01:50:28 AM

I fight the same thing. My long distance vision is near 2020 but my old eyes cant focus up close anymore and i too have bifocals. Ive also tried transition lenses and neither work for me and because of it the groups i shoot today are about double in size from what they were 15 years ago. I actually do better without anything then i do fighting glasses and the best glasses i have are cheap cheaters from walmart. I get the least powerful ones and they will allow me to focus a bit better on the sights without making the target dissapear. Keep one thing in mind. If you have to compromise on focus allways compromise on the target focus rather then the sight focus.

same here .

MePlat · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:33:07 AM »

Dee posted a comment concerning young bucks. Although i don't know whether it was addressed to me or not I don't know but I will state I am over 21535 days old. I may not be as old as some on here but there again I am older than some too.
As I stated I would go to an eye doctor and tell him of my plight with my shooting. He may be able to help out even though it may require glasses that may not not be worth a dime except for shooting.
Another thing I sometimes use just a plain sheet of paper and shoot for the middle of it.
One must remember a bullseye is just an anchor point so to speak. A reference point if you will. We don't have a bullseye on a rock we blast at or a stump or a dirt clod or a jug or water. I also haven't seen any deer with a bullseye painted on them. We may see a different colored piece of hair or a patch of hair that we may aim at but that is not always the case.
If you can make out the center of a piece of typing paper just use that. Or get pieces that are big enough to cut circles out of it and use that. Forget about the bullseye. Aim for the center of the circle. You will be surprised at the results.
Other than that consider an optical sight. When ones eyes begin to act up an optical sight is of great benefit.
One has to accept that part of life is things give out as we go on.

Swampman · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:37:05 AM »

I shoot ok when shooting paper targets. It's plinking at stumps and such that's the problem. At on time I could hit a spray paint can at 100 yards with my short barreled Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt.

MePlat · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:59:34 AM »

At one time there was a rock on a bank around 115 yards from the range where I shoot. At certain times of the day when the sun was in the wrong place the rock was barely visible at times. The sights were hard to align too because of the background where the rock was. I would actually swing my sights over to a light patch of dirt several feet to the right of the rock, align the sights and pull the sight picture over to where I knew the rock was squeeze the trigger and hit it it. I did that many times proving to myself that a clear aiming point wasn't really needed to make a good hit.
The rock wasn't small but it wasn't large either. Most of the shots were well centered on the rock in a fairly small area. This with my buddy spoting for me.
Keep in mind that at times I just could barely make out the rock. It wasn't well defined in fact it wasn't defined at all.
It still can be done but it can be difficult.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:33:25 AM »

Shooting with bifocals is a lot easier if you skip the no lined lenses, and have them cut a lined bifocal just as low as you can get them to.
That's the way places like Hansens and others that specialize in rx shooting glasses recommend.
I took an old pair of frames to the vision center at Walmart and had them cut a set of lenses like that , helped the ironsight shooting greatly.
Also go with clear lenses with clip on colored lenses, or the brown brownish yellow tinted changing lenses. Photo grey lenses mess up the contrasts when they get real dark in bright sun, but that isn't as much of a problem with the brown tints.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:16:35 AM »

Swampy you have hit the nail the head. I have worn glasses since elementary school and was a pretty good handgun shot for years. Before retirement I had more sets of glasses then many, I had standard vision, bifocals, and computer glasses. Actually I had five pairs of glasses because I also had sunglass in standard vision, and bifocal.$$$

A good part of my life has been spent in the woods, rock hopping up a stream, crossing on a log, or doing other activities where vision goes from close to far. Even going down stairs can be tricky with bifocals. In the office I wore bifocals, out on the road standard vision glass, and next to the computer were my computer glasses.

In the process the little group in the center of mass grew larger. I have not had a major problem with scopes and peep sights. There was a time I would shoot Digger Squirrels with a 2.5 inch Model 66, I think the Squirrels are smaller now days because of Global Warming.

I have heard, and read about the Merit Optical Device for years but never considered it practical for LE work.

Yesterday my wife asked me how my morning walk went; I responded that it was clear that I am closer to seventy then to twenty.

Gun Runner and I start out at the ten yard line blasting away at targets, and then we move them out to the 25 yard line. Gun Runner shoots circles around me, what is surprising at his advanced age. He tells me the issue at 25 yards is his low velocity loads out of his 44 Magnum, the trajectory is such that the bullet drops below the target. I have notice the same thing with my pistols, but one must conserve on powder and not beat-up their guns.

The good news is that most defensive shooting occur at less then 10-yards, but I know that he is concerned. He gave me a box of 00 buckshot for the shotgun the other day.

Swampman · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2011, 10:45:24 AM »

I did some shooting this morning at a light spot on a tree about 30 feet away with my .44 Magnum. 3 shots went into a one inch group and one was about an inch higher than those. I just made sure my sights were crisp and let the target blur. I just need to practice more.

MePlat · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2011, 11:34:21 AM »

Then all this posting was for naught??? The problem was your lack of practice instead of the glasses thing??? You were wanting crisp focus on both sights and target at the same time when it isn't going to happen when focusing on the front sight regardless if 20/20 vision or not???

Well we all have learned something then.

Swampman · « **Reply #29 on:** November 23, 2011, 11:39:26 AM »

It happened until now. I can't even tell if I'm hitting the target until I go look at it.