Sights for poor eyesight

[Wang Lung]

I grew up squirrel hunting with a pistol and was a pretty good shot. I shot a pistol for the first time in 20 years a couple days ago and can not focus on sights at all. Frankly, I shot my Kimber Tac Pro II pretty well for being blind. And for not shooting forever.

My bad eyesight is limited to about eight feet out. Beyond that I can see as good as anyone. What do people in my situation do for sights/optics?

[Wrangler John]

Even when my eyesight was 20/15 I used two different methods of resolving open sights. Major problem is that it is difficult or impossible to focus on the sights and target simultaneously, with the front sight being the most important. To correct this problem we need to "stop down" our iris just in the way that choosing a smaller f-stop on a camera extends the focal range. Initially I bought a Merit Optical Attachment http://www.meritcorporation.com/products.html it attaches to the shooting glasses with a suction cup and allows adjustment of the aperture just like a camera. Then somebody discovered the doughnut pad, these were small black dots with holes in the center used by electronic draftsmen to make masks for circuit boards. They had a sticky side and were just right for placing on the glasses where the correction was. Vision immediately sharpened at the correct distance and because the shooter was forced to use the same spot of the lens, any parallax was diminished. The doughnut pad has become almost extinct, while there was a company that adopted it for shooting glasses, they were sued and had to quit making them. A pinhole in a piece of black electrical tape will give some idea if this will help in your case.

The other solution is a pair of specially made spectacles http://www.gunblast.com/LT_SafeVision.htm

I also use a pair of computer glasses for shooting handguns with iron sights, that brings the sights into sharp focus, which is more important than seeing a sharply focused bullseye. Add a Merit Optical gizmo and it's even better. Best to check with an optometrist for your situation.

Another little help is to use http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/504...1-2-oz-aerosol to cut glare and glint from the sights. I went through cases of this stuff while shooting IHMSA silhouette matches. Its similar to the old carbide lamps we used to blacken sights with acetylene smudge.

Of course a red dot sight or scope may be the solution as everything translates to the same focal plane.

[zman]

Even when my eyesight was 20/15 I used two different methods of resolving open sights. Major problem is that it is difficult or impossible to focus on the sights and target simultaneously, with the front sight being the most important. To correct this problem we need to "stop down" our iris just in the way that choosing a smaller f-stop on a camera extends the focal range. Initially I bought a Merit Optical Attachment http://www.meritcorporation.com/products.html it attaches to the shooting glasses with a suction cup and allows adjustment of the aperture just like a camera. Then somebody discovered the doughnut pad, these were small black dots with holes in the center used by electronic draftsmen to make masks for circuit boards. They had a sticky side and were just right for placing on the glasses where the correction was. Vision immediately sharpened at the correct distance and because the shooter was forced to use the same spot of the lens, any parallax was diminished. The doughnut pad has become almost extinct, while there was a company that adopted it for shooting glasses, they were sued and had to quit making them. A pinhole in a piece of black electrical tape will give some idea if this will help in your case.

The other solution is a pair of specially made spectacles http://www.gunblast.com/LT_SafeVision.htm

I also use a pair of computer glasses for shooting handguns with iron sights, that brings the sights into sharp focus, which is more important than seeing a sharply focused bullseye. Add a Merit Optical gizmo and it's even better. Best to check with an optometrist for your situation.

Another little help is to use http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/504...1-2-oz-aerosol to cut glare and glint from the sights. I went through cases of this stuff while shooting IHMSA silhouette matches. Its similar to the old carbide lamps we used to blacken sights with acetylene smudge.

Of course a red dot sight or scope may be the solution as everything translates to the same focal plane.

Excellent read. Thanks!

[uhlan1]

Great info! Thanks

[Hopalong]

An exam from an optometrist and a pair of shooting glasses will work wonders for you.

To me, "shooting glasses" means that there is a area where the dominate eye can focus on the front sight.

Mine are in effect, trifocals on the dominate eye

Bifocals on the other eye.

Any optometrist can make these for you

[Old4eyes]

I attacked the problem with two solutions.
As already mentioned, dedicated shooting glasses. I've got hard line bifocals with the closeup prescription covering more than half of the frame. I have to tilt my head down to look through the upper section to see distance. This way my head is at a neutral position to clearly see the sights.

Solution two - Merit Optical Attachment. Makes a pinhole view which creates a huge depth of field.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/978528/merit-optical-attachment-with-suction-cup

[Revoman]

I use a red dot sight. You may need to drill and tap your firearm to enable mounting, but they work very well yet do no magnify. There are mounts out there that use the original dovetail for the rear sight as a mount too.

There are tube type that look like a scope, but are not, then there are the screen type that have a small square or rectangular clear screen. Both work great. The screen type are usually much smaller than the tube type.

[rickb]

TruGlo TFO Sights

Truglo TFO sights help me.

[chad allred]

Hi viz fiber optic front helps me

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Khromo]

I just ordered one of the suction cup thingies from Midway. Hope it helps!

When I first realized that the front sight had disappeared, I used it as an excuse to get started in medium range riflery with a glass scope. I really enjoy this activity, and I wish I had gotten into it long ago!

[Russ Florian]

I had the same problem as you.
I went to the eye doctor and had contacts made.
My right eye was dialed in for reading and gun sights.
My left eye can see targets.
I love my contacts. I feel like the bionic man now (works better for shaving as well)

[Tripper]

Hmm
I'm gonna have to look into this
My near and far vision is bad, glasses make the front sight blurry
I hadn't thought of taking a red gun to the optometrist with me

[Old4eyes]

I just ordered one of the suction cup thingies from Midway. Hope it helps!

When I first realized that the front sight had disappeared, I used it as an excuse to get started in medium range riflery with a glass scope. I really enjoy this activity, and I wish I had gotten into it long ago!

I think you'll be pleased. A Range Officer who shot mainly rifles used this contraption for shooting with iron sights on his long guns and he's the guy that prompted me to use it.

It doesn't work as well for me at 10 yards, but that's because I had my bifocals cut to 25yd distance for the upper portion of the lens, and it's the long distance portion of prescription glasses that the iris will be positioned upon. If you're only using reading glasses and the long distance is good, you'd use plain non-prescription safety glasses and put the iris over an area where your head position is comfortable.

[-hanko]

Hmm
I'm gonna have to look into this
My near and far vision is bad, glasses make the front sight blurry
I hadn't thought of taking a red gun to the optometrist with me

My opthamologist asked me to bring in a few weapons, so I brought in a BHP and a Model 27, as well as an AR mid-length carbine.

He measured eye-to-front-sight on all 3 and made the RX to fit.

Like night to day before and after the visit to the eye doctor.

You'll kick yourself for not having done it sooner.

-hanko

[Sig Marine]