My eyes and iron sights...

[RANGER295]

I am not that old (mid 30's) but it seems my eyes are about ten years ahead of me. Over night it seems a couple years ago I started having to hold things farther away to read comfortably. Recently I went to the eye doctor for the first time in 10 years or so and ended up with glasses for reading... I can read without them but it is easier with them.

Yesterday I put a new front sight on my Winchester 1894 and was sighting it and realized I pretty much could not bring the rear sight into focus without really straining and if I brought the rear sight into focus, the front sight and beyond were gone. I know you never (at least not me) have the rear sights in total focus, they are a little fuzzy but the rear sight (full buckhorn) was a total blur. I tried using my glasses and both sights were good but anything over about 40-50 yards was too fuzzy. I tried several different rifles and found some were better than others. I think the ones with rear sights that were farther forward were easier for me to get a good sight picture along with peep sights and ghost rings.

My question, do any of the more mature Calgunners have any advice on using iron sights? Right now I only have a hand full of weapons out of larger than average collection that have optics. I have never been an optics guy, I even hunt with iron sights usually and would like to find a way to adjust and keep running primarily iron sights. Thanks!

[jeremiah12]

As I got older and started to need reading glasses, I switched to peep sights and never looked back.

I still do not do not need glasses for distance (in my mid-50s) but everything out to arm's length distance is blurry. I have to wear my glasses to shoot handguns and have learned to focus on the front sight and expect the target and rear sight to be slightly blurry. I wear progressive, no-line bifocals and there is a sweet spot that I can see to shoot from.

For my non-optics rifles, I use the peep sights and no glasses.

[smittty]

You're not alone!

I started experiencing this a few years ago but I am probably a bit older than you, 48.

After a lot of trial and experimentation, even making my own sights, I believe the easiest to shoot well configuration is a peep sight rear with square post front.

If your Winchester 94 is either side eject or newer top eject that is already pre-drilled then you can easily install the "Williams FP" receiver sight. They make two models for the 94, one is for the top eject and one is for the side or angle eject. They cost about $60 but absolutely worth it.

Specifically the FP model also called Foolproof, not the 5D model. There are some ebay listings calling their sight FP but they are actually the 5D. The 5D version is cheaper but its also harder to adjust for windage. The FP also has a version with target knobs but they are cumbersome for a hunting rifle.

Skinner sights makes a rear sight but it doesn't have the adjustment range that the Williams does. I tried them but it turned out to be a waste of time and money when compared to the Williams FP.

That covers the rear sight, not it's time for the front.

The best front sight that I found is made by Skinner sights. On this page,

http://www.skinnersights.com/front_sights_5.html

The all black steel sight blade. Not painted, not brass, not a bead or fiber optic. Just all black steel sight blade.

Buy the tallest sight they sell and file it down to the height you ultimately need. This will be done at the range.

It's a bit of work but worth it.

Using my 30-30 with this configuration, I'm getting 1.5" groups at 100 yards.

Before this I couldn't hit a 6" gong at 75 yards with the factory bead sight. The bead is just too fuzzy, and even worse is a bright fiber optic front sight!

I have another 94 that needs the same but it's not pre-drilled and it's killing me knowing I'll have to drill into it!

Anyway, I hope this is helpful!

[Ayacuchano]

[RANGER295]

Thanks guys. Yes Smitty, you are a bit older than me. I am 35 (today actually) but as I said, it seems like my eyes are about 10 years ahead of me.

What you guys say about peep sights makes a lot of sense and that is what I am finding, AR's, M1's, and such are easier to shoot. What you say about the black boxy front sight seems true as well. I just went and tested it (just sighted not shooting) and I have an easier time with post front sights and even a brass blade than sights with beads on them.

I am less concerned with my Winchester than the overall issue. The Winchester I mentioned that was a real ah-ha moment yesterday is a turn of the century 1894 not a newer 94. The only tapping it has is the factory tapping for a tang sight. There was a tang sight on my Marlin 1893 when I got it and I did not like the way it hit the web of my hand so I removed it. It might be time to put it back on or see if it fits the Winchester. The Marlin is a carbine so I would rather keep it quick handling. The Winchester is a sporting rifle with the long heavy octagon barrel which would be perfect for a more precision sight.

Some of my rifles I am out of luck on if it requires drilling and tapping. There is no way I am going to drill a 100 year old rifle even if it is a shooter grade. Some of my modern rifles or cheaper store brand guns I may play with this...

[Deedle]

Yesterday I put a new front sight on my Winchester 1894 and was sighting it and realized I pretty much could not bring the rear sight into focus without really straining and if I brought the rear sight into focus, the front sight and beyond were gone. I know you never (at least not me) have the rear sights in total focus, they are a little fuzzy but the rear sight (full buckhorn) was a total blur. I tried using my glasses and both sights were good but anything over about 40-50 yards was too fuzzy. I tried several different rifles and found some were better than others. I think the ones with rear sights that were farther forward were easier for me to get a good sight picture along with peep sights and ghost rings.

I'm a recent addition to the reading glasses club myself - it's not fun.

For me, I have to use peep, ghost ring, or optics to have a chance, but I'm so bad up close that I can't get the front sight sharp on a typical handgun, so maybe you're not to that point yet. Bright days outdoors are much better, I suspect because the pupil closes to a small aperture in your eye. Other than that, good luck bro.

[OlderThanDirt]

I have had some luck replacing the front post with something that is easier to see with color, like a fiber optic post or other light enhancing coating. Depending on what I am shooting at, sometimes the front post would just disappear from my view, especially in low light.

If it's any consolation, my eyesight improved after I retired where I now spend a lot less time in front of a computer and reading in poor lighting.

[smittty]

I found that the front sight needs to be a black square post. Same as on an AR, M1a, M1 carbine, etc..

Fiber optic front sights are OK for under 75 yards but even then they block much of the target. Beyond 75 they cover about 8-10" of the target.

With a front bead sight, your brain wants to center the bead inside the peep which also covers the center of the target making it difficult to shoot as accurately as a square front post.

With a square front post, your brain centers the top of the post. With this sight picture your brain automatically wants to place the center of the target on top of the post.

If you like the sight picture on AR's, M1a's and the M1 carbine, then stick with a square front post.

The next improvement in sight picture comes with a globe front sight which is great for target shooting, but not so much for a practical rifle.

Anyway, it starts with a peep sight at the rear of the receiver!

[smoothy8500]

Meh, in my late forties I began using a weak positive diopter to achieve a better front sight focus. My shooting glasses are currently a +.50 for M14 and Garands, a +.75 for AR15. The +.75 work for pistol outdoors. My NM AR15A2 has a Bob Jones insert in the rear sight hood so I can skip the glasses.

[L84CABO]

There is this thread that was recently posted that may have some useful information in it for you...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1441774

And the guy who owns this place, posted in that thread. Take note of the glasses with the reverse bifocal in them...the bifocal portion is at the top of the lens, not the bottom...so that you see your sights clearly but still have the ability to see distance with the rest of the lens...

https://eagleeyeshooting.com

Finding an optometrist that has direct experience fitting shooters is key. Everyone's situation is different and a good eye doc can run through the options best suited for your specific eye situation.

Many folks with bad eyes have good luck running red dots. This might also be a partial solution for you. If you were ever thinking of tryin red dots on a pistol, now may be the time.

[Epaphroditus]

After much consternation and even more fiddling - scope. I'd rather see and hit the target and irons, even peeps, are not cutting the mustard.

[Deedle]

After much consternation and even more fiddling - scope. I'd rather see and hit the target and irons, even peeps, are not cutting the mustard.

For me, I don't mind fiddling for plinking, but for HD/SD I don't want to be the guy who has to find and affix his spectacles. Everything socially oriented except my 357 snubbies has an optic or ghost rings on it.

I don't want to have to say "just give me a second to put this in a box for you" /Galaxy Quest

[smle-man]

Another vote for peeps with an adjustable iris. My eyes just turned 64 years old and I've gone to scopes on some of my rifles. For the others, peep sights with a large aperture helps. I'm never going to be able to shoot the X ring with irons again, but if I can hold the 10 ring at 100 yards with peeps I'm happy.

So far handgun sights aren't a problem for me.

[NOTABIKER]

I now am 70 and at 47 i started pushing farther away to read. hurt my pride to get glasses after having 20 20 or better before. I just recently went to scopes on my rifles. If i was lucky i could hit a metal plate at 100 yards with my trusty WW2 rifles without scopes.

[russ69]

a) The front post must be sharp.
b) A small aperture helps to increase depth of field.
c) A fuzzy target is OK.

Edit: On some of my guns the front post literally disappears, I have to take my glasses off to see it.