Need guidance on a shooting problem...

[OHOD]

I like shooting both long guns and handguns. The problem is, I wear glasses. Close objects are clear, far is blurred, so I am near sighted...mostly.

I'm right eye dominant, but coincidentally it's my right eye that has the poorest vision. My left eye is better than the right, but still not that great.

When I shoot my rifles, the sight picture is blurred. I can see the target well, but the front and rear sight are blurred and I have to line them up the best I can. Anything past 12 yards, I begin to have a problem.

With a scope, I see the target well, but the cross-hairs are blurred, again I have to estimate. I am aware that I can adjust the scope to my vision, but I just can't focus it in good enough.

I've tried using my left eye, but I have the same problem but not nearly as blurry. I'm sure I could learn to shoot with my left eye, but I like my right eye. In fact, event though I adjust my sight picture, I'm still a pretty good shot.

With handguns, I don't have that much of a problem because the targets are closer. Additionally, I shoot with both eyes open and do rather well. When I shoot with my dominant eye, I can still hit bulls eyes at typical pistol ranges.

I know I could Google, read a book, do a search of some sort, but I want to hear from you guys.

How have you handled the problem?
How can I get better?

[NytWolf]

Lasik.

Had it done but not due to the same reasons as you. I hunt, and I get tired of the glasses fogging up or needing to have windshield wipers. And I hate contacts.

[GW]

Are you unable to focus on the crosshairs of the scope?

[HighLander51]

The front sight on a handgun has to be razor sharp, the target can be fuzzy along with the rear sights. Easiest way to fix your problem is to get a lens corrected for the front sight distance. Typically you correct your dominant eye to front sight distance and the weak eye to infinity. That way you can pickup your front sight. Works well for computer distance also. I started running that setup in my mid fourties. This correction should fix your scope vision also. This was presented to my by Mike Dalton, co founder of the Steel Challenge.

[OHOD]

Are you unable to focus on the crosshairs of the scope?

I can focus in the cross hairs, but then the target is blurred.

[OHOD]

The front sight on a handgun has to be razor sharp, the target can be fuzzy along with the rear sights. Easiest way to fix your problem is to get a lens corrected for the front sight distance. Typically you correct your dominant eye to front sight distance and the weak eye to infinity. That way you can pickup your front sight. Works well for computer distance also. I started running that setup in my mid fourties. This correction should fix your scope vision also. This was presented to my by Mike Dalton, co founder of the Steel Challenge.

If I explain to my optometrist, then he should be able to figure it out, eh. Hmm, didn't really want to buy another set of glasses, but maybe a set of shooting specific glasses would be a good idea.

[fiddletown]

I can focus in the cross hairs, but then the target is blurred.

So what?

With a handgun, focus on the front sight, even if the target is blurred, it won't matter.

With a rifle using iron sights, focus on the front sight. It swon't matter that the target is blurred.

And with a scope, focus on the reticle (cross-hairs). Again, the target can be blurred without causing a problem.

I know that it sounds strange, but focusing on the front sight/reticle, even if the target is blurred, works.

That's how things are taught at Gunsite. I've taken handgun and rifle classes there. In the rifle class, we were doing snap shooting at 50 to 75 yards and also shooting out to 300 yards. For all our shooting, focusing on the reticle worked out just fine.

BTW, I'm right handed, right eye dominant, very nearsighted, need bifocals and shoot everything with both eyes open. I use progressive lenses in both my street glasses and my shooting glasses.

Oh, and when shooting a flying target with a shotgun, stay focused on the target.

[ocmsrzr]

Red dots are the way to go. Two focal planes versus three or so it is for my troubled eyes.

[Hopalong]

So what?

With a handgun, focus on the front sight, even if the target is blurred, it won't matter.

With a rifle using iron sights, focus on the front sight. It swon't matter that the target is blurred.

And with a scope, focus on the reticle (cross-hairs). Again, the target can be blurred without causing a problem.

I know that it sounds strange, but focusing on the front sight/reticle, even if the target is blurred, works.

That's how things are taught at Gunsite. I've taken handgun and rifle classes there. In the rifle class, we were doing snap shooting at 50 to 75 yards and also shooting out to 300 yards. For all our shooting, focusing on the reticle worked out just fine.

BTW, I'm right handed, right eye dominant, very nearsighted, need bifocals and shoot everything with both eyes open. I use progressive lenses in both my street glasses and my shooting glasses.

Oh, and when shooting a flying target with a shotgun, stay focused on the target.

This. But since I need a middle distance lens with my dominate eye to see the front sight, that eye wears a trifocal.

I guess what happens is, that after a while, you get used to seeing a blurred target, and are thankful for at least that!

[wash]

They say close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, so get some hand grenades.

[jtv3062]

What fiddletown said, focus on the sight post and everything will come together

[weinerd]

Yup, human eye has a rather narrow depth of field. Focus on the front sight... in the blur of the target try to get the front sight where you want it, and in the blur of the rear sight try to get the front sight centered/leveled in the rear.

[OHOD]

So what?

With a handgun, focus on the front sight, even if the target is blurred, it won't matter.

With a rifle using iron sights, focus on the front sight. It swon't matter that the target is blurred.

And with a scope, focus on the reticle (cross-hairs). Again, the target can be blurred without causing a problem.

I know that it sounds strange, but focusing on the front sight/reticle, even if the target is blurred, works.

That's how things are taught at Gunsite. I've taken handgun and rifle classes there. In the rifle class, we were doing snap shooting at 50 to 75 yards and also shooting out to 300 yards. For all our shooting, focusing on the reticle worked out just fine.

BTW, I'm right handed, right eye dominant, very nearsighted, need bifocals and shoot everything with both eyes open. I use progressive lenses in both my street glasses and my shooting glasses.

Oh, and when shooting a flying target with a shotgun, stay focused on the target.

I'm going to the range tomorrow and will give it a try.

[Purple K]

Do a google search for "eye excersizes". It worked for me, just not overnight. Try to not wear your glasses any more than you have to. The more you wear glasses, the worse/weaker they get.

[stormvet]

The front sight on a handgun has to be razor sharp, the target can be fuzzy along with the rear sights. Easiest way to fix your problem is to get a lens corrected for the front sight distance. Typically you correct your dominant eye to front sight distance and the weak eye to infinity. That way you can pickup your front sight. Works well for computer distance also. I started running that setup in my mid fourties. This correction should fix your scope vision also. This was presented to my by Mike Dalton, co founder of the Steel Challenge.

I have seen this question asked many times. And this is the best advise I have seen yet.