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Old Eyes - Possible Remedy?

I haven't competed since the 90's but I still enjoy shooting my revolvers with open sights. Putting optics on a revolver never appeared to me since it would destroy my Dirty Harry / Matt Dillion vicarious experience of shooting revolvers. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Also unappealing to me is using one of those Merit Optical Attachments to your glasses even though they work. Looking like an optometrist's is not my idea of a Dirty Harry or Matt Dillion imagine either. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Forever I've used NRA regulation black bull targets such as the B16 for 25-yard Slow Fire and others for other designated distances. I'm of the persuasion that if you don't measure your performance, you can improve it. Thus, a scoring target gives me the opportunity to do that quite nicely and efficiently to track my performance.

The problem is that these 75-year-old eyeballs are having a lot of trouble discerning the front sight against this target background, even with the conventional, 6 o'clock hold. I've always favorited a center hold but that's another story.

One of the "sometimes" nice things about going to the range is to pick up new ideas and approaches. Well, I ran into an old fart like me, and he was using these ez2ctargets, Style 12, 25-yard Slow Fire Pistol targets that have an orange bull (7 ring) with a white 10 ring. He gave me a few and I tried them. Wow, I could use a center hold and see the front sight such better. The scoring rings are slightly larger than an NRA regulation target but close enough for practice purposes and tracking performance.

So, you old guys out there that still like to shoot pistol with open sights may want to give them a try if you're like me with ageing eyeballs and like to shoot a scoring target.
 
If your cheap like me, you save the backing sheet (which is white) for the peel and stick targets and put a dot in the middle.
 
I haven't competed since the 90's but I still enjoy shooting my revolvers with open sights. Putting optics on a revolver never appeared to me since it would destroy my Dirty Harry / Matt Dillion vicarious experience of shooting revolvers. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Also unappealing to me is using one of those Merit Optical Attachments to your glasses even though they work. Looking like an optometrist's is not my idea of a Dirty Harry or Matt Dillion imagine either. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Forever I've used NRA regulation black bull targets such as the B16 for 25-yard Slow Fire and others for other designated distances. I'm of the persuasion that if you don't measure your performance, you can improve it. Thus, a scoring target gives me the opportunity to do that quite nicely and efficiently to track my performance.

The problem is that these 75-year-old eyeballs are having a lot of trouble discerning the front sight against this target background, even with the conventional, 6 o'clock hold. I've always favorited a center hold but that's another story.

One of the "sometimes" nice things about going to the range is to pick up new ideas and approaches. Well, I ran into an old fart like me, and he was using these ez2ctargets, Style 12, 25-yard Slow Fire Pistol targets that have an orange bull (7 ring) with a white 10 ring. He gave me a few and I tried them. Wow, I could use a center hold and see the front sight such better. The scoring rings are slightly larger than an NRA regulation target but close enough for practice purposes and tracking performance.

So, you old guys out there that still like to shoot pistol with open sights may want to give them a try if you're like me with ageing eyeballs and like to shoot a scoring target.
My 75 yr old eyeballs have the same problem and struggling just to see a good hold. I'll definitely have to try targets like that.
 
I am an old guy, and did a lot of iron sight pistol shooting. As my eyes deteriorated, I found a friendly optometrist and got glasses for pistol shooting. I took my guns into the office, and had him hold a lens in front of my right eye so I could see the front sight clearly.

I did this for my Hammerli Free pistol ( longest barrel) and for my S&W Model 52 and Model 41 ( shortest barrels) I then had two lenses made with those two prescriptions which fit my Knobloch shooting glasses.

Over the years, as my eyes changed, I just bought new lenses. It really extended my iron sight shooting years.
 
I had the opportunity to shoot a Ruger MK III with a bright green rod front sight and a white outline V rear sight. It was the best sight these old and color blind eyes ever used. It didn't help my trigger finger, it just removed my "can't see the sights" alibi.
 
I am an old guy, and did a lot of iron sight pistol shooting. As my eyes deteriorated, I found a friendly optometrist and got glasses for pistol shooting. I took my guns into the office, and had him hold a lens in front of my right eye so I could see the front sight clearly.

I did this for my Hammerli Free pistol ( longest barrel) and for my S&W Model 52 and Model 41 ( shortest barrels) I then had two lenses made with those two prescriptions which fit my Knobloch shooting glasses.

Over the years, as my eyes changed, I just bought new lenses. It really extended my iron sight shooting years.

Pretty similar, though I use Champion frames with a (now discontinued, not sure why) double lens holder. When I first got it, I'd use whatever power worked for standard pistols (in my case, a couple of Pardini's, a Model 52, and a Gold Cup; plus a Morini air pistol), and subtract a quarter to half a diopter for my Toz free pistol. The double lens holder had a snap in 3/4 rim for adjustment diopter lenses, so had my near vision lens as the main and whatever adjustment let me see the sights. Swapping adjustments takes a couple of seconds.

Caveat: Call and make sure your optometrist is cool with you bringing pistols (or rifles if you shoot those) into their office before you show up. I could see problems occurring if you don't.
 
I am an old guy, and did a lot of iron sight pistol shooting. As my eyes deteriorated, I found a friendly optometrist and got glasses for pistol shooting. I took my guns into the office, and had him hold a lens in front of my right eye so I could see the front sight clearly.

I did this for my Hammerli Free pistol ( longest barrel) and for my S&W Model 52 and Model 41 ( shortest barrels) I then had two lenses made with those two prescriptions which fit my Knobloch shooting glasses.

Over the years, as my eyes changed, I just bought new lenses. It really extended my iron sight shooting years.
This is a great idea except my current eye care group would go bonkers if I suggested bringing in a pistol for an eye glass fitting. One of many problems of growing old is out living your long-time doctor who would be open to such an arrangement. :(

PS: Last time I was there they asked me if I identify as a male?????? WTF o_Oo_Oo_O
 
Is it time for cataract surgery? New surgery can put in a lens for close and far. Not sure how they would work with open sights. I had single lens implanted and I am back to 20/20 at distance but need readers for close. In fact I am looking for plano lenses for my Ranger Classic 68mm shooting glasses.
 
Is it time for cataract surgery? New surgery can put in a lens for close and far. Not sure how they would work with open sights. I had single lens implanted and I am back to 20/20 at distance but need readers for close. In fact I am looking for plano lenses for my Ranger Classic 68mm shooting glasses.
Don't have cataracts at this point. I can just see the facial expression of the eye doctor when I tell him I want a new eyeball lens so I can see the front sight better. His next move would probably referring me to a shrink.o_Oo_Oo_Oo_O
 
Probably not what you want, but I just got new eyes. I ran a thread on the whole thing from start to finish.

I went all out out and had complete lens replacements with the new RX Sight Light Adjustable Lens.

It is considered elective surgery, but they gave my 75 year old eyes 20/20.
 
I can relate as far as eyesight is concerned. Turned 76 last November, bought a Ruger P91 in mid 90’s as a protest to anti gun Clinton. Probably haven’t shot it 100 times since then. So, I’m not a pistol shooter. Recently decided to try it again at an indoor range. Had cataract surgery a year or so ago and picked the distance lenses. Ended up with 2 pair of bifocal glasses. Distance (astigmatism or something) / dashboard and computer / reading. Had the first pair with me at the range and ended up having to use the dashboard lens. If you can picture - head back to try to see a dark sight on a black target. Wouldn’t exactly call it a group. I thought if I could just focus on the target my results would improve. I tried a 9mm with a laser that was at the range. Didn’t care for the trigger, I’m used to crisp rifle triggers. A few shots came when I least expected or wanted (ones in the white). Only 7 yards but I was pleased. A laser certainly violates the dirty Harry image but I wanted to hit something. 13 shots.
178A4A9B-3FCE-4616-A1F6-356F4F300AB7.jpeg
 
I haven't competed since the 90's but I still enjoy shooting my revolvers with open sights. Putting optics on a revolver never appeared to me since it would destroy my Dirty Harry / Matt Dillion vicarious experience of shooting revolvers. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Also unappealing to me is using one of those Merit Optical Attachments to your glasses even though they work. Looking like an optometrist's is not my idea of a Dirty Harry or Matt Dillion imagine either. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Forever I've used NRA regulation black bull targets such as the B16 for 25-yard Slow Fire and others for other designated distances. I'm of the persuasion that if you don't measure your performance, you can improve it. Thus, a scoring target gives me the opportunity to do that quite nicely and efficiently to track my performance.

The problem is that these 75-year-old eyeballs are having a lot of trouble discerning the front sight against this target background, even with the conventional, 6 o'clock hold. I've always favorited a center hold but that's another story.

One of the "sometimes" nice things about going to the range is to pick up new ideas and approaches. Well, I ran into an old fart like me, and he was using these ez2ctargets, Style 12, 25-yard Slow Fire Pistol targets that have an orange bull (7 ring) with a white 10 ring. He gave me a few and I tried them. Wow, I could use a center hold and see the front sight such better. The scoring rings are slightly larger than an NRA regulation target but close enough for practice purposes and tracking performance.

So, you old guys out there that still like to shoot pistol with open sights may want to give them a try if you're like me with ageing eyeballs and like to shoot a scoring target.
Check Out: Eye Pal, they fit on your shooting Glasses
 
Try a pair of cheap super market reading glasses. Low power, 1.5 X or so. Get ones that you can still see at longer distances. Worked for me and a friend.
 
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I just had cataract surgery on my right eye. Had the lens implanted that corrects for astigmatism ($1300 out of pocket). I can now see 20/20 with that eye. Things are so much brighter too. My left eye is not bad enough according to the Doc but the difference in my eyes is so dramatic I am going to get the left eye done soon. If I had known how great the improvement is I would have done it much sooner (I am 78). I can hardly wait to get on the Skeet field and see how the targets look. I know the view through the scope will be great. If your eye Doc says you have a cataract get the surgery ASAP.

I will get a pistol with iron sights out and see how the sights look.
 

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