Being in my 40's, my eyes are having trouble picking up the sights. If I use glasses to see the sights, tyen I can't see the target and visa versa. Does anyone have a possible solution? I've tried 3 dot and I can't see the dots. I've tried Prosights and can't pick up the "V" too well. Indoors you can forget the Prosight. Has anybody tried the fiber optic with the traditional notch?
Them Eyes
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Have you tried useing a gun with a shorter barrel.Thats what I did about 10 years ago.I have also painted my front sight with yellow paint.
Sorry, I should have stated I shoot IDPA and use some as carry guns. Ihave trouble focusing on the sights. With the wilson 3 dot sights I can kinda pick up the outline but can't see the dots. With a prosight I see the fiber optic but can't see the white line in the middle of the rear V. I'm wondering if anyone has tried the fiber optic with the traditional notch.
That's what I've just started using...I'm 47 BTW...and I couldn't see spit...I was sighting down the sides of the slide instead of trying to use the sights...
Made a world of difference...I don't know who made the sight, but I use the green .040 fibre...Right up 'til dark it's perfect...Like a lil' star right on the target against the black Novak "U"...I got my fibre from Brazos...
http://www.brazoscustom.com/
10. for 12" of the .040 in green...
He also has a hot-rod sight he's installing, why don't you go to the web-site and contact him...Cool guy and real fast on the shipping.
Tell him where you heard of him and that you're a member of the site...
Made a world of difference...I don't know who made the sight, but I use the green .040 fibre...Right up 'til dark it's perfect...Like a lil' star right on the target against the black Novak "U"...I got my fibre from Brazos...
http://www.brazoscustom.com/
10. for 12" of the .040 in green...
He also has a hot-rod sight he's installing, why don't you go to the web-site and contact him...Cool guy and real fast on the shipping.
Tell him where you heard of him and that you're a member of the site...
I may have found something interesting. D.R. Middlebrooks has been working on a front sight that is changable with an allen screw. It has 3 or 4 choices. Tritium, fiber optic, white dot, and black blade. He installed one on my pistol and I should have it back soon. I'll post as soon as I see them but it sounds promising. Fiber optic for daylight shoots, Tritium for low-light, andwhite dot for all round shooting.
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271 Posts
You just described me. I use a fiber optic front sight with traditional adjustable rear. All I shoot is IDPA (no IPSC clubs close by). I have found that the green rod works best. If you are shooting low light indoors, well best get some night sites, because the fiber optic front is just a standard post in the dark.
I had Bob Hunter of Hunter Custom install the EGW fiber optic front on my .40 single stack and everything is working just fine.
Fifty-four and the same problem.
I shoot a lot of IDPA...three matches
a month from April through October;
then two a month....
I don't wear corrective lenses, but do wear
reading glasses.
I have switched to plain black rear sights and
fiber optic fronts on both my 1911s and my
Hi-Power. The difference is impressive.
Have stepped up one classification in CDP
and am certain I will with the Browning next
classifier. You already know the downside of fiber optics-(low light). That said, I am
sold on the black rear-fiber optic front set up. Color is debatable. I use red. I understand green is even brighter.
Maybe try it on one gun and see how it works
for you.....
By the way, I also carry the fiber-sighted
guns and do not feel disadvantaged.
I shoot a lot of IDPA...three matches
a month from April through October;
then two a month....
I don't wear corrective lenses, but do wear
reading glasses.
I have switched to plain black rear sights and
fiber optic fronts on both my 1911s and my
Hi-Power. The difference is impressive.
Have stepped up one classification in CDP
and am certain I will with the Browning next
classifier. You already know the downside of fiber optics-(low light). That said, I am
sold on the black rear-fiber optic front set up. Color is debatable. I use red. I understand green is even brighter.
Maybe try it on one gun and see how it works
for you.....
By the way, I also carry the fiber-sighted
guns and do not feel disadvantaged.
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383 Posts
Here is another take on this subject.
I took my CCW class with an eye surgeon up in Denver. He once wrote an article for the NRA magazine addressing this exact subject.
As we get older we lose the ability to see things nearest to us. We never could focus on the target AND the sights. Remember, sharp front sight, target a blur. Most bifocals are set for 14-22 inches, the front sight is usually 32 inches away. Thats why bifocals give a blurry front sight.
His solution is this, and this is what he offers to this date. He will fix you up with a prescription for a set of single vision shooting glasses focused on the front sight for the dominant eye. This gives you a wide field of vision. You bring your piece to his office and he gets the prescription down so that you see the front sight razor sharp. Then you get the glasses and you see the sights like an eagle. :>)
So, if you live in Colorado, and your eyes suck, you have an option.
Dr. Larry Krieder
Denver Eye Surgery Center
For the rest of you, find a shooter friendly eye guy.
I took my CCW class with an eye surgeon up in Denver. He once wrote an article for the NRA magazine addressing this exact subject.
As we get older we lose the ability to see things nearest to us. We never could focus on the target AND the sights. Remember, sharp front sight, target a blur. Most bifocals are set for 14-22 inches, the front sight is usually 32 inches away. Thats why bifocals give a blurry front sight.
His solution is this, and this is what he offers to this date. He will fix you up with a prescription for a set of single vision shooting glasses focused on the front sight for the dominant eye. This gives you a wide field of vision. You bring your piece to his office and he gets the prescription down so that you see the front sight razor sharp. Then you get the glasses and you see the sights like an eagle. :>)
So, if you live in Colorado, and your eyes suck, you have an option.
Dr. Larry Krieder
Denver Eye Surgery Center
For the rest of you, find a shooter friendly eye guy.
Not saying this is the way to go.......Had Tri-Focals made with the "middle" lens "set" right at the average midpoint of a number of the pistols front sights am shooting. So far it's working very well, don't much use the 3rd or "reading" lens at all. It may not be better than fiber optic but using Novaks Lomounts on HP's all-black rear with Gold-Dot front with excellent success. Have only the "Hi-Viz" sights on Glocks so far with Novak all-black rear for IDPA, etc. The HiViz works well but for precision shots @ ca. 15 yds. or so it is not very effective {for me}.
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345 Posts
Most Opthomologists do not understand pistol shooting and have no idea how to set a hyperfocal distance. I recently had Varilux lenses made for my new prescription )one + lens and one - lens. Was at the range a few hours ago in overcast, rainy conditions.
The secret is this: Focus on the X in the dead center of the target, interpose your sigh picture and tilt your head ever so slightly backward. Rely on muscle memory, compromise on a slightly fuzzy target and front blade.
If you can't get by with this, look for another opthomologist. It's amazing what these people can get away with when nobody calls their bluff and DEMANDS a certain hyperfocal. They can do it; they just don't want to be bothered. Your optometrist has to be clued in also. Have the temporary center dot marks ion your Varilux lenses (used as a guide for the lens maker) placed slightly higher than yopur pupil and you won't have to tilt your head back at all. Don't let them give you a bunch of crap. They can do anything you want. After all, you are paying for it. How do you think auto mechanics can see when under a car? They can do it for them.
The secret is this: Focus on the X in the dead center of the target, interpose your sigh picture and tilt your head ever so slightly backward. Rely on muscle memory, compromise on a slightly fuzzy target and front blade.
If you can't get by with this, look for another opthomologist. It's amazing what these people can get away with when nobody calls their bluff and DEMANDS a certain hyperfocal. They can do it; they just don't want to be bothered. Your optometrist has to be clued in also. Have the temporary center dot marks ion your Varilux lenses (used as a guide for the lens maker) placed slightly higher than yopur pupil and you won't have to tilt your head back at all. Don't let them give you a bunch of crap. They can do anything you want. After all, you are paying for it. How do you think auto mechanics can see when under a car? They can do it for them.
I have the same problem. I tried ProSights and I agree that they become difficult to pick up when the light fades. I would like to try DR's latest interchangeable system though.
I have tried (and still use on some guns) a fiber optic front sight with traditional rear. I have a Dawson 0.090" on an SVI Compact which is fast to acquire. One of my Les Baers is fitted with a Hi-Viz. Both have MMC rear sights. These are a great improvement for me over a traditional front sight. In low light they are still difficult to see.
However, I am now leaning heavily towards the Ashley Express system. Very fast to pick up and still good even with relatively little light (tritium versions are available anyway). The downside perhaps is that precision shooting is somewhat more difficult. These are not bullseye sights. However, with a little practice they are more than precise enough for IDPA and self defense use.
I have tried (and still use on some guns) a fiber optic front sight with traditional rear. I have a Dawson 0.090" on an SVI Compact which is fast to acquire. One of my Les Baers is fitted with a Hi-Viz. Both have MMC rear sights. These are a great improvement for me over a traditional front sight. In low light they are still difficult to see.
However, I am now leaning heavily towards the Ashley Express system. Very fast to pick up and still good even with relatively little light (tritium versions are available anyway). The downside perhaps is that precision shooting is somewhat more difficult. These are not bullseye sights. However, with a little practice they are more than precise enough for IDPA and self defense use.
John Lawson is right about the Varilux lenses and arm-twisting the eye docs. I didn't have my Varilux lenses ground off-center because I found that with my prescription I can pull the frames a quarter-inch down my nose and get the focus right.
I did have them modify a single-vision prescription to suit me, as well as a second modified prescription for contact lenses.
I can read ANYTHING out to 9", including the Lord's prayer on the head of pin, but my distance vision is around 20/1200.
They didn't really want to do non-traditional prescriptions for me, but when they added up the titanium frames, Varilux lenses, single-vision glasses, prescription sunglasses and two different sets of contacts they quickly came to their senses. A little over $1100 buys a lot of cooperation.
I've been wearing glasses and contacts for forty years and I want what I want. Not want they want.
John
I did have them modify a single-vision prescription to suit me, as well as a second modified prescription for contact lenses.
I can read ANYTHING out to 9", including the Lord's prayer on the head of pin, but my distance vision is around 20/1200.
They didn't really want to do non-traditional prescriptions for me, but when they added up the titanium frames, Varilux lenses, single-vision glasses, prescription sunglasses and two different sets of contacts they quickly came to their senses. A little over $1100 buys a lot of cooperation.
I've been wearing glasses and contacts for forty years and I want what I want. Not want they want.
John
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