Front sight issue

[Mrs. Armoredman]

I hope I don't get in trouble for this but I can't see the front sights on my gun or rifle. I was wondering if I could get some advice from y'all on a solution for this problem.

I have tried new glasses and it still doesn't help me any. I just got another pair of glasses after 4 years of the same ones. I have a pair of peresciption sunglasses and it is still not an easy task. Can anyone here offer some help to my problem?

 

[jnyork]

Best solution for you is to take the problem to your optomotrist and get him to make you a set of glasses that work. Take the firearm you shoot with you to the optomotrist (prior approval STRONGLY recommended!!) so he can tell what the problem is.

No disrespect, but some of us DO get a little older and the eyes are among the first to go. If you are shooting a rifle with iron sights, a peep or tang sight can be a big help.

 

[rcmodel]

Take the firearm you shoot with you to the optometrist

A better method might be to have someone measure the eye to front sight distance for you at home on all your guns.

Then take the average measurement to the optometrist and ask for him to give you that focal range.

Other things that may help some is a stick-on Merit iris to make the front sight more defined with your present glasses.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=8767&title=DELUXE OPTICAL ATTACHMENT

You can test that out by making a small aperture in a piece of black electrical tape and sticking it on your glasses.

If you wear bifocals, it might be worth trying no-line, or progressive lens.
That is what I wear, and I find I can find a "sweet spot" with any sight just by tilting my head a little more or less.

rcmodel

 

[Old Grump]

If taking a gun into the office is not feasible a good rule of thumb is 30". Pistol and rifle sights will generally be approximately the same distance unless you have short arms and a long barreled long gun. Ask for the focal point of your shooting glasses to be set for that point and you are good to go. Mine have been that way since my Navy shooting team days back in the early 70's and it still works, just with a stronger prescription, a lot stronger.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Distance glasses won't focus on the front sight as we get older.

I recently got a pair of glasses that are focused at the front sight for the right eye (my aiming eye) and at distance (target) for the left eye. They work great.

All shooting glasses should use polycarbonate lenses.

If these type of glasses don't help, double-check with an eye surgeon: maybe there's a true problem with the eye's health--I hope not.

 

[lions]

Are contacts an option for you? I wear them and have no problem focusing at various distances.

 

[m700m]

i have this problem somewhat, i now focus on the target, and bring the sights to a point of aim, while the front sight is out of focus, i can still make good groups "for iron sights". however it did take some dedicated training. may work for you. FWIW, you will never have all three planes (rear,front,target)in focus at the same time, glasses or no.

 

[NukemJim]

A better method might be to have someone measure the eye to front sight distance for you at home on all your guns.

I did this took it in to the optometrist, took me a little to convince him but it worked great for me. I had to be firm in that I knew what I wanted but after that it was not a problem.

Realy helped with the snubbies

NukemJim

 

[3KillerBs]

The most experienced and accomplished shooter I know, whose own eyes are suffering the effects of middle age, says to ask for "Computer glasses" for shooting. The focal distance for the computer screen and the front sight of a handgun are the same.

Making sure that your sights are one of the high-visibility types instead of plain iron sights probably helps too.

 

[Artiz]

I wear glasses and have the same problem too, I look at the not so far target, maybe 20 yards, but I can't see my pistol's sights, that fu&?$"* pisses me, as I am only 18, and already have problems with my eyes.
Everybody who doesn't wear glasses need to know that they are really lucky. 7 years ago my eyes were perfect, I planned to be a pilot, but my life changed when a stupid moron pointed a laser at me. 2 months later I couldn't read sings that are 30 yards away properly, that is real pain. I am not sure if it is because of the short time a toy laser was imed at my eyes, but I talked with him, and this day he taught it was his last.

 

[TallPine]

I have the same problem.

The trouble with special glasses is that you probably won't be wearing them when you need to defend yourself.

I want to try the right eye close up lense and left eye distance lense trick myself. I'm actually thinking about swapping one lense between my two pairs of glasses - except the distance ones are Photogray and the computer glasses are clear.

 

[esq_stu]

The transition to mid-range focus (computer screen distance) and distant focus on my lenses are higher up so I can see the front sight better.

My optometrist fits glasses for a lot of hunters and that's what she says seems to work. She suggested that I consider getting trifocals with a visible transition between mid-range and distant focus but I didn't want to try that.

The main down side for me was that when I drive and look down to see the speedometer, it's fuzzy because now looking down just a little puts me in close focus. But for shooting, they're definitely better.

 

[Zundfolge]

Ok coming from the other end of the problem (the gun not your eyes) ... fiber optic front sights are excellent for old eyes. Also consider a reflex/red dot type sight.

What rifle are we talking about here?

 

[Artiz]

That's what I would like to do. Fiber optic or night sights. I wouldn't have to focus on the sights and not see the target I am supposed to shoot at.

 

[spwenger]

Another Alternative for Aging Eyes...

...is the HexSite System. Since it was designed to work with the body's natural tendency to focus on the threat, it does not require a sharp focus on the front sight yet it tends to produce good sight alignment.

 

[wally]

The trouble with special glasses is that you probably won't be wearing them when you need to defend yourself.

Agreed, that's why I had Lasik mono-vision in January. Right eye sees things 2-6' left eye sees things 5' and beyond. My brain decides where I'm "looking". It takes some getting used to, but its a real joy to use iron sights and not have to fumble around with reading glasses. I still use cheap +1 readers for most computer work as then I'm binocular again at the distance of the screen.

Mono-vision doesn't work for everyone so you need a good eye doctor who does a proper evaluation which should include a trial using contact lenses. I could never get the hang of using contacts but my doctor put them in and I went back to have them removed after a weekend trial which convinced me it would work.

The hex sight is a variation of the "peep" or aperture sight which was the only kind of iron sights I could use at all before the Lasik. Getting Lasik was much cheaper than changing the sights on all my guns I also had an astigmatism which made using scopes or red dots much harder than they should be.

--wally.

 

[ishida]

A good idea is to get some white paint, or white nail polish, and carefully paint the back of the sight. It makes it stand out against the read sights. It's fairly cheap, too.

 

[armoredman]

The BIG problem with the truely interesting HexSights is that fact that her CZ-2075 RAMI would be the last model they make sights for, and no, switching to a G-rock is not ann option. Ever.
She did get her glasses adjusted, and can now see her front sight perfectly, looking forward to some range time to confirm it.

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

I am too. They did a great job adjusting me glasses so I can see better. I felt like I was going to loose them if I turned my head. I will give a range report when we can get out there.

 

[spwenger]

I'm Not a Salesman...

...for the HexSite System. I was asked to evaluate it by Ralph Mroz, whom I assisted several years ago with some explanation of the autonomic nervous system and my interpretation of some of the point-shooting methods.

I too was initially under the impression that the system was only actively being marketed for Glock pistols but, after visiting Tim (and having the sights installed on a real Glock and its Airsoft equivalent) I am under the impression that it can readily be installed on any pistol that uses a similar dovetail for the rear sight. I am also under the impression that it was initially designed for use on 1911's.

At this time, it does not appear to be available for revolvers as Tim is uncertain about milling the necessary dovetail into the top strap of a revolver.

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

Spewnger, Has Show Low gotten any cooler yet? I can't wait to try them out. It will cost us $65 to have them put on. Oh well at least I might be able to see what I am shooting at finally.