Over 60 shooting
- Thread starter ChasMack
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You send your pistols off, have them drilled and tapped for an optical mount, and you use a Red Dot type sight
S&W drilled and tapped this M41, I have a better sight on top now.
Ruger did this one:
I sent the slide off to Clark and they drilled and tapped and installed the mount.
I dumped the Schwartz safety instead of having the rear sight milled.
S&W drilled and tapped this M41, I have a better sight on top now.
Ruger did this one:
I sent the slide off to Clark and they drilled and tapped and installed the mount.
I dumped the Schwartz safety instead of having the rear sight milled.
doubleh
Member
Hey, there's nothing wrong with that BSA sight except it's big and ugly like all 30mm tube sights. 
I have one on a Crosman air pistol that's been there for years and I can shoot it pretty good thanks to that cheap red dot. I wouldn't put it on anything with more recoil than a 22 rimfire though.
I have a couple of Ruger MK pistols and installed dovetail mounted Burris FastFire III red dots. It sure made a difference in my accuracy with those.
I have one on a Crosman air pistol that's been there for years and I can shoot it pretty good thanks to that cheap red dot. I wouldn't put it on anything with more recoil than a 22 rimfire though. I have a couple of Ruger MK pistols and installed dovetail mounted Burris FastFire III red dots. It sure made a difference in my accuracy with those.
Let me express my preference for the slide mounted optical sight on a M1911. Now, I am only shooting light target rounds in that Kimber and in this Les Baer wadcutter. Les Baer told me, not to shoot bullets heavier than 200 grain in this 45 ACP, because of the added weight of the rail and optical sight.
I assume the extra weight is hard on the frame so this is a limitation. But, I like being able to grab the slide and rack the pistol open using the Ultra Dot as a handle. The pistol is also easy to take apart and clean.
mdauben
Member
Looking at that big, ugly sight on that beautiful Model 41 makes me want to cry, but as I enter my 60s I can understand why you would do it. I've got a red dot on my Ruger Mk.III Competition, and its a dream to aim. Much easier than my iron sighted handguns, even though my sight isn't that bad... yet.
I agree. I am shooting my Bullseye Pistols at 25 yards and 50 yards, if I can't get a good sight picture I won't be hitting my target. This is also true for my other recreational pistols, I am shooting them at ranges that are way beyond "combat distances". Look at a bunch of Utube videos for an idea of the close distances found in actual shootings. At those distances, seeing your front sight is paramount in hitting, the rear sight is sort of, in the fore ground.
If you notice, optical sights are slowly becoming supplemental to irons in modern production pistols, and we seeing factory pistols made for Delta Point optics.
Sistema1927
Member
I thought that we weren't supposed to discuss religion here.
I had cataract surgery on both eyes about 5 years ago, and my ability to see sights is now greatly improved at age 62.
George P
member
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- Jan 10, 2018
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I have a few range guns that I may have to look into putting something like those on. But I have others, like my HK P7s that I am not going to alter in anyway.
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I have a stack of the various strength reading glasses that I have needed over the years. I just bring the pair that works best with the iron sights on whichever gun, rifle or pistol, that I'll be shooting that day.
(As well as the current pair that I need to see stuff up close with..)
(As well as the current pair that I need to see stuff up close with..
)
I have a stack of the various strength reading glasses that I have needed over the years. I just bring the pair that works best with the iron sights on whichever gun, rifle or pistol, that I'll be shooting that day.
(As well as the current pair that I need to see stuff up close with..
Ya know, you can "stack" those reading glasses as needed, too. Don't ask how I know.
Regards,
hps
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I'm 60. I wore contacts for years until I started needing reading glasses in addition. Then I went to progressive lens glasses; I figured one pair of glasses that did everything I needed was better than contacts + glasses. I am mostly happy with the solution.
However, the medium focal distance with the progressive lenses is at the center point of vertical, and I look out of the top part of the lens while shooting handguns. To bring the sights into focus, I have to tip my head back further than is comfortable. So last year I had the doc put together a prescription for shooting glasses. They are mono vision; the left lens is focused for distance, the right lens (I am right-eye dominant) is focused at the distance of my front sight. They work great.
The only drawback is that it takes my eyes (especially the right) a little while to readjust back to my normal progressive lenses after a shooting session. But because the lenses in the shooting glasses are single focus, they were inexpensive compared to my regular prescription.
However, the medium focal distance with the progressive lenses is at the center point of vertical, and I look out of the top part of the lens while shooting handguns. To bring the sights into focus, I have to tip my head back further than is comfortable. So last year I had the doc put together a prescription for shooting glasses. They are mono vision; the left lens is focused for distance, the right lens (I am right-eye dominant) is focused at the distance of my front sight. They work great.
The only drawback is that it takes my eyes (especially the right) a little while to readjust back to my normal progressive lenses after a shooting session. But because the lenses in the shooting glasses are single focus, they were inexpensive compared to my regular prescription.
wally
Member
My solution is correct your vision for distance and use red-dot sights or scopes.
I had cataract surgery 2+ years ago. My opthamologist/surgeon was a shooter too so I was given a slightly different lens in each eye, similar to a contact lens monovision setup. This has allowed me to have a clear view of the front sight with one eye and clear view of the target with the other (or with both). FWIW, I too have noticed that I'm a better shot with my GP100 than with any of my 1911s primarily because the gap in the rear sight on that revolver is wider and than on the semi-autos. This allows me a much better view of the front post.
Capt.Roll
Member
This was my solution as well. I've had corrected vision since 5th grade. Glasses at first then contacts; had LASIK twelve years ago and opted for distance correction. I use inexpensive readers for close up work. So now I have the "over 60 eyes" and the last several years my vision is changing. I could use a LASIK touch up but have decided to see if my vision settles before getting that done. When I want crystal clear distance I wear +1.0 contacts or glasses. Sometimes I simply go without correction as my distance vision is still very good.
For shooting it's either an in-focus target or iron sights and I usually opt for the distance corrected as that is the everyday "normal" for me. My iron sights are blurry so the sight picture is okay but not precise and it takes a little longer to obtain good sight alignment. I used to be able to hold that sight/target alignment through a string of shots but now it's a struggle. Add to the mix I've started some IDPA and USPSA competitions; slow/poor target alignment is not helpful.
My LGS had a "Christmas In July" sale a couple of weeks ago; picked up a full size Sig P320RX for a very attractive price. With the ROMEO1 reflex my right eye easily obtains the red dot and I'm now more precise and much faster getting on target. I've only put 250 rounds through the P320 with one IDPA match; glad I made the investment in the new tool as it's helping to make shooting more fun.
wally
Member
Love my Sig P320RX, they have had some very nice prices on these recently.
SwampWolf
Member
I'm 75 and have gotten smarter and smarter as I've gotten older and older. The secret for shooting better with aging eyes is to get closer and closer to the target.
I'm 75 and have gotten smarter and smarter as I've gotten older and older. The secret for shooting better with aging eyes is to get closer and closer to the target.
Classic!
MrTwigg
Member
I have issues with macular degeneration my dominant (right) eye, I'm also right handed. I'm teaching myself to shoot with my left eye now by canting my 1911 and twisting my head to the right. It feels weird but it works. Not much I can to about long gun shooting though. Magnified optics help.
I have thought about an offset scope mount for rifle as I have MD (slowly developing, thank God) and a cataract on my dominant eye. Handgun should be pretty easy but offset mount is all I can think of short of learning to shoot left handed. Cataract can be removed when ready, but not MD. @ 82 YOA hoping eyesight will last long enough to avoid crossing that bridge.
Regards,
hps
TomJ
Contributing Member
I'm in my mid 50's, but need reading glasses. Both front and back sights are fuzzy to me. I have a Sig P320RX, and the red dot sight is great. I haven't found a holster that allows my to carry it comfortably all day yet, but will when I find that holster. Tru Glo TFO sights on my other guns help, and prescription shooting glasses help at the range.
BilliamB.
Member
When I'm at the range, my bench looks like an eyeglass counter, given all the glasses I bring. LOLI have a stack of the various strength reading glasses that I have needed over the years. I just bring the pair that works best with the iron sights on whichever gun, rifle or pistol, that I'll be shooting that day.
(As well as the current pair that I need to see stuff up close with..
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