Aging eyes and iron sights question
Took the new to me 1895 out yesterday for the first time. It has the pivot-type Lyman rear peep sight and forward post.
Wonderful rifle, BTW.
Before my shoulder turned a nice shade of blue, I was able to achieve a 5", 5 shot group. Achieved slightly better with the Garand, but was able to get to 3" with a Madsen that has rings both fore and aft, which suggests that there is something that can be done in developing a proper sight picture over a front post.
All rifles are 30-06.
Question:
I think I am at the limits of my vision, as the targets tend to fade in and out while sighting.
Any techniques that you have found effective in tightening up groupings as vision declines over iron sights?
Wonderful rifle, BTW.
Before my shoulder turned a nice shade of blue, I was able to achieve a 5", 5 shot group. Achieved slightly better with the Garand, but was able to get to 3" with a Madsen that has rings both fore and aft, which suggests that there is something that can be done in developing a proper sight picture over a front post.
All rifles are 30-06.
Question:
I think I am at the limits of my vision, as the targets tend to fade in and out while sighting.
Any techniques that you have found effective in tightening up groupings as vision declines over iron sights?
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Getting older is a bitch. If you focus on your sights, the target is a blur and vice versa. 0 -
You might make or buy a pinhole lens or cover for your shooting eye, or take along a cheap pair of readers. 0 -
Check out Merits, they sell optical equipment that may help. But I think your use of peep rear helps about as much as possible, do you use a globe front or post type?
When shooting irons I always use a peep rear and use either a Merit or Parker Hale adjustable peep. I also always use a globe front with the circular inserts. Shooting the "circle within a circle" takes advantage of the eye's natural tendency to center as opposed to relying on the sharpness of the sight picture.0 -
Sometimes it's hard to remember to focus on the front sight, but that's where you should be. (assuming you use a post front sight) Also I found it was to my advantage to adopt a "center of mass" hold rather than the usual "six oclock" position. If you use an apature front sight, just keep the fuzz ball in the midle ! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by XXCross
Sometimes it's hard to remember to focus on the front sight, but that's where you should be. (assuming you use a post front sight) Also I found it was to my advantage to adopt a "center of mass" hold rather than the usual "six oclock" position. If you use an apature front sight, just keep the fuzz ball in the midle !
This is correct; the front sight should be kept crystal clear, even if the target goes to fuzz. Getting into the proper position, aligning the sights and squeezing the trigger should happen rather quickly. Our eyes, I'm there too, can't focus so well any more, the front sight is the key to hitting the target.
Alignment of the front sight, within the frame of the rear sight is critical for accurate shooting. You will be amazed how well you can shoot with a crystal clear front sight, properly aligned with a fuzz ball target. It just takes getting used to a shooting rhythm that we did not have to use 30 years ago.
Good Luck!0 -
Hi...Scopes have done it for me....All my rifles have scopes. BT 0 -
Thanks for the input, folks.
I won't be adding to or modifying any rifles. The 1895 is 1920's vintage and most of the others are WWII era. Will spend next couple of sessions concentrating on fuzzy targets.
Thanks again,
Don
Thanks in advance, kimi.[:)]0 -
I'm with you - SOMETHING is going to be out of focus! Thanks for the tip on the front sight. If it ever quits raining and I don't wash away I'll have to give that a shot. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
Thanks for the input, folks.
I won't be adding to or modifying any rifles. The 1895 is 1920's vintage and most of the others are WWII era. Will spend next couple of sessions concentrating on fuzzy targets.
Thanks again,
Don
Don, you are probably sighting correctly with the peep sight and post front, and with the other front sight that has the concentric cirlces when viewed through a peep sight. With the post-type simply center the tip of the front sight in the rear peep and take a thin line of white at six o'clock on the target, hold, and break the shots. Using a front sight and a peep sight that creates concentric circles is somewhat easier than using a post front sight since it takes less concentration to pick up a good sight picture. Both type sights provide the best results when the line of white used is consistent and this requires that the shooter break the shot when the focus is on the sight picture, which causes the target to become fuzzy.
One other thing Don. The difference in the shot group sizes that you note most likely have to do with the more quickly aquired sight picture most people get with the sighting system that has rings both fore and aft. If you want to shoot the smaller groups using the other system it will most likely require improving your hold in terms of keeping better sight alignment. This will cause you to focus more on centering the tip of the front sight in the rear sight aperature, before breaking the shot with your focus on the tip of the front sight balde, line of white, and the target (sight picture).0 -
I am 67 and have similar problems. What I have found for "my eyes" is wearing a pair of full-sized glasses at about 1.50 to 1.75 strength. This seems to give me a clearer sight picture and does not blur the target either. Everyone is different...but you might want to give it a try...the glasses I use are NOT expensive...GOOD LUCK! 0
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