Aging eyes and iron sights

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Im 62 years old and I have exactly the same problem.
I use a colimator with a red dot or rifle scope and all.

 

[Royal27]

I was advised not to have laser correction as, over time, my prescription will actually get better for close work.

I found this really cool popup peep sight by Brockman. It will pop up on a spring when the scope is removed. Comes with a Talley base. But it is not designed to the 798

I've seen that and am considering it too. Would make a good combination for buff/tuskless I think.

 

[ActionBob]

I have progressive lenses and they suck for shooting! If my glasses slide down a bit I see two crosshairs with a scope. But I can get my scopes focused to see through them without glasses. I do have a pair of sunglasses that are not progressive but as I've become used to the bifocal/progressives, I will almost fall over if I try to focus on something close when wearing them.

As for open sights, forget anything past 50 yards. A good scope on 1 to 2 x is my answer.... I have a red dot on an AK but for hunting, I think a good 1-4 or 1-6 scope is a better choice... Still gives the option of reaching out a bit farther if the need arises... And if I've learned anything, in hunting you should always be prepared for the un-expected!

 

[Pheroze]

I have started to scope out a Leupold 1-6x....

 

[colorado]

I'm 65 and my distance vision is about 20 - 50 which is what it's been since eight grade. I use distance glasses for night driving and golf, but not for shooting. I can still hit a desert plate with iron sights out to 50 yards offhand, but all my rifles are scoped with Talley QR rings. I still practice with irons though. Never know when you'll need them. I have an NECG orange fiber optic sight on my CZ 550 with the stock express rear sights. They work fine for me. As you mentioned I don't wear anything but uncorrected Ray Bans for shooting glasses with my rifles or handguns. Seeing the sights on my 45s is more important than the target being a little fuzzy at least for me.

 

[IdaRam]

Unfortunately I'm right there with the rest of you. I started noticing my eyes starting to change about two years ago when I hit 45. I'm still able to shoot irons ok, but it's getting tougher. Aperture (peep) sights definitely make it easier.
Just like everything else, I think practice helps a bunch. Even though we struggle with the clarity of the sight picture and target image, practice and repetition allows us to develop a familiarity and reflex "memory" of the desired picture and aids in the "acquisition" of that picture. At a bare minimum regular practice with the irons keeps our limitations in clear focus Familiarity brings confidence, confidence in our abilities and limitations makes us better shooters and hunters. Until I just plain cannot use iron sights, I'm going to fight tooth and nail and keep practicing with them.
Here's how I've decided to look at it. As I get older I have to work harder to maintain my skills and the ability to do the things I love. In a lot of ways that just sucks, but there is an upside It means that I need to spend more time at the range, more time hiking in the hills to stay in shape and more time hunting!
In addition to range time, dry fire practice always pays dividends. Put on a good hunting video, grab your weapon of choice and practice mounting the gun and acquiring the target. Shooting sticks can be added if practice with them is needed too.
Nothing wrong with practicing with an open sight .22 either. Or something other than that big bore that's so expensive to shoot! A bolt action .22 is one of the best practice tools there is.
Also, offhand shooting is an acquired skill and one that is extremely perishable. Standing up and shooting offhand is one of the best ways to be a better shooter all the way around, but too few people do it with regularity. Me included! Kill two birds with one stone and practice irons and offhand shooting together.
Don't give up on the irons! I have a friend in his 70's that's still shooting open sights and cussing his old eyeballs. His vision isn't great but he continues to school me with enough regularity that I question just how bad his vision really is! I think he just likes to be able to rub my face in it and tell me even a blind man can shoot better than me Jerk
To quote Velo Dog. Stay on that front sight!

 

[vthunter52]

I also have dealt with this problem....have always hunted with a peep, and when couldn't see that good went to a scope...didn't like the added weight. Gone back to open and peep sights, and have installed a shotgun Hi-Viz bead on the end of the bll. and no rear sight. The rifle that I have sety up with this is a .50 BP, and shoots accurately to 75 yds. and has brought down several deer and 1 bear. Shoots like a shotgun, and carry's very easy in the bush....Gary

 

[Velo Dog]

Likewise, I am a geezer (my family claims that I'm 62).
Although blessed with generally better than average eyesight all my life, nobody's eyes can stand the test of time.
Mine are playing tricks on me these days.
Like others here, I recommend either a low powered scope on your DG rifle or a "ghost ring" type peep and I like a white front bead - large size.
Also, I can still shoot well a very shallow/wide "V" rear "express sight" when combined with, again - a large white bead front (or German silver is almost good for my eyes as well).
Not sure if those are for everyone but those three work for my old man eyes and perhaps might work for other older chaps like me as well.

 

[vthunter52]

I'm 63 today, and feel your pain...Gary

 

[Pheroze]

Old thread but I thought I would include this here instead of a new one. I have a pop-up peep sight on my Brno. I decided I wanted to try and use it when hunting distances will be short. I cannot master the thing with both eyes open - it's just a visual mess. But, with one eye open, I find it is very useable with my normal glasses on. This is good and bad as I had the idea that the sight would be used for quick shots - harder when I have to squint and aim first. The range is closed so I will keep practicing with dryfire drills for now.

 

[Ike85123]

try getting your eyes lazered , bloody amazing the difference!!!

I bought new glasses last year. I asked the doc about laser surgery. She said it is mostly for younger people. She said at my age, it isnt an option, im only 48.
She did say there is a computerized contact implant available in europe, hasnt passed the u.s. medical dept yet.
She said these contacts can be controlled by a doctor to increase prescription when needed and are 5k per eye.
Sounds like something from a movie !
I might consider these after my eyes fail alittle more.

 

[spike.t]

W

I bought new glasses last year. I asked the doc about laser surgery. She said it is mostly for younger people. She said at my age, it isnt an option, im only 48.
She did say there is a computerized contact implant available in europe, hasnt passed the u.s. medical dept yet.
She said these contacts can be controlled by a doctor to increase prescription when needed and are 5k per eye.
Sounds like something from a movie !
I might consider these after my eyes fail alittle more.

Well I will say bullshit she doesn't know what she is talking about....had mine done when I was around 49 or 50....friend who was the optician who did the pre checks for the specialist ,said when I was first talking to him at one of the parties back at our house that happened on the odd occasion when I brought it up that I should wait as long as possible...because after the laser your eyes will still degrade as you age ...I eventually got fkd off when I was looking through binoculars and putting glasses back on then taking off to use binoculars when was trying to check an animal for my son....I went fk this mentally, and when we got back to where am from...as then wasnt in Zambia full time I got hold of my friend...nit too hard as their house was at the end of our driveway...told him do it...did the tests and st end he put some contact lenses in ..never used before and he said this is how we will adjust your eyes....well then I said bloody well do it right now....but had to waith for specialist to fly over from London....when was leaving he called me back and said you forgetting something....the contacts...he took them out and I was like what the fk.....if I am not sorted for next time he is over you are in big shit.....

 

[Ike85123]

W

Well I will say bullshit she doesn't know what she is talking about....had mine done when I was around 49 or 50....friend who was the optician who did the pre checks for the specialist ,said when I was first talking to him at one of the parties back at our house that happened on the odd occasion when I brought it up that I should wait as long as possible...because after the laser your eyes will still degrade as you age ...I eventually got fkd off when I was looking through binoculars and putting glasses back on then taking off to use binoculars when was trying to check an animal for my son....I went fk this mentally, and when we got back to where am from...as then wasnt in Zambia full time I got hold of my friend...nit too hard as their house was at the end of our driveway...told him do it...did the tests and st end he put some contact lenses in ..never used before and he said this is how we will adjust your eyes....well then I said bloody well do it right now....but had to waith for specialist to fly over from London....when was leaving he called me back and said you forgetting something....the contacts...he took them out and I was like what the fk.....if I am not sorted for next time he is over you are in big shit.....

She was an optometrist. So she may have just been wanting to keep me coming back for glasses ? Lol

 

[Hogpatrol]

Another option for iron sights and aging eyes is bifocals at the top shooting glasses.

https://www.amazon.com/SSP-Eyewear-Interchangeable-TF175-AMZ/dp/B08K4H4HSK/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=top+bifocal+shooting+glasses&link_code=qs&qid=1620425464&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-2

 

[Flipper Dude]

Multi-focal lens implants. Wore cheaters for 10 years. PITA. Hadn’t shot iron sights in ages. Now I can see just as good if not better than I ever have.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I need my glasses for distance, particularly in dim light. I only use them for driving and hunting (typically contacts for the latter). I can make out objects a distance much better with them on. The problem is that with them on the iron sights are extremely hard to make out. I try to focus on the front sight but the rear presents as such a blur I cannot tell whether the front is in the notch or not. Even the front sight remains blurred a bit. I was experimenting today without glasses and I can aim well with both the iron sights and the scope is totally fine. For targets its fine. I am considering hunting without glasses but I am concerned about picking out the critter in the woods. Is it time to give up on iron sights? Or has anyone else faced a similar dilemma and figured out a way to cope?

@Pheroze
Mate I have the s a me problem as you. As an experiment I changed a set of standard irons for the hi-viz fluro style
Now it's a peice of cake as my front sight is red and rear sight has 2 green dots. Line the red dot up between the two green dots with target and pull trigger. Much easier.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I'm 63 today, and feel your pain...Gary

@vthunter52
Happy birthday mate.like you I'm 63 in a few months. I had to get glasses when I went to renew my drivers license. The said read the chart. My answer s were squiggle, blurred , I think it's a c but tg could be a d or o.
I can't were bifocals so have to have both reading and distance.
Unfortunately parts for us late 50s models are had to get so we have to adapt and over come.
At least we can still get out of bed and hunt and enjoy life.
One thing about the eyesight going is you still think the wife is beautiful because you can't see her properly, but when you put the glasses on it soon brings to uh back to reality that you are both getting old.
Bob

 

[ZG47]

@vthunter52
Happy birthday mate.like you I'm 63 in a few months. I had to get glasses when I went to renew my drivers license. The said read the chart. My answer s were squiggle, blurred , I think it's a c but tg could be a d or o.
I can't were bifocals so have to have both reading and distance.
Unfortunately parts for us late 50s models are had to get so we have to adapt and over come.
At least we can still get out of bed and hunt and enjoy life.
One thing about the eyesight going is you still think the wife is beautiful because you can't see her properly, but when you put the glasses on it soon brings to uh back to reality that you are both getting old.
Bob

You do realise that she can also read this … ?

 

[Pheroze]

@Pheroze
Mate I have the s a me problem as you. As an experiment I changed a set of standard irons for the hi-viz fluro style
Now it's a peice of cake as my front sight is red and rear sight has 2 green dots. Line the red dot up between the two green dots with target and pull trigger. Much easier.
Bob

I can use the peep fine when I close one eye. But with both open it is a challenge as neither eye seems to be dominant. So, the idea of using it in a quick snap situation is probably not possible. I am sure there is a technique I don't know to get on a target quickly....

 

[HWL]

I'm 63 today, and feel your pain...Gary

I'm 64, and I just shoot into the direction I hear the noise....