I got an eye exam a week ago. When you get to be an old geezer like me, it's hard to see that front sight if you shoot with open iron sights. I know a scope would solve my problem, but I shoot old guns for which the average age is just over 100 years and I like to use their open iron sights. Before I went, I measured the distance from my shooting eye to the front sight of my shortest levergun, a Winchester Model 53. My Winchester 94 carbine is actually shorter, but I use a receiver sight on it, so a fellow can be blind as a bat and still get five-shot, sub-2" groups at 100 yards, so I measured my second shortest rifle that had open iron sights instead. During the exam I told the optometrist that I wanted a prescription for the right eye that could make the front sight sharp at the distance I measured, but still leave the target at 100 yards pretty sharp as well. He figured out a prescription (-3) but said that I really should bring my rifle in and he'd try a couple different lenses on me while I sighted through my open iron sights. I told him I didn't want to panic his clients when I came in with a rifle, so he booked the follow-up, rifle appointment for the last appointment of the day, which was today.
Well, it looks like I'm finally going to see those front sights again. For this second appointment with a rifle, in addition to my Model 53 44-40, I brought an extra old gun along (Springfield Model 1888) because he was really interested in old guns. I told him that I have an old legal antique Colt SAA 45 Schofield that dates back to the 1800's and invited him to come over and shoot it. He was really excited about that and is going to come over to 'read the book' over a stump I have in the back yard.
All in all, for those of you who just don't want to quit shooting with those open iron sights, this is the way to go. I couldn't believe how much better I could see those sights and the distance target with the new prescription he's going to get me. When I put my normal glasses on, I was amazed I could shoot at all with them, let alone get 5-shot groups of 2" at 100 yards like I done a two weeks ago. I've been shooting blind as a bat for the past couple years. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well I can shoot with the new glasses, which should be ready in a week.
Well, it looks like I'm finally going to see those front sights again. For this second appointment with a rifle, in addition to my Model 53 44-40, I brought an extra old gun along (Springfield Model 1888) because he was really interested in old guns. I told him that I have an old legal antique Colt SAA 45 Schofield that dates back to the 1800's and invited him to come over and shoot it. He was really excited about that and is going to come over to 'read the book' over a stump I have in the back yard.
All in all, for those of you who just don't want to quit shooting with those open iron sights, this is the way to go. I couldn't believe how much better I could see those sights and the distance target with the new prescription he's going to get me. When I put my normal glasses on, I was amazed I could shoot at all with them, let alone get 5-shot groups of 2" at 100 yards like I done a two weeks ago. I've been shooting blind as a bat for the past couple years. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well I can shoot with the new glasses, which should be ready in a week.
