Any advice on rear replacement sights for Steyr FT110 Match Air Rifle

[Speedystcks]

Hi shooters,

I have been shooting 10m target using a Steyr FT110 Match for the past 6 months.

I shoot from a wheelchair and wear glasses. Although I am slightly short sighted it is not a strong prescription.

However I have been having some problems focusing and wondered if a replacement rear sight e.g. Combi Optic 3,0 might help?

I have MS and keeping focussed on the centre of the target for several seconds is proving a difficult task.

Any help or advice concerning optics would be deeply appreciated e.g. Rear Sights or Special Dioptic Sights.

There are many on the market but little information as to the quality or the actual quality of view provided.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Most kind regards
Lee Fairless.

[RobinC]

Lee
Tor target shooting where you are looking through a diopter (peep) rearsight it is no good using your regular glasses. The effect of the rear sight small hole changes the focal length of your glasses outward, but irrespective you should be focusing on the foresight element so for shooting we use a lens in our glasses that allows that and then the effect of the rear sight hole also permits that same lens to be a comprmise to see the target aiming mark enough to centralise it. You should focus on the foresight and judge the amount of white around the aiming mark which is generaly a tad fuzzy except for those with young sharp eyes.
The comprimise focal length is two metres which is achieved by adding +0.5 of a dipter to your standard long vision prescription including any astigmatism correction. For example, long vision is +1.5 then add 0.5 for +2.00, if your prescription is a minus such as -1.5 then add +0.5 for -1.0.
You will need some shooting frames to place the lens central to your eye and sight line and then fit the correct lens. You are not far from one of the best shooting opticians Stephen Hing at Shefford, it would be worth getting some frames and booking a visit. He will test, and make and fit a lens while you wait.

Another sight will make no difference and the lens systems are not permitted in air rifle rules, any correction lens must be in glasses.
Good luck and good shooting.
Robin

[Speedystcks]

Hi Robin,

Thank you for this most informative advice.

It had always crossed my mind if you could wear glasses or use rear sights in competition.

I have read your information and located the said mentioned optician.

Can you tell me though if Stephen Hing specialises in such shooting glasses or is this part of a chain of eye opticians?

I have just ordered new spectacles & feel quite annoyed with myself.

Rather spending on pointless rear sights & another pair of glasses I would be prepared to order a pair of shooting glasses.

I do feel your answer is probably the right way to move forward but should I personally contact Stephen Hing?

Any further advice is deeply appreciated.

Look forward to hearing from you
Kind Regards
Lee.

[RobinC]

Hi Lee
Stephen Hing is a family optician, he is not part of a group, they do not supply shooting frames, you can get these easily from various online suppliers such as Intershoot, etc, do not use standard street frames, you will not be able to get the correct eye line, i.e. looking through the centre of the lens with the lens square and looking through the centre of the sight.
Stephen and his family business has specialised in sorting the correct prescription for shooters for decades and they are known and respected in the shooting comunity. For me and other shooters in our region it is a three hour around trip to Shefford but it is one well worth it and I always recomend it to any shooter needing glasses for shooting. I believe Stephen himself is now retired but that he will come in for shooters, but I also know that the others there are experienced.
I know some shooters get cheaper options (although I do not find Hing's expensive) by using various opticians and having the lens's made but I have also seen and am aware of shooters using the wrong prescription simply because the optician did not understand the requirements of needing a comprimise focal length and the changing effect of that on viewing through a peep sight.
If its practical for you I would advise that you get a set of frames, then book with them, say its for target shooting, and visit them, it is also very convenient that they make and fit the lens in house and while you wait, so its one trip. Stephen or any of the others there will tell you that for rifle shooting (and its irrespective of the range, my glasses I use successfully for 10 mt, 50 mt, and fullbore out to 600 yds) it is your long vision prescription plus half a diopter but it is better that you see them just in case there is some foible with your vision.
The correct vision is critical for shooting, when my wife went to MEC in Germany for coaching last year the first thing they did and insisted on was that she did an eye test with their on site optician to check. If you can't see properly you can not sight properly.
I would also advise that you get assessed for your disability, if you are SH1a which is shooting sitting unsuported and with no back rest you can get an excemption cert from the NSRA and can shoot in NSRA postal and open comps, but this is not my area of expertise so I'd advise that you take further guidance on that.
Best of Luck and Good Shooting
Robin

[peteb4]

Hi you might have a look at the Gehmann cls 579 this can be set to your presciption i have one on order and will let you know how i get on with it .
Pete Beddows

[RobinC]

Hi you might have a look at the Gehmann cls 579 this can be set to your presciption i have one on order and will let you know how i get on with it .
Pete Beddows

This is not legal for air rifle or any other ISSF event, glasses are the proven and best route.
Robin

[Speedystcks]

Dear Robin,

Thank you for this invaulable advice. I intend to buy a pair of light weight glasses & get the lenses fitted as you have suggested.

I will endeavour to contact Stephen Hing the optician you mentioned to fit the lenses. Knowing he has the experience to adjust & fit such frames is of great relief.

I have spoken to so many people who have given me the incorrect information!

It has been a very frusratating 12 months. On top of this I have been trying to contact the disabled shooting association for more information with little response.

Neither have they replied about shooting at Stoke Mandeville this coming weekend!

Hopefully I can get the correct optical equipment in the knowledge I won't be breaking ISSF competition rules.

Many thanks once again.

I will keep you posted
Lee.

[RobinC]

Get proper shooting frames, Intershoot do some pefectly good cheap ones, their basic make is Varga which are fine, you can spend a lot more with various makes but the Varga's will do adequately.
I'm not well up on disabled shooting, but I do know some aspects because I'm involved with our county team coaching and we had some SH2 shooters apply for the team but they are not eligible.
You are welcome to e mail any time if there is any thing I can help with. robin.carter80@ntlworld.com
Good luck and good shooting
Robin