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Thread: Correcting pistol sight picture

  1. #1
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    Correcting pistol sight picture

    In the five years since I last shot pistol I think my eyesight may have gone downhill - I’ve had an eyesight test in that time and prescription in my weak (left) eye had got slightly worse, but right eye was the same

    I’ve always used an opaque blinder (bit of plastic milk bottle tucked into a sweatband), but now at 10m the front and rear sight are a blur, and the target is in focus

    Tried focusing on foresight as I bring pistol onto target, have tried dimming lights on target, and only difference I can otherwise attribute this change to is different light levels on firing point end

    I’ve got an old pair of specs which I’ve blacked out the left lens, and ordered an iris (cheapy from China via that auction site) to stick on the right lens as a step towards reducing field of vision to sharpen focus.. could be a few weeks before that arrives, so any other pointers would be appreciated! Long term will consider a pukka pair of glasses, but that’s a lot of money to commit before trying all other options!

    Ta

  2. #2
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    http://www.eyepalusa.com

    Have a look at this website, then make yourself one like I did, using a piece of black electrical tape and a big sewing machine needle
    Donald

  3. #3
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    Iris I’ve gone for adjusts from 0.3mm to 16mm, I’ve got time on my hands before it arrives from China, so will experiment with tape on lens - another option is to increase lens strength, had read somewhere on internet (and now can’t find it again!) that an increase of 0.5 dioptre should be enough to bring sights into focus

  4. #4
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    Yes to focus on the front sight you need a +.50 dioptre added to your distance prescription. For older people +.75. (Stronger light requires a stronger lens.)

    (I may have a pair of Varga shooting frame with 37 m lens holder going spare, not pristine but quite cheap.)
    Evo 10 Compact.

  5. #5
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    Thanks Silvershooter - I’ve been looking at Varga frames if I end up going down the ‘proper’ glasses route purely based on price, but even then getting a lens ground to the correct strength will still push the price up as it’s not the sort of thing Specsavers or the like will offer

  6. #6
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    Hi Aaron

    I've had all my lens done at Specsavers (3 or 4). If you have a prescription with them ask them to add on .75 to your distance prescription, they will need a lens holder and preferably a sample lens of the same size.
    I think I paid about £35 each time for a lens with non reflective coating.
    Evo 10 Compact.

  7. #7
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    That's not as bad as I thought it would be... any chance of some pictures of the frames you are selling?

  8. #8
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    Hi
    The glasses are fine,just the case is a bit ropy, with tape to act as the hinge, the 2 plastic clasps have broken and I used a rubber band round the case to keep it closed.

    This thread does not seem to allow me to put an image up, I'll send a pm.
    Evo 10 Compact.

  9. #9
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    I get my shooting lenses made at Specsavers and they're spot on,

    As already mention +.5 on your prescription, my branch actually lets me take my pistol in and gives me a test at Sight length, They've also made me filters and tinted lenses to reduce glare outdoors, Ask for an anti glare coating on the lens when you order, makes all the difference indoors or to increase contrast a level 1 yellow tint,
    Steyr LP10, Steyr LP5,
    Vintage Collection - Walther LP53, HW77k Venom, BSF S20 Match, Original 35, ASI Target plus lots more

  10. #10
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    I wear 2 diopter glasses for reading. When I took up 10m air pistol after a very long break I really struggled to focus on the foresight.

    No glasses meant that the sights felt like they were miles away down range! Wearing my 2 diopter glasses gave me a fantastic view of the rear sight! I then bought a cheap pair of 1.5 diopter glasses. This helped a bit, then I tried 1.25 diopter which made the foresight come into focus more. I still found my eyes getting tired, Robin Carter gave me some very good advice and suggested opening up the rear sight width to put more 'air' between the sides of the foresight, I did this at the same time as trying a pair of 1 diopter glasses.... wow what a difference the foresight was now in focus with a nice 'fussy' rear sight. I still struggle with sometimes losing the foresight which is just lack of concentration and have to remind myself to focus on it from time to time.

    Lesson of the story... do experiment a bit, for now I'm still wearing the cheapo 1 diopter glasses with a blind on my right eye (before anyone makes any funny remarks, I'm left handed/eye'd!)

    Also tried a clip on diopter, didn't work for me, so for sale if anyone wants it

  11. #11
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    I find it helps to focus on something at roughly the same distance away as the front sight for 2 or 3 minutes before starting to shoot, This allows the muscles time to pull the lens into focus. I just place a manual or target on the table slightly to the side. Between shots I don't look anywhere else except though the spotting scope. But I know the real solution will be proper glasses.

  12. #12
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    What eye deviation do you have? + or -? And how much?
    I have considerable eye deviation of about +2.50, though I can focus fine on front sight my eyes only tire relative quickly.
    Allthough eyesight can get worse over time, I doubt focuspoint can shift about 10 meters. Cause thats what yr talking about.(from front sight clear to target clear).
    Rear sight should be blurred. You cant focus on 3 things at a time.
    Focus should be at front sight.
    An often made mistake is switching focus between sight to target and back.
    Allthough you may get away with it when young, you cant when older because eyes are less flexible and cant focus that quickly anymore.
    ATB,
    yana

  13. #13
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    Discover, email me about the clip on diopter. My dad has an excellent left eye, but his right has a cataract. We recently shot 38 gallery rifles with peep sights and he found the view excellent. It may be something he could use.
    Thisisdonald@Gmail.com
    P.s. your inbox is full
    Donald

  14. #14
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    RobinC is offline Awesome Shooting Coach and Author.
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    Sighting

    1. If you do not have the correct prescription you will of course struggle, go to a good optician, ask if you can take your pistol, and get him to test on hold, and have a lens made that gives sharp clear focus at foresight distance. it will be your long vision plus some, different depending on your arm length and barrel length, and the lens should include any astigmatism if you have one. Plus 0.5 dioptre is incorrect, that is for RIFLE, and gives a focal length of 2 metres which compensates for the peephole of a rear sight.

    Beware the cheap options, the exact lens you will need must be correct to tenths of a dioptre, the cheapies are not, so you will be on a compromise.The best Optician we use, and always advise is Stephen Hing at Shefford, near Bedford, and ask to book for Stephen, you will not need to take your pistol as he understands shooting and will test correctly, and he makes his own lens's. Its a hike, but if you want to enjoy your sport go to the best.

    2. Get as wide a fore sight as you can, and then open the rear sight width or make a new one if its limited, so you have a big gap at the the rear.

    3. Don't waste time with an iris, you want more light not less, all an iris does as well is draw your focus out, and that is the opposite to what you want.

    Have Fun
    Robin
    Walther KK500 Alutec expert special - Barnard .223 "wilde" in a Walther KK500 Alutec stock, mmm...tasty!! - Keppeler 6 mmBR with Walther grip and wood! I may be a Walther-phile?

  15. #15
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    Turnup is offline Dialling code‎: ‎01344
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    There is a specialist shooting optician at Bisley next to Fulton's - only about an hour from Southampton. Worth checking before you go as I don't think they are open every day.
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