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Shooting confidence...

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Honkytonk View Drop Down
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    Posted: February 27 2018 at 6:35pm
I always felt I was a pretty good shot. If 0 is can't hit the barn door and 10 is MOA, I believe I was a solid 8.5. 30 years ago. I took a few years off of regular shooting. That, and age, eyesite and the fact I don't shoot "modern" rifles anymore has put me to a solid 6 on the scale. I will never be a marksman, but felt a need to refine my shooting for hunting. One thing I've done in the last few days I'd bring homemade targets to the range. 4" bullseye's quartered and blacked out in opposing quarters. Using fixed optics or iron sites, I find easier to site in, making for tighter groups. I actually dropped (with my No4 Parker Hale 4x Weaver) from 3" @ 100 yds to just under 2". Feels good, and boosts the confidence!
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britrifles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 27 2018 at 6:59pm
Honkytonk, I’ve got similar problems. I really wished I had taken up shooting when I was in my 20s and had average eyesight. I’m now on the tail end of my 50s and need 2.5x readers. I could not hit a thing with a No. 1 rifle with an open sight. Fortunately, our Vintage Service Rifle matches allow a reduced size aperture to be used and I also use 1X glasses. With that, I can reasonably see the front sight although the target is quite blurry. The frustrating thing is my left eye is so much better, but I can’t bring myself to retrain to shoot left handed. Seeing the front sight reasonably clearly is essential to accurate shooting.

I sometimes “frame” the front post within the target outer frame, it’s surprisingly effective. I can barely make out a 6 MOA black aiming mark, it’s just a blurry smudge on a white background.

Years ago, my Dad’s shooting partner would suddenly switch from right to left handed shooting when his right eye got tired, right in the middle of a match! I’ve got his service rifle score book he started in 1944 and he was an exceptional shooter with the No. 4.
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Stanforth View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stanforth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 3:47am
I'm in my mid 70's and use + 3.5 glasses to read.
When using my Enfield Envoy with it's target sights I don't use glasses. When using my No.4 I use 1X glasses as it has the Singer sight and works well. It's my SMLE that causes me trouble as I cannot focus on the rear sight and the foresight. The answer was simple. I have a pair of 1X glasses with the right lens taped over and a pinhole in the tape.... Perfect sight picture. 
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Zed View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 4:05am
interesting that we all have eyesight issues creaping in with age!
 I was having trouble with my pistol shooting. I had started getting worse (although it's never been great). Realised the I was automatically focusing on the traget because I could no longer focus on the front sight. Got some x1 lenses that clip in my safety glasses. It's helped bring the pistol back on track.
 However, first time I tried my latest No4 rifle; I'd left the lenses in for the first five shots and the group was average. Took them out and found the target was not so fuzzy and got a really nice group with the second five rounds.
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Pukka Bundook View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 5:58am
Me too on the eyes thing.
64 now and they don't work as well as they did.
Seems we all have a similar solution, or at least Part solution.
 
I stick a piece of electrical tape with a hole burned in it on some sun glasses, (yellow lense) to sight through, and it clears up the sight picture no end.  I still have to wait for the clouds to roll by, so to speak, but it does enable me to see the sights.
the yellow lenses are because that's what I had.  Don't normally use glasses at all to shoot, but seems it's best to now.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 6:10am
I recently got an Merit adjustable iris (peep) that attaches to shooting glasses via small suction cup for shooting the Martini Henry rifle with open sights.  Haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it will help a lot. Tape with a pin hole would have been a lot cheaper!
On my No. 4, I epoxied on a thin sheet of brass to the Singer sight over the existing peep with a hole drilled with a small numbered bit (#55 I think, 0.052 diameter) and painted flat black.  Much better and allowed by the CMP Games Match Rule 4.2.1(g).   
 
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shamu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 7:44am
I'm about 1 1/2 diopter minus now, mostly I use optical sights.
The dial-in P-H eyepiece with its 6 apertures of diminishing size  is a great aid with the SMLE.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A square 10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2018 at 7:23pm
im not gettin old - just my eyes dont work like they used to 50 years ago , i still enjoy using the irons when i can get a 60 yd range - OK sometimes the 25 , 
i bought scopes for some that i really like to shoot 
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