Bottom line: what is the best way to compensate for being farsighted.
Background: ever since I picked up a rifle for the first time in Basic I was a good shot. I soon was able to qualify expert each time. A few years ago I noticed my scores getting worse. I could still hit targets out to 200 meters. I could still see targets out to 300 but couldn’t hit them. It was soon after that I realized I needed reading glasses for the first time. I diagnosed the problem as not being able to see the rear sight well. Then soon after that my unit got red dot CCOs and I was shooting expert again.
So now at work I’ll be getting one of the old M-16s we have (old military weapons but modified to only fire semi). My vision has not gotten any worse I still use reading glasses. My far vision is still 20/20. What is the best way to shoot to compensate? Do I wear the reading glasses when zeroing? I normally fired with my nose touching the charging handle. Do I push my face back further on the stock? Is there something else?
I’m the other way 'round - crippling nearsightedness.
My reponse to increasingly poor vision is to keep my glasses prescription up to date - yes, I shoot with my glasses on. I’ve lately taken to buying a specfic pair of ‘shooting glasses.’ I’ve also finally swallowed my pride and started putting 'scopes on my rifles.
Most of the articles I’ve seen on the web that discuss your type of problem, deal with how to shoot well in various shooting sports, not how to shoot better as a soldier or LEO. Accordingly, their solutions (having vastly different prescriptions for each eye, utilizing no-line bifocal type glasses, etc…) often optimize your ability to see the sights, but may result in degrading your far or peripheral vision.
For hunters, the solution I’ve read is simply to go to one or another type of optic for the pistol or rifle. I’m going to have to do something similar soon. It’s getting harder and harder to resolve the rear sight, especially in poor light, never mind aligning it with a crisp in focus front sight.
We are allowed to put on optics. I’m not sure what’s out there for a M16A1. I would prefer to have a M4 with picatinny rails and the optics of my choice and we are allowed to buy it ourselves but that’s not going to happen. I have a lot of other things I need to spend my money on and to get one that doesn’t comply with the NJ assault weapons ban I need a letter from the chief with the understanding that it has to leave the state when I retire.
I’ve never used one, but from a very cursory reading, it looks like a gooseneck mount is the way to go. Attach it to the carry handle, and whatever optic you choose sits in front of the carry handle, suspended above the front handguard. Akin to the photosin this thread at arfcom. AIUI, it looks dorky and out of style, and so those mounts aren’t that expensive anymore.
Seems better than trying to jigger glasses and rear aperture sights, especially in low light. Getting my old Anschutz air rifle out recently, snapping in, and trying to get a good sight picture was really humbling. Even with fumbling around with aperture diameters and different front sight posts. I guess I need more light on my indoor range.
Whereabouts in Jersey, roughtly-speaking? If you ever find yourself across the Memorial Bridge, there are some decent shops down this way. I know a few AR builders, and would be happy to help you make the connection.
(no, I don’t get a kickback )
Get yourself a dot sight. Handle mounting will be perfectly adequate for the type of usage that you are likely to encounter as a police officer. Pro Tip: Store an extra battery in the buttstock along with the cleaning kit. Or, get one of these and store it in the grip. No, I don’t think you should be switching batteries under fire…but it might save you some aggravation at qualification. You should form the habit of doing a quick power check on your sight before each shift.
I’m a fan of dot sights - out to about 150 meters, they’re all you really NEED unless you’re a competitive shooter. But as you’re far-sighted, you’re still going to need your glasses for closer shots. Maybe flip-up lenses?
How far sighted? Can you focus sharply on the front sight? IME, that is the second key, the first being proper sight alignment. It sounds like you know how to shoot, so it’s really about picking up the front sight and holding that in sharp focus as you squeeze the trigger. If you cannot focus sharply on the front sight then you have to solve that problem.
That’s looks pretty good. I’ll have to bring that up to the firearms instructor.
I’m a big fan too. The trick is finding a nice one that mounts on a regular M16 without s rail system.
I have no problem seeing the front sight. My eyes are not too bad. I can read normal font in normal light without glasses. It just causes some strain. My eyesight used to be my super power so it’s annoying.
Okay then since you can see the front sight clearly, how are your sight alignment and your sight picture? Breathing control? And trigger control?
Are your rounds impacting in a group but off center, or are the bullet strikes randomly scattered?
You can get better sights but if your basic mechanics aren’t fundamentally sound, better sights won’t make your shooting much better.
I would stick to the iron sights, figure out what you’re doing wrong, and correct that before going to better sights. Once your shooting technique becomes fundamentally sound, then the better sights will take you from expert to excellent.
The B Jones sights are popular with shooters, I had one on my M1. They are made to correct this sort of issue. They have a section on choosing the right power, which can be + or - . http://www.bjonessights.com/AR15.html
Add me to this group. The last time I got new glasses and new Rx sunglasses I made sure they were compliant so I could shoot with them. So far, I’m doing ok just using my Tech sights and my new glasses, but I’m sure a scope is in my near future.
I used such mounts to satisfactorily scope AR15s back in the days before flat top receivers were around. For the type of use to which you will put the rifle, the height of the optic above the bore isn’T an issue.
