Sight options for older eyes...

[gk2410]

I posted this in response to a question on another forum, but thought it would be of value to many of us "baby-boomers" who can now afford to buy the guns we want but have found that our eyes are letting us down a little...

I'm in the same age range and have experienced the same problem with how difficult it is to quickly achieve a sight picture with the standard sights. I've been looking at some offerings by Heine (I liked the Slant Pro's I saw on a Nighthawk Heine) and Novak.

The Heine web site states, "Standard rear notch width on a Heinie rear sight is .125. We can widen the rear notch to your specification for an additional $25.00. The standard wider widths are .140 or .156".

I found a similar offering from Nokak's that states, "[/I]Novak® Wide Notch Rear Sights will give more light around the front sight for a clearer, faster sight picture. Our standard sight notch is .125 and the wide notch is enlarged to .145. This allows for a lot quicker sight picture and has often been requested by our older shooters to help them see the front sight easier[/I]".

Hopes this helps...

[Rich-D]

The are several alternatives!

Progressive lens eye glasses! The power factor of the lens steadily increases down the lense. Once a sweet spot is discovered the eyes appear to automatically focus at that spot.

Crimson Trace Laser grips! Follow the red cast beam a 99 year old could be a marksman with one.

Ghost ring rear sight! Very quick and easy on old eyes.

A shot Gun! Very effective, instead of a .45% of an inch projectile, you have roughly 4 to 9 inches of pattern at closer ranges. However a bit difficult to conceal! :)

Rich

[sevenL4]

I'm a little older than a boomer, not much, just a little. I have stayed with rear sights with a .125 opening but narrowed my front sights to .110 or a little smaller. I just got back from the range where I shot a friend's pistol.It has a Bomar rear with.125 opening and his front sight is a fiber optic that's .110. I'm gonna change at least one of my guns to the fiber optic. It really gives a great picture and I shot from in the shade and in early afternoon sunlight. A wider rear sight opening is cheaper. All it takes is a good file. I tried it once, years back. Didn't like it. I was giving up too much precision at 50 yds and farther.

[RdB]

I'm using a .125" and .140" wide rear notch along with .125" wide fiber optic front sights. I prefer the .140" notch

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/RussBert/Caspian/caspianbead010.jpg

[jwenum]

Looks good,but can old eyes even up with the gap on both sides?I kinda like 3 dots..L4--past 50 yds??You only got a 1911!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pappy]

GK, take a peek here;

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?threadid=46709

#7

[OD*]

HEIRLOOM PRECISION'S "Retro" and Professional Grade sights have the .140" opening.

Retro
http://www.brownells.com/Images/Products/100002166.jpg

Professional Grade
http://www.brownells.com/Images/Products/100002402.jpg

[saltydog]

I use reading glasses and they may not always be where they normally would be.

If there should be a serious social confrontation it'd be unlikely that I could call for a 'time out' in order to position my glasses correctly. I have found that, for me and my eyes, a rear sight with a width .024-.030 wider than the front works with or w/o the readers. The depth on the rear is a deep as possible and there is a Tritium vial or paint on the front.

It would not win at Perry, but works well for its intended purpose.

salty