Am another that just looks over the top of pistol to line it up at close range. This can be extremely effective, especially in getting rapid shots off. However pistol skills are very perishable, and for me a j frame snubbie takes more practice than semi. Perhaps one of the reasons am using semi's for almost all carry purposes.
Sad days at the range forces me to change EDC
- Thread starter Grimjaws
- Start date
I'm 64 and the last few years my eyesight has gotten worse and have not done too well with my iron sighted handguns so I've been shooting my Sig 365 XL with Holosun dot sight a lot. Those circle/dot sights are the best thing that has ever happened to aging eyes and I can shoot that pistol as well as my iron sighted lever action carbine. However, I did recently buy a M&P 10m/m that has the really tall supressor sights and I thought they looked pretty goofy, but man I shoot that gun better than any other iron sighted handgun I own!
It's crucial that sometimes we set everything aside, and reasses the goal, and how to achieve it. EDC is for our literal survival. Anything interfering with that ultimatre goal needs to be discarded or modified so it doesn't interfere anymore.
forget vanity, forget nostalgia. It's a tool to keep you alive. Is it still the proper tool for YOU, TODAY?
forget vanity, forget nostalgia. It's a tool to keep you alive. Is it still the proper tool for YOU, TODAY?
RMFnLA
Member
More capacity, faster shooting, quicker reloads, flatter profile.
I’d say you’re way ahead of the game with the Shield.
I know I am…
I’d say you’re way ahead of the game with the Shield.
I know I am…
Thanks AJ!
Remember the story of FBI agent Benjamin Grogan during the Miami Shootout in 1986 whose glasses went flying off in the car collision. I have practiced without glasses and have bought glasses with temples which remain in place during strenuous activity. Grogan shot well during the fight, by the way, and is credited with landing the first hit.
I am using Col. Cooper's "flash sight picture". I never shoot the j frame beyond 12 yards. I think Grimjaws was telling us that he is missing the paper plate at 7 yards and 10 yards. I completely agree that this is absolutely unacceptable. If changing equipment provides an immediate solution, then it is imperative that he do so! I gather that this has happened rather suddenly to his eyes which I can understand. My eyes have gotten progressively worse, and I have slowly adjusted to it, I guess.
Remember the story of FBI agent Benjamin Grogan during the Miami Shootout in 1986 whose glasses went flying off in the car collision. I have practiced without glasses and have bought glasses with temples which remain in place during strenuous activity. Grogan shot well during the fight, by the way, and is credited with landing the first hit.
AJ
US Veteran
Three out of four ain't bad. Faster shooting, not hardly. A revolver can fire faster than an auto anyday. A auto fires at a set rate, the revolver fires a fast as the trigger can be pulled. [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USv4Q3Kr-A0[/ame]
JcMack
Member
I'm 76 and had my cataracts removed earlier this year. It's almost a miracle the way my eyesight has improved. Everything is MUCH brighter and clearer. I don't need glasses for now. I wore them for 30 years. The down side is looking in the mirror in the morning is now much scarier. Have you been checked for cataracts?
All great points
That’s why this forum is gold. So many great suggestions. I have astigmatism and wear bifocals. No cataracts as I get my eyes checked every year.
I’ve been a target revolver shooter for years and just recently got into steel shooting at the club. They added a combat range with steel targets that range from small 6” plates to man sized silhouettes. I can shoot at various ranges from 10-70 yards if I want as there is no firing line per se just reloading stations.
The five spaced 6” targets are at various distances some closer some farther away and I ran it a few times earlier this year and got 5 hits out of 5 with the snub.
Lately not so much. I did run it a few times with the shield and it was comforting to know if I missed I still had another few rounds to try - 7 or 8 round magazine.
My son carries a full size 1911 and two spare
magazines running wilson 8 rounders. He keeps nagging me Dad you need more ammo!
Then again he was a Marine so anything not belt fed is “not enough ammo”
That’s why this forum is gold. So many great suggestions. I have astigmatism and wear bifocals. No cataracts as I get my eyes checked every year.
I’ve been a target revolver shooter for years and just recently got into steel shooting at the club. They added a combat range with steel targets that range from small 6” plates to man sized silhouettes. I can shoot at various ranges from 10-70 yards if I want as there is no firing line per se just reloading stations.
The five spaced 6” targets are at various distances some closer some farther away and I ran it a few times earlier this year and got 5 hits out of 5 with the snub.
Lately not so much. I did run it a few times with the shield and it was comforting to know if I missed I still had another few rounds to try - 7 or 8 round magazine.
My son carries a full size 1911 and two spare
magazines running wilson 8 rounders. He keeps nagging me Dad you need more ammo!
Then again he was a Marine so anything not belt fed is “not enough ammo”
white cloud
Member
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I am married to my eye care professional. I am 70 and still see my front sight just fine. Red dot sights have a round red dot in spite of a serious astigmatism.
The secret is a quality eye exam and communications. Pick your eye doctor carefully. Your eyes change more rapidly when you get older. Your eyes need to be dilated during the exam. Five minute quickie exams are probably not going to get you what you need. Next make sure you explain to the doctor that you want to be able to see the sights on your revolver. Hold your arms out so they understand the distance involved. The same goes with getting the height of the bifocal set in the lenses. At this stage of life you will probably need an exam each year. Note that a good prescription will help with low light issues. If you have cataracts, pick your surgeon with care. Discuss implant options in detail and know what you are getting.
Now with that out of the way, I agree that most J frame sights are pretty bad even with good vision. It's almost October and I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Pocket carry is a big deal for me. I have a 640 Pro that has nice sights but it's a bit heavy for pocket carry and the sights snag in my pocket. I have a Kahr CM9 with really nice sights but once again it snags sometimes. I know about putting the thumb over the rear of the gun to shield the sights but I want something fool proof. So my 649 no dash is in my pocket as I write this.
The secret is a quality eye exam and communications. Pick your eye doctor carefully. Your eyes change more rapidly when you get older. Your eyes need to be dilated during the exam. Five minute quickie exams are probably not going to get you what you need. Next make sure you explain to the doctor that you want to be able to see the sights on your revolver. Hold your arms out so they understand the distance involved. The same goes with getting the height of the bifocal set in the lenses. At this stage of life you will probably need an exam each year. Note that a good prescription will help with low light issues. If you have cataracts, pick your surgeon with care. Discuss implant options in detail and know what you are getting.
Now with that out of the way, I agree that most J frame sights are pretty bad even with good vision. It's almost October and I am wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Pocket carry is a big deal for me. I have a 640 Pro that has nice sights but it's a bit heavy for pocket carry and the sights snag in my pocket. I have a Kahr CM9 with really nice sights but once again it snags sometimes. I know about putting the thumb over the rear of the gun to shield the sights but I want something fool proof. So my 649 no dash is in my pocket as I write this.
I asked my eye doctor to check my eyes for a pair of prescription range safety glasses. I asked if I could bring my “blue” gun I use in courses to the office. She said no problem and checked my eyes in a shooting stance with front sight in sharp focus. She has had other clients do the same with real guns (especially shotgunners) with advance arrangements and it worked well.
I paint my front sights red with an under layer of white - painting only the area I can see in back sight. I use hobby headset magnifiers and a toothpick. I used to mask it all off but found that once I figured out to use a tooth pick not a brush and how much paint to have on the toothpick I could free hand no tape. Don’t use too much paint - don’t glob it on. It will just rub off quicker in holster.
I find accurate shooting is as taught in many courses “front sight focus”. Target and back sight blurry. Don’t look to see where your shots are going.
I paint my front sights red with an under layer of white - painting only the area I can see in back sight. I use hobby headset magnifiers and a toothpick. I used to mask it all off but found that once I figured out to use a tooth pick not a brush and how much paint to have on the toothpick I could free hand no tape. Don’t use too much paint - don’t glob it on. It will just rub off quicker in holster.
I find accurate shooting is as taught in many courses “front sight focus”. Target and back sight blurry. Don’t look to see where your shots are going.
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RMFnLA
Member
AJ
US Veteran
I can and have proved it many times to folks who said that was BS. You probably can too. Try it.
For a couple of years I shot at NWS Seal Beach, virtually every day. Just south of LA.
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StrawHat
Member
I am not as fast as McGivern or Miculek, but, I am faster than most that use a self loader. And six rounds of 45 ACP is a nice round number.
Kevin
At 76, I have tritium sights with white outline on all my pistols - easy for my eyes to pick them up. I wear blended bi-focal lens and also have astigmatism. I pass my LEOSA qualification shooting an XCarry.
When I select a pistol to purchase, I hold the pistol, assume a shooting stance and present the pistol with my eyes closed. When I open, if I don’t have a good sight picture, I don’t buy the gun. As an example, Glocks fail this test for me - otherwise they are good guns.
Otherwise, practice, practice, practice.��
When I select a pistol to purchase, I hold the pistol, assume a shooting stance and present the pistol with my eyes closed. When I open, if I don’t have a good sight picture, I don’t buy the gun. As an example, Glocks fail this test for me - otherwise they are good guns.
Otherwise, practice, practice, practice.��
pantannojack
US Veteran
I've had to use reading glasses since age 40. I am past that now and use trifocals. I cant focus on any day glo colors and know that the no dash j frame sights are very thin. Also the sights on my 45 Shield are mercifully large with generous enough rear notch. That helps very much.
AJ
US Veteran
Takes a big man to admit that and make the necessary change. I too love revolvers but I know at the end of the day it's about having the gun you can shoot best if you ever need it. You made a wise decision and provide a lesson to many of us in the process.
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