Sights for old farts

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Wel

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Who can't see up close. Thinking about a 2 dot set up like the I dots or straight eights. Those who gave tried them do they seem to help. Going on shield 9mm carry gun. Thanks.
 
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I have some two dot sights on Sig Pistol, they are good but not better than 3 dot. I wonder if XS makes a big dot front sight for this rascal?
 
They do make a big dot for the shield. I have seen some comments about the outer ring falling off the front sight so I'm a little leary.
 
Mountain Walker said:
I have some two dot sights on Sig Pistol, they are good but not better than 3 dot. I wonder if XS makes a big dot front sight for this rascal?
Click to expand...
Yup, they sure do in big dots and standard dots -

https://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8556

I have the XS Tritium Dot on my Ruger LCR357 and the XS Tritium stripe on my Mossberg SPX 930 and they've been great.
Plan on putting a pair on my Shield 40 and eventually my MP BG380 so they can see in the dark.
 
I am aging and having the same problem...I tried Heinie straight 8 sights on a different pistol and found the sight picture to be too "busy" for me to pick up quick...the standard 3-dot sight picture is the way to go for me...another option would be a wider rear sight notch with a white outline...I don't know if XS offers the big dot for the Shield, but that coupled with the factory rear sight would probably be pretty sweet...
 
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Best to have a dot set up your glass's with a section designed for a distance of your front sight. More4 commonly known as computer lens. Also a fiber optic front sight or both sights go a along way in helping to "see" your sights . There are night sites that also have a fiberoptic ring in them. Just need to deside what color is best for you. Green ,red yellow ang orange. I prefer green front. I also tend to be good with a all black rear sight. Places all my focus on the front.
Theres some on this page to give you a basics.
Tritium Sights & Night Sight Sets FREE S&H Fiber Optic Sights SALE Glowing Tritium Night Sights
 
I always seem to gravitate back to Heinies, currently the Ledge design. J have one pistol with 10-8 FO front and standard U-notch rear which is similar. I also have a set of Trijicon Orange HDs on a pistol. The result is a big Orange blurr. Have tried XS Big Dot but found that arrangement didn't work well for me. Best thing I can suggest is to shop the options and work with your eye doc.
 
I have the same problem.
I chose the AmeriGlo SW-146 Classic 3 Dot sights. The front sight has a green Tritium center with a yellow outline. The rear sights are green Tritium with white outline. Works for me day or night without wearing my glasses.
You might want to try the SW-115 I-Dot if that's what you're looking for.
Both are out of stock right now but they restock quickly. Just check on them daily.
HTH
 
hardluk1 said:
Best to have a dot set up your glass's with a section designed for a distance of your front sight. More4 commonly known as computer lens. Also a fiber optic front sight or both sights go a along way in helping to "see" your sights . There are night sites that also have a fiberoptic ring in them. Just need to deside what color is best for you. Green ,red yellow ang orange. I prefer green front. I also tend to be good with a all black rear sight. Places all my focus on the front.
Theres some on this page to give you a basics.
Tritium Sights & Night Sight Sets FREE S&H Fiber Optic Sights SALE Glowing Tritium Night Sights
Click to expand...

Wel,
Hardluk1 probably gives the best overall answer.

I think the best and most specific answer for you would depend what your goal is. If your trying to see both the sights plus the target well then either a red dot sight or a scope would be your best answer. Another option would be a pinhole device to place on your glasses or eye protection or dedicated pinhole shooting glasses. You can try a simple pinhole experiment to see if you like it by taping a piece of paper with a pinhole properly placed over your glasses. I tried the pinhole technique and it works but I did not like it and it does not work well in low light conditions.

Since your main goal seems likely to be for CC and practicing with you CC handgun you would be looking at new glasses, new sights, or a laser.

For glasses either have an optometrist or ophthalmologist work with you. I think the most important question to ask (the receptionist) is if the doc has experience fitting target shooters. They could fit you for either dedicated single vision lens glasses that bring the front sight into the degree of focus you desire or they could fit you for progressive lenses (eyeglasses with a smooth transition between different focal lengths, correcting for vision at all distances). I currently transitional lenses and I wish had had dedicated single vision. The transitional lens is a "jack of all trades but master at none."

I have tried various fixed sight dot arrangements and fiber optics and, at least for me, simpler is better. I do not find any advantage to fiber optics. Since the main function is for CC and practicing with your CC I would try out or look at various sights at a dealer or range and see which ones seem to be easiest for you to see with your current glasses.

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training
 
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I have the 10-8 "U" rear sights on two M&P .45's. Originally I had the sights because I got a great price on them. Finally installed and found it worked really well and got another for the second .45. I use the factory front with the dot blacked out (personal preference). The set-up has the advantage of being easier to pick up in low light or old eyes.
 
I do tend to look at this problem from long time handgun hunter and concealed carry perspective, not from a bullseye or match shooters perspective .

We have added a 4.25" CORE pistol to our group and a green trijicon rmr rm09g to it. A dual illumination sight that has no battery. It will take some getting use to but that green dot shows in ever condition I can find unlike the yellow rmr version that tends to disappear when going from dark to bright conditions , the green stays highly visable. A bit costly but very nice. May work out as a CC option with this green color.
http://i331.photobucket.com/albums/...4_zps2e637d25.jpg?1410101959154&1410101963591
 
For defensive use handguns I want sights that I can adequately use both with my bifocals and with no glasses. XS Big Dots are what I have on both Shields and on my other carry guns. I've been using them for over ten years and thousands of rounds and have never had an insert fail.
 
Thanks guys. This shield is a cc piece not a target gun for sure. I do have progressive trifocals but I find myself having to tilt my head up at an odd angle to get a clear view of the sights. Some dedicated target lenses may not be a bad idea however for cc that is not an option. With the sights fuzzy I just cant keep the front sight centered and getting left right flyers. Are the big dots an issue with holsters?
 
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walkin' trails said:
I always seem to gravitate back to Heinies, currently the Ledge design. J have one pistol with 10-8 FO front and standard U-notch rear which is similar. I also have a set of Trijicon Orange HDs on a pistol. The result is a big Orange blurr. Have tried XS Big Dot but found that arrangement didn't work well for me. Best thing I can suggest is to shop the options and work with your eye doc.
Click to expand...

Me,too. I love Heines on my handguns. What I like about them is the fact that they don't have the white circles around the lamps in the sights. Those whose circles make it difficult for me to discern the light on either side of the front blade. With those white circles, the circles and the spaces on either side of the front sight seem to blend too much. I do my best shooting with plain old black sights. I shoot the old-fashioned way by aligning my sights, not the dots. To me, too many people rely on those dots, instead of using the sight properly. I seem to be always thinking of ways to eliminate the dots on my handguns that have them. And yes, my eyes are gone as I'm 65 years old, and I can shoot quite well, thank you.
 
many shooters should brush up on aimed point shooting too.
 
Good point. In any close range encounter aiming tends to go out the window quick. Kinda liking the ameriglo I dot pro.
 
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