old eyes and scopes

[ehunter]

Ok I admit I am getting older only 51 but my eyes have changed this week at the range I noticed I could not see my holes very clearly on the target or honestly hardley at all at the 100 yard range with my scope cranked up to 7 power on a VXII 2x7 new scope and gun. So my question is for you older guys who will admit it What did you do to combat this did you go to a higher end scope if I went to a 3x9 will it help that much more. I do wear glasses for far sightedness in other words I need glasses to see horns at a hundred yards or maybe 75 yards now. Outside of the lazik how much can optics help with this. I am wondering if I need new glasses or do I need a higher power scope?

thanks

[nobrownline]

let me know too. I may have to give up the muzzleloader because I have a tough time with the sites

[Yeti]

I have always been a fan of 1.5-4's and 2-7's. But at 46 I am beginning to feel the change. On my new 22 I put, reluctantly at first, a 4.5-14x40 AO scope on it. WOW! I could watch the holes appear on the target at 50 yards. This is the first time I have been able to use the cross hairs to place the next bullet on top of the last bullet. I like it. The AO also really helps bring the target into precise focus.

I am in the process of deciding on what gun to buy for elk. What ever I get it will likely be in the 3.5-15x range. I am particularly interested in trying a Bushnell Elite 4200 to try the rain guard feature. I suspect I may never look at another 2-7 for a high power rifle. FWIW, my elk gun will be used primarilly for damage tag hunts. Shots are often quite long so the higher end is apealing to me. My "normal" elk season will be spent bow hunting.

[ehunter]

Thanks Yeti so its not just me.

Originally Posted by Yeti

I have always been a fan of 1.5-4's and 2-7's. But at 46 I am beginning to feel the change. On my new 22 I put, reluctantly at first, a 4.5-14x40 AO scope on it. WOW! I could watch the holes appear on the target at 50 yards. This is the first time I have been able to use the cross hairs to place the next bullet on top of the last bullet. I like it. The AO also really helps bring the target into precise focus.

I am in the process of deciding on what gun to buy for elk. What ever I get it will likely be in the 3.5-15x range. I am particularly interested in trying a Bushnell Elite 4200 to try the rain guard feature. I suspect I may never look at another 2-7 for a high power rifle. FWIW, my elk gun will be used primarilly for damage tag hunts. Shots are often quite long so the higher end is apealing to me. My "normal" elk season will be spent bow hunting.

[Don Fischer]

I'm 62 and can't read without glasses. Matter of fact I see double without them. I shoot a 2 3/4x, a 1-4x, a couple 3-9's and a 4 1/2-14. I see fine thru all of them. Have you tried focusing the eye piece?

[Grantspastor]

You say you are farsighted. Do you routinely wear your glasses for distance vision? If so, you may just need a new Rx. If you don't or haven't worn them for much except reading, at 51 you've lost enough focusing ability in your eyes that they will prove more needful at distance as well. Many (mildy) farsighted people don't wear glasses much for distance until they get to "that age".

Riflescopes offer adjustments to compensate for slight near or farsightedness. It's usually done by loosening the locking ring on the rear eye piece and screwing it in or out until you have the best focus when you first bring it up in front of your eye. That may be all that's needed

[Norski]

Surprising you brought this up, I ware glasses for reading and 2 notches up for distance, I going to turn 59 here if the good lord lets me, anyway I have no line bifocals, and when I look through the scope, things change, if I have no scope on any of my rifles, and you look down the barrel through the sites, I can't see a dang thing, so I need a scope, I have had 4 power, it's ok, but I have had 6X18X40 & 50 scopes, I have a 3X9X40 nikon with the DBC on my 300, but today I was at the range east of Bend with my 223, and it has a Simmons $399.00 scope on it, it's 4X14X44 and I can see the holes in the target just fine, but when you get into the black it's tough, need to walk up and have a look see.
I know I need new glasses, but the bucks are not there at this time. I am no Dr, by the way, but if you are having a time at the range, and you need a scope, I would get my eyes checked, new glasses, and a step up in a scope you can see clear through, I am not knocking anyone, just what I have been through.
Good Luck "Norski"

[Hunt'nFish]

I'd have your eyes checked again. Perhaps a minor tweak to the perscription is in order.

But I'm sure a few more XX's of magnification on the scope wouldn't hurt.
But there are down side to that, particularly if you primarily hunt coastal where ranges are shorter, the woods darker, and reduced field of view is an issue.
Hunt'nFish

[Don Becker]

You youngsters make an old fellow feel pretty good about his eyes. I've worn glasses (nearsighted) since 6th grade - -- - 'needed 'em sooner but, had to be hit in the head by the ball a few more times 'til my parents finally figured-out maybe I couldn't see it coming.

I've worn soft contacts since 1977. If I had to put up with wet, fogged-up glasses I probably would have stopped hunting years ago. When I got my contacts, the prediction was that the soft ones were so natural that they might even diminish the further deterioration of ones eyesight.

For several years, I've used reading glasses - - - actually, it's not at all so bad without them IF I have good lighting.

I wear a bifocal contact lens in my left eye which helps a little with reading if I don't have the "cheaters" handy. But, in all those years, my basic prescription had only changed about three times and, at that, only very slightly. I have always had regular check-ups.

When I'm not wearing my contacts (which I do wear nearly all the time), I wear no-line bifocals.

All of the rifles I shoot regularly, except for the muzzlestuffers of course, have scopes mounted and I get along with them fine.

Like someone mentioned above, though, I am having some intermittent problem with the sights on my muzzlestuffers - - - sometimes, 'just can't focus on the rear sight, the front sight and the critter all at once. If it becomes enough of a problem, I remove the contacts and wear my glasses and do fine.

Don

[sschwab]

After a few rounds with eye docs and laser surgeons trying to get my vision good enough to read my mailbox numbers from across the sidewalk, I had cataract surgery last Fall. That did the trick for me.

I'm only 45, so don't think you're too young for cataracts.

[gottafish]

Ive worn glasses for 32 years now and Ive never seen the holes at 100 yards with a 3-9 LOL I walk down there and look then I know if I hit it. out hunting I always look for blood anyway . Shoot for the zone and trust your scope. that said I aint never killed anything past 98 yards.

[Boatdog]

Another option for seeing the holes in the targets at the range is to buy a spotting scope. It doesn't have to be a high end one for range use. 10-40 power oughta take care of you.

[ehunter]

Thanks guys I can use a spotting scope and see them but I was wondering if I needed more power I will make a eye appt and get another check and up grade the glasses if I need to. I may have to look into lasik. I don't want to change the scope and I will play with the adjust ment a little more and see if that helps. I was feeling a little embarresed What did work was those targets you shoot into that turn color I caould see the splats then.

[REEL HANDEL]

`I am 68 and dont wear glasses when i hunt, but found i had to refocuse all my scopes, May help.