OK Guys,

I have a real problem ... and it is embarrassing.

Last trip to the range I took sticks, an M70 in .375 H&H fitted with a 3-9x40 Zeiss, a CZ 550 in .416 Rigby fitted with a 1.5-5 Leupold, and a Searcy Field Grade DR in .470 NE.

Was using paper pie plates with one inch black dots for targets.

At 50 yards off sticks I had no problems with the .375 and the .416 ... good groups ... abt 1 1/4".

With the Searcy using loads that the rifle was regulated for (500 gr Woodleighs on 108gr of IMR 4831 and Fed 215s), I had good elevation consistency but a size to side spread of way too many inches (6+) with careful shots. I did not seem to be able to locate the front dot against the white target very well. The rifle does much better than this from a rest ... but I can't remember what kind of glasses I was using and what kind of targets I was shooting.

What kind of targets are folks using for DR practice from sticks?

Really hope I can figure this one out else I'll have to leave the Searcy home during the Tanzania trip. Your help would be appreciated.

Mike,
Please don't be embarrassed. I'm in that same boat with you! The sights are getting to be a blurrr!

I am considering a big fiber bead for my Hollis.
Someone on the forum has had that done. I can't remember who? I'm putting one on my 404 Jeffery!

Mike,It does indeed seem like a cruel joke that once we reach this stage in life where we can truly afford these rifles,our eyesight goes south.On my M-77,416 Rigby I installed a red fibre optic front sight W/ NECG rear appeture sight.Literally all the difference between day + night.On my Merkel 470 I am having J.J. install his Ivory/silver flip up front sight.I've used ivory front sights before,+ while I don't really care for them on paper targets,they truly stand out on a hide.Of course I've never hunted polar bear or anything else white but for everything else it works fine.

The "fibre optics" are very visible.

But for targets at 50yds, I've found that with my gold bead front sight, I shoot best with a six o'clock hold on a black circle from 4" up. A two inch circle is obscurred by the bead at 50yds, if I shoot for center, but works really well at 25yds, shooting for center.

JPK

I am in the same boat. I did something much simpler. I dipper a q-tip in florecent orange paint. I applied it to the back the front bead. I could see much better and shot much better.

I guess there is joy in having lived this long to have this problem. I have the same problem. I modify an old pair of glasses. Just go to walgreens and buy the stick on magnifiers. They are a plastic and can be cut easily with a sharp scizzor (spelling) or razor blade. Cut a small piece and stick it in the upper inner corner of the lense of you shooting eye. When you pick up the target and the front sight just drop your head a little and look through the + lense. this will sharpen up the front sight and usualy the back sight a great deal.

another option is to go to your optometrist and have him make you a lense for you dominant eye that has a slight + in the upper inner corner. I think that you will be supprised and how much this helps.

Before I would do anything drastic, I would go back to the range with a black target and see if the same thing happens off the bench and from the sticks. If it is still shooting wildly have some one else try. See if it's you or the gun. If it's the gun e-mail me for some tips on further things to check.

465H&H

Wellguys to tell the truth, I too shoot with glasses but I have them made for shooting only...They have the priscription top to bottom left to right for shooting only... and works well...
I shoot at 3inch black circles at 50 and100yds...Sometimes usingthise targets with color and a bigf red diamond or cross to aim at the points for a more specific point...Put 4 shots last time at he range at 100yds in a 4inch circle...Even surprise myself...

Mike

been there with you - did 2 things - #1 scope, #2 I milled the fiberoptic material into both the front (green) and rear sights (red) now I can see them and just put the green dot ontop of the red one.

Retreever, Can you wear those shooting glasses for hunting also? Or do you just use them at the range? Thanks, studdog

Try this.
Get some animal targets, as life like as possible. Usually deer targets are the easiest to find.
Put up two of them. Shoot the right target with the right bbl, the left target with the left bbl. Start at 25 yards, then back up to at least 100 yards.

Aim on them the same as you would on the real animal.

Let me know how you shoot doing this.

I have shot several anoimals with my dooubles and iron sights, the closest <5 yards the fartherest shots have been 120, 150
and @175 yards.
Strange thing is I never "remember" "looking" at the sights.

I do remember "aiming" when I use a scope.

Sometimes when we have been scope shooters for so many years we try to hard when we go back to iron sights.

Just use the Force.

If my eyes get to the point I just cannot hit with iron sights then I will just use a scope on my double all the time.

I have not gotton there yet, but my 9,3 double is scoped, and my 450/400 is being fitted with a scope now.
[I will be prepared for the future
Express sights some times just do not work for some people on regular paper targets.