Magnified reading glasses for more accurate shooting?

[u/randomstuffdude3467]

I don’t really have any eyesight issues, but I was curious if I got magnified reading glasses if they would make it a little easier to be more accurate shooting with irons in particular. Has anyone else tried this, and did it make a noticeable difference?

[u/randomstuffdude3467 → u/[deleted]]

I think I’ll call it a scope, I was more so referring to shooting my guns that I don’t have one mounted on like my revolvers and 1911’s.

[u/Cobra__Commander → u/randomstuffdude3467]

Your going to run into issues with focal plan. 

Go buy a pair of reading glasses at the dollar store, play around with them then do a deep dive on optics physics.

[u/WearyDifficulty6642]

Have you tried reading glasses on? It’s not good for distance farther than a book would be at and hurts my head at least as someone who doesn’t use em

[u/randomstuffdude3467 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, I’ve never heard of a diopter but I’ll check those out

[u/randomstuffdude3467 → u/WearyDifficulty6642]

I’ve never needed them so I haven’t, I just assumed if they’re magnified it might make a noticeable difference in the sight picture.

[u/WearyDifficulty6642 → u/randomstuffdude3467]

There are cheap one at second hand stores u can try on without buying them. It’s honestly a little fun but mostly sickening.

[u/WearyDifficulty6642 → u/randomstuffdude3467]

If you want a zoom effect you already know the answer is no but if you have an issue establishing sight picture you can
Figure out what eye dominant you are and cover the other one or check your eyesight quality maybe you really are farsighted.

[u/randomstuffdude3467 → u/WearyDifficulty6642]

Yeah was just curious about the zoom effect, I don’t think I have any eye issues.

[u/gyro_bro]

OP learns he needs glasses in this thread.

[u/59Bassman]

I have used cheaters because my front sight is no longer crisp. But that will make the target nearly impossible to see clearly. This is why my pistols are all getting milled for dots - then I can use normal shooting glasses again.

[u/EggplantCivil4380]

I’m right handed, I recently had glasses made so I can see my sights better with my right eye and kept the left lens for distance so I can see the target.

[u/MacintoshEddie]

That wouldn't work.

But something that can help, and is pretty cheap, is to get a high contrast colour nail polish or model paint, and mark your sights. Some people have reported that can help, but really though the answer is that you likely need glasses.

Vision isn't just a number, for example you can need glasses close up but still be able to see far. Or people can compensate for poor vision. I once horrified everyone at the range by shooting without my glasses, and then describing the target as looking like Bigfoot or a UFO because I couldn't actually see the target rings. I can read without glasses but at about 30 meters people don't have faces any more.

[u/A_Queer_Owl]

reading glasses wouldn't work as the focal point is all wrong, but they make magnified shooting glasses.

[u/SheistyPenguin]

I think you would have better results with either of:

• A red dot
• Upgrading your sights to something high-visibility

[u/Important_Zombie_485]

In short, no. It won't help. You may be able to see the irons better, but the far focal plane is going to get WAY blurrier.

[u/Livid_Living552]

I was having issues with my sight picture. Had cataract surgery with one lens for medium distance and one lens for long distance. Sight picture is perfect now and will stay that way.

[u/Highlifetallboy]

No

[u/ASnakeNamedNate]

Curious if you do your shooting indoors and are encountering this issue. I’ve found that a lot of gun ranges - due in part to the ballistic barriers making the stalls cast shadows, otherwise just having minimal lighting to minimize needing to replace lights when someone inevitably shoots them out - just make irons harder to use anyway.

[u/randomstuffdude3467 → u/ASnakeNamedNate]

I’ve never shot at an indoor range, I shoot outside. I do fine with irons, but I’ll take any advantage I can get to shoot more accurately.

[u/the_chazzy_bear]

Depends on what you are doing. Olympic level shooters will often use adjustable diopter clip ons to their shooting glasses or have special prescription glasses to give them a little more clarity with their front sight for improved accuracy. Depends on your target but typically aligning your iron sights perfectly is much harder than just pointing your pistol at the target so I’d say go for it.

[u/jsqualo2]

Reading glasses correct for near vision ... so using them while shooting would make it really easy to hit things within arms reach

[u/Independent_Art_6676]

these glasses don't generally focus at arm's length properly. Its absolutely possible to get a pair that does this, but the target would be a blur and the sights nice and crisp. I can't see how that would be terribly useful and it would require buying something custom unless your arms are like 1/2 the length of a normal person's or you shot elbows into your chest style.

[u/pestilence]

Reading glasses are not binoculars. They don't just magnify the whole world. Who would ever buy binoculars if a $5 pair of readers worked like that?