Posted by JP O'Connor on November 05, 2001 at 22:49:54:
Either it didn't
generate any questions or controversy (which would surprise me!), or else nobody
is scrolling down far enough anymore since I posted late in the thread's life...
anyway... under the thread: which shooting glasses? - Mark P. 21:47:25
10/28/01 is another "mini-article" by yours truly: Vision and Pistol Iron Sights
in reply to a posting about bifocals by our friend Mako.
Scroll on down, or
hit the link below, and give it a read if you feel like it.
"Feel Center!"
-JP
Posted by Larry Lohkamp on November 06, 2001 at 02:55:33:
Nice article.
I am surprised that a group that uses iron sights so much doesn't place more
emphasis on looking at the front sight. The conventional pistol shooters
normally use those dot sights, but they also shoot for a distinguished medal
using iron sights on a 1911 - 50 yards slow fire, 25 sustained. Ask them and
you'll get an extensive education in looking at the front sight. Seeing it,
having it in focus isn't good enough. You have to look at it. If you aren't
looking at it then you're probably looking at the target, or even worse, looking
someplace in between. So how do you know that you're looking at the front sight?
The effect is quite pronounced in a cartridge gun. You should frequently notice
the cartridge fly out of the ejection port, you should see the smoke at the
muzzle, and you should see flaming garbage fly out of your gun. The first time I
really looked at the front sight I though that I'd picked up a black powder
pistol by mistake.
The only thing I use an iris for any more is to put the
front sight in the center of my pupil. It helps control head position and is
something for that expensive little gadget to work on.
Posted by Pete on November 06, 2001 at 09:27:42: How do you know if you are
looking at the front sight?
I think part of the answer may be found in how
you train. I am spending more time recently dry firing against a blank wall, and
at a blank target. The purpose is to train my eye to focus on the front sight
without anything else to focus on. While doing this training, I try to study the
details of the sights shape, edges, and texture. I think it is possible to have
the blank wall or blank target and still not focus on the front sight. I get the
impression many of us see the front sight but do not really have our focus on
the front sight.
Posted by Brent on November 06, 2001 at 12:30:13:
I am no expert, and have
the scores to prove it, but I do find that putting a small triangular piece of
white paper (gummed mailing label) on the back side of my front sight really
helps me see the sight instead of the target. I needed something more definite
to focus on. Adding light behind the gun helps to. A dark silhouette is very
hard to focus on because there is no detail to be seen (ie. no texture).
Brent
Posted by JP O'Connor on November 06, 2001 at 21:45:59:
Erich had a little
fun at my expense last week on this very topic. In air pistol, I wasn't looking
*at* the front sight properly, so, I wanted to experiment with a white dot on
the front sight to help me establish a new habit. He laughed and said it
wouldn't last ten shots. "It will still blur out and your eye will go to the
target. You have to make up your mind to watch the sight. Don't give it lip
service. Nothing will help unless you make up your mind."
I know him well
enough to trust what he said and guess what happened on the range... a few shots
in... dot blurred and I noticed I was looking over the front sight at the
target! So I removed the "crutch", redoubled my determination, and went to work
to build a new good habit.
Some folks may find the dot helpful, and a bit
more light from behind is helpful since the eye isn't interested in looking at a
featureless "black hole". Be aware of what's really going on, however.
I also
noticed I was having difficulty with accommodation. The OTC eye doc showed me
why... in just one year, my eyes had improved by 0.50 diopter which has a huge
effect on sight pictures. Surprise! So, trust your instincts and recheck your
eyes even if you "...just had them checked."
"Feel Center!"
-JP
Posted by Pete on November 07, 2001 at 08:03:10:
I concur with JP and
certainly would not challenge Erich. I have used the White spot or the other
mark on the front sight and it sort of helps but not for long. Where it was
slightly helpful was when I trained my eye to see a certain shape. BUT, on other
guns I never put the mark and have had as much or more success. If I realize the
Bull or target is in focus, I know I am slipping to the wrong habit. The front
sight may look like it is in focus but if the target is sharp; my attention is
now on the target.
Hans Standl writes in his book that shooting in the
bright sunlight is actually a problem. The reason is that it is easier to see
both the front sight and the target in focus. The effect is that you loose the
front sight focus and focus in between. Indoors and in lower light situations,
the target will be blurred.
Posted by Rodm on November 06, 2001 at 09:24:27:
For me and this was
confirmed from working with others, I will not give up my iris. It is not used
to make a peep hole that will flatten the field of vision to bring everything in
focus but rather quite open. Looking through my iris the opening is about 1/3 to
1/2 inches. This creates a halo effect that marks the center of the lens. This
is the guide to where to hold your head. When I start a shot I get the sights in
the center of the halo, this helps maintain correct head position. When I catch
myself at the edge of the halo it is time to put the gun down and start the shot
over.
Posted by JP O'Connor on November 06, 2001 at 21:32:42:
Yes, I had
overlooked this use of an iris in my post... in fact, last week I noticed John
Bikar's was set that way and he said it was for the very same reason. Wide open
as a guide to ensure correct head position without affecting the image.
Posted by STEVE on November 06, 2001 at 10:39:52:
DOES THE MERIT IRIS
THAT ATTATCHES WITH A SUCTION CUP WORK AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHERS? DOES
ANYONE HAVE ONE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SELL? I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT A TRY. STEVE
Posted by JP O'Connor on November 06, 2001 at 21:48:38:
Be sure you know
*why* you want an iris and *what* you expect it to do for you... and be sure
that is correct technique for *your* particular situation. You don't want
everything sharp.
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