Old Eyes and My 1903 Remington

[quicksylver]

Well ..guess we’re all getting older..for me it seems like every minute..enough of that..

So this spring I was on a roll…shooting all my guns with iron sights..turning in sub MOA and even ½ MOA groups at 100 yds…then slowly between now and then it seemed like I was increasingly having difficulties getting a good sight picture and the groups were opening up…u-u-u-g-h…REALLY..

Like I said… REALLY…in a couple of months?...could just be a “shooters block” I suppose…had those before…

But this time my eyes were getting strained….

OK so what ..besides me.. is different..well the light..it’s much brighter this time of year..D-U-H-H-H

Got to wondering what could possibly help the situation besides some anti-ageing potion …well maybe different apertures…another d-u-h-h-h

Well it’s worth a try ..right..?

So that’s what I did…I took my collection of apertures out with me this morning and just tried different combinations on the rear and front sights…got one that looked pretty good ..I still had a tiny “eclipse” on the front circle but nothing much different than years past…

My target is a cut out B-16 that I place on a piece of white paper..that’s my aim point..the point of impact is below that on another piece of paper..saves the target and I can get a “collection” of groups on the lower piece by working the sights..

I had chosen my Remington 1903 ..for this task..it has a shot out USMC barrel but just loves CB’s sized .312..it’s equipped with Lyman 48 rear and Lyman 17 front Globe sights…and a very nice “C” stock

Here’s some pictures of groups shot today with different apertures than a few months back..and some groups shot earlier this year and years past..

I think I my still have it !!!!..Dan

Today..

Past..

 

[Intheshop]

Just for S&G's....if we were ophthalmologist's and,given enough time....could convince the public that their eyes would ALWAYS get worse with age....

You reckon we could make money?

I'm pushing 60 and my eyesight is the best it's ever been by far.To the point that my near sighted ness,glasses required.....is uhhh,no longer a requirement.Just sayin,think about it.

 

[KeithB]

There are a lot of eye diseases that give very little outward evidence until it is too late. If you're blessed with good eyesight that's great. I'll keep getting my eyes checked regularly for glaucoma and other eye and circulatory problems.

 

[smokeywolf]

Whole family has seen the ophthalmologist over the last 3 months. My eyesight was pretty good up until I entered my 40s. Pretty common for body parts to start krappin' out about then.

 

[RBHarter]

Macular degeneration took the vision between 60-70 from my grandmother and 9 of her 12 siblings . Mom and Dad are into their 70s now and glocoma is beginning to creep in . Blood pressure jacked my left eye . It took me from 15/20 to 20/40 and horrible headaches in about 6 months and into bifocals 18 months after I caved to glasses .

 

[Pistolero]

My eyes were nearsighted, but when corrected, extremely good vision until I hit 63, IIRC. Suddenly things started getting a bit
hazy. Then opthamalogist found slight increase in eye pressure, still well below the official glaucoma level. BUT - her field of vision
testing machine was showing loss of vision, so I stepped up to an eye surgeon. She immediately recommended eye surgery for
glaucoma, even at 16 pressure, and from her exams decided I need very low pressures. Then the cataracts kicked in with a
vengance, very rapid incease in haze and rapidly changing prescription, like within 6 weeks, no longer sharp.

Now. several years later, glaucoma drops, one drain, maybe will need the other one with a drain added, cataract lens replacement
and more on both eyes...... I qualified for the Vancouver Swiss-American medal just a couple of weeks ago, 300 m open sights,
need an 85 to qualify, on target with a 2 inch 10 ring and about 5 inch 9 ring. It is a challenge now and I have fiddled with glasses
or no glasses or special glasses, different apertures, different front sights.

Shot some good iron sight groups with a new to me 1934 vintage Remington 34 .22 a couple of days ago. Was just tickled to be
able to use the stock sights. The bbl is long, front is crisp, rear (middle blade) was OK, just far enough away. Mostly I need
peep sights these days, but some std sights still work.

Keep on plugging, quicksylver -- you are still making it, and I am happy to see it.

Old age isn't for wimps.

Bill