Skinner sights with perscription glasses

[BillyBoy]

Hi all;

Likely most of us wear prescription glasses. And by now most of us know how to use the famous Skinner Peep Sight. You focus only on the front sight, put it on target (if you can see it!) and just let the rear sight take care of itself. Almost automatic.

But I was still having issues focusing on the front sight. My "dress" glasses are bifocals, near and far as is most common. My sun glasses are distance only, but I can still read the speedometer. Not that it matters!

But I also have a special prescription for my computer work as a product designer and CGI artist. These have the prime focus at 22", the exact distance from my eye to the monitor.

And exactly the same, including about 2" eye relief, as for the receiver mounted Skinner on my GB Carbine.

On a whim, on my last trip out to the BLM shooting range before the dirt road was snowed in, I took my computer glasses and tested them out.

PERFECT!!! I cannot believe the difference they made! Very easy to group 10 rounds inside 1", dead centered on the Bullseye.

So the next time (soon) I get a new set of glasses, I'm going to also get a pair of "shooting glasses", same prescription as my computer glasses, but probably in the common amber non-glare tint.

Just an idea! BTW, I also painted the front sight ramp white for better contrast on the targets.

Side note for us unfortunate souls stuck at a computer all day... Practice what's called the "Triple Twenty" rule. Every twenty minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something 20 feet away. This lets your eyes reshape and refocus, and does a lot to avoid eye strain!

Bill

[Mistered]

Always nice to find a solution to sight issues.
I don't use the 'famous Skinner Peep Sight' but Williams' on all my rifles and had similar problems after eye surgery but i have managed to work around it.

[PT7]

Thanks, BillyBoy. Prescript glasses do pose a shooting challenge.

I basically have the same sight set-up as you have on your GB. My Henry is the .22LR SGC with the stock receiver-mounted Skinner peep and a front brass bead. Still works pretty well for these 71-year-old eyes.

I have trifocals --- long-distance, @ 24" for computer handling, and good 'ole reading glasses. I read a lot, and those bottom readers are well-used. I have lines dividing the three lenses; never could handle the no-line style. Anyway, I'll have to pay some attention to your suggestion next time out and see what I see!
PT7

[Ojaileveraction]

Progressive Lenses.

[Mags]

I skipped trying Skinner sights. I have progressive lens. With buckhorn I found it very challenging to get the target, front and rear sights all aligned in the correct part of the progressive lens. My eye focus kept changing while doing so and the barrel would wander off POA. Could never get sights and target in good enough focus to shoot with any accuracy. Figured it would likely be the same with Skinner sights, so skipped them and went with a scope.

[Ojaileveraction]

I skipped trying Skinner sights. I have progressive lens. With buckhorn I found it very challenging to get the target, front and rear sights all aligned in the correct part of the progressive lens. My eye focus kept changing while doing so and the barrel would wander off POA. Could never get sights and target in good enough focus to shoot with any accuracy. Figured it would likely be the same with Skinner sights, so skipped them and went with a scope.

You missed NCG's primer on using peep sights. Looked for it but could not find it.
From my class notes: look thru rear sight, focus on the front sight, rear sight disappears, sand front sight automatically centers. Obtain sight picture xsjhoot.
That's from my notes. NCG. Of course says it much better you should look to the post.
Tim

Here it is
Peep sight theory and practice
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2678

[Mags]

From the post link provided, looks like 'Moe60' authored that primer. Yup I missed it, wasn't a forum member then. I'm sure it's a good primer for people with better eyesight than mine. However it doesn't address targeting with progressive lens.

Problem with my prescription progressive lens. For me to get focus on the sights and target I have to move my head to see through different sections of the progressive lens. So while I can get focus on the front sight, I can't see the target. When I have focus on the target I can't see the sights at all, not even the front one. Since I have to keep moving my head to get different focus points, near and far, my POA wanders. Logically thinking I didn't see that changing with a peep sight. Hence, skipped it, and went with a scope.

I skipped trying Skinner sights. I have progressive lens. With buckhorn I found it very challenging to get the target, front and rear sights all aligned in the correct part of the progressive lens. My eye focus kept changing while doing so and the barrel would wander off POA. Could never get sights and target in good enough focus to shoot with any accuracy. Figured it would likely be the same with Skinner sights, so skipped them and went with a scope.

You missed NCG's primer on using peep sights. Looked for it but could not find it.
From my class notes: look thru rear sight, focus on the front sight, rear sight disappears, sand front sight automatically centers. Obtain sight picture xsjhoot.
That's from my notes. NCG. Of course says it much better you should look to the post.
Tim

Here it is
Peep sight theory and practice
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2678

[Ojaileveraction]

I'm sure your correct.

[CT_Shooter]

NCG's lesson on using a peep sight is here:

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... =10#p49269

Can't help you on the Henry specific questions, but, yes, as far as how to use a peep sight. On all peep sights, regardless of type, you look though the peep and then forget about it, only concentrating and focusing on the front sight. Your eye automatically seeks the center of the peep sight if you do this. DO NOT make any conscious effort to center the front sight in the peep sight hole.

There are two advantages gained, here. The first is potential sharpening of the front sight/target, depending on the size of the aperture (hole in the peep) and distance of the peep from the eye (the closer the peep to the eye, the better, hence the advantage of tang peeps). Because of differences in our vision, of course, this can vary from one shooter to the next. No guarantees, here. One of those things you have to try and experiment with.

The second is a sight picture that consists of ONLY the front sight and the target and this one IS guaranteed, no matter the type of peep or distance from the eye. In other words, a peep takes the rear sight out of the sight picture, completely. You see only a front sight and the target. For us oldsters, this one is a biggie, since it's the rear open sight on a rifle that is the hardest for us to see, sharply, due to the fact that it is actually too close to our eye.

You can use any type of front sight with a peep. There's no peep sight specific requirement. I much prefer either a blade front or a globe front for target work, but bead front sights are more traditional on lever guns and for hunting, fiber optic front sights are popular for their visibility, especially in low light. Not very traditional, but they do work.

[Mags]

.
...and Squatch's addition a few posts further concerning progressive lens...
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... =10#p54054

NCG's lesson on using a peep sight is here:

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... =10#p49269

Can't help you on the Henry specific questions, but, yes, as far as how to use a peep sight. On all peep sights, regardless of type, you look though the peep and then forget about it, only concentrating and focusing on the front sight. Your eye automatically seeks the center of the peep sight if you do this. DO NOT make any conscious effort to center the front sight in the peep sight hole.

There are two advantages gained, here. The first is potential sharpening of the front sight/target, depending on the size of the aperture (hole in the peep) and distance of the peep from the eye (the closer the peep to the eye, the better, hence the advantage of tang peeps). Because of differences in our vision, of course, this can vary from one shooter to the next. No guarantees, here. One of those things you have to try and experiment with.

The second is a sight picture that consists of ONLY the front sight and the target and this one IS guaranteed, no matter the type of peep or distance from the eye. In other words, a peep takes the rear sight out of the sight picture, completely. You see only a front sight and the target. For us oldsters, this one is a biggie, since it's the rear open sight on a rifle that is the hardest for us to see, sharply, due to the fact that it is actually too close to our eye.

You can use any type of front sight with a peep. There's no peep sight specific requirement. I much prefer either a blade front or a globe front for target work, but bead front sights are more traditional on lever guns and for hunting, fiber optic front sights are popular for their visibility, especially in low light. Not very traditional, but they do work.

[CT_Shooter]

.
...and Squatch's addition a few posts further concerning progressive lens...

Yes. I miss Squatch. He was such a wonderful member of our forum.

[Mags]

.
That he was.

I remember the tributes mid-last year.

.
...and Squatch's addition a few posts further concerning progressive lens...

Yes. I miss Squatch. He was such a wonderful member of our forum.

[Cofisher]

I wear contacts. My left eye is set up for near vision (reading), and the right eye for distance. A minor astigmatism correction and minimal magnification.

I have very recent experience using the Skinner peep. This morning I bagged a deer and a coyote at 40-50 yards. Neither shot was perfect, but both were effective.

Using both eyes worked to get the sight picture, and then focusing on the front sight was pretty easy. I find the peep sight to be very practical.

[Mags]

.
um yes, contacts allow one to move their eyeballs without moving one's head.

I wear contacts. My left eye is set up for near vision (reading), and the right eye for distance. A minor astigmatism correction and minimal magnification.

I have very recent experience using the Skinner peep. This morning I bagged a deer and a coyote at 40-50 yards. Neither shot was perfect, but both were effective.

Using both eyes worked to get the sight picture, and then focusing on the front sight was pretty easy. I find the peep sight to be very practical.

[Ojaileveraction]

My shooting is centered around Club Silhouette matches.
Lever action silhouette rules don't allow for scopes. I can do pretty good seeing my front sight perfectly and have a fuzzy target. Guess I've gotten used to it and don't even think about it.
I only know how bad my eye are because I have not been able to buy strong enough readers for many years. My last eye doc did a great job taking a care of my astigmatism.
Get time to see him again

For planned hunting I'd use a scope. And all my "high powered" rifles are scoped.

[Yornoc3]

I, too, have some issues using open sights. I've shot with scoped rifles since I was 19 (almost "gulp" f-f-fifty years ) Anyway, even with scopes I've fought a bit with progressive lens glasses. I solved it by getting a set with bigger lenses, with a minimal bifocal and thereby a bigger distance "sweet spot", so I don't have to hunt around for clear focus; I find myself wearing them a lot. I can't say how well this will work with my ghost ring set up 30 30, yet, 'cause I only shot it a few times, at 100 yards, and at a poor target for open sights at that distance (the range was too busy to move, just before deer season), but, I was on the paper, the group was nothing to brag about, though. I need more practice this spring .

[Mags]

.
In the spring or sooner if you have the opportunity, I'd like to hear more about it.

I, too, have some issues using open sights. ... Anyway, even with scopes I've fought a bit with progressive lens glasses. I solved it by getting a set with bigger lenses, with a minimal bifocal and thereby a bigger distance "sweet spot", so I don't have to hunt around for clear focus; ... I can't say how well this will work with my ghost ring set up 30 30, yet, 'cause I only shot it a few times, at 100 yards, and at a poor target for open sights at that distance ... I need more practice this spring .

[markiver54]

I skipped trying Skinner sights. I have progressive lens. With buckhorn I found it very challenging to get the target, front and rear sights all aligned in the correct part of the progressive lens. My eye focus kept changing while doing so and the barrel would wander off POA. Could never get sights and target in good enough focus to shoot with any accuracy. Figured it would likely be the same with Skinner sights, so skipped them and went with a scope.

Same here Mags. Said oh well and went to the scope. Came to grips with age and reality.