[Eagle Eye]

Went to the range yesterday ( see thread http://floridaconcealedcarry.com/Forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21 ) and had a couple of issues I need help with. I've been lurking and occasionally posting but mostly reading for information.
First, I am left eye dominate and far sighted. Also right handed. Talk about shooting "dirty"! If I wear "reading glasses" to get my sight picture then the target virtually disappears. If I don't wear my glasses then I see the target, but the sight picture is virtualy gone. With the glasses I can hit an eight inch target at 7+/-2 yds. and without sighting is about the same. It just bothers me I have to use one or the other. Is this a condition which would warrant "point shooting"?
Second I have a S&W M&P40c and changed the backstraps on a couple different targets for testing. I have a large hand (I'm 6'2") and using the larger backstrap I found it brought my grouping higher on target. When using the medium strap I couldn't really tell any difference but the wife said she was better on target with her using the medium. This all in addition to the first issue made it an information overload for our "******* date".
I will keep reading other areas for hints and check back here for replies.

 

[NkmG19]

Eagle Eye in my opinion I think you answered your own question in the first scenario. I am more and more convinced that point shooting is what's going to make the difference in a SD situation and so developing that skill would be a great asset to you than sight (target) shooting. I hope you can get good advice on how to work through you sight focus problem but IMHO point shooting skills should serve you well on the streets.

 

[airhead]

I agree that at close SD distances, hand/gun/point/shooting will save you.

At longer ranges shooting for 'score' or shooting to improve accuracy - you are going to have to make some adjustments.

Possibilities:

Dominant eye issue:
1. Close left eye and use right. Simplest answer.
2. Use a 2 handed grip (with a .40, I hope so.) Just shift the pistol over a bit and use the right hand on the trigger, left eye. Very simple answer.

Vision issue:
I am guessing you use reading glasses and see beyond your reach fine? (I got reading glasses because my arms got too short).

1. Get a set at about half of what your "plus" is in your prescription.
(if you use +1.5 for reading, get a drug store set of +1's or +.75's).
See if you can then focus on your front sight and still get a fairly accurate look at the target.

2. Without reading glasses, learn to focus on your front sight. Slow fire at the range, I'll point the gun below the target, focus on the front sight, then bring it up to center the black.

3. Nothing will work perfect except maybe getting a set of young eyes. (lasik results anyone?)

4. get a red-dot sight.

 

[brownie]

Eagle Eye

Is this a condition which would warrant "point shooting"?

Threat focused skills are just the ticket for your dilemma. Like most older than 40, the eyes don't want to focus back and forth between the threat and sights, learning the skills taught at Howie in the Hills a few weeks ago [ see the reviews on this site ] would alleviate all that.

As to the cross dominance situation---shoot with both eyes open threat focused at a nose index and the dominant eye will take over naturally. No need to cant the gun or use the non dominant eye.

I'm announcing the Sept dates for the Integrated Threat Focused Training at the Howie in the Hills location this afternoon.

Brownie

 

[Mac45]

Eagle eye,

First things first. Brownie is dead on with his advice. Try leaving both eyes open [you should shoot that way anyway] and see how that works.

(An easy way to see how this works is to make a "thumbs-up" gesture at arm's length. With both eyes open, stand about six to eight feet away from a clock, can, etc and cover the object with your thumb. Now close each eye in turn. The thumb will still cover the object when you use your dominant eye, but will be displaced to one side when you use your non-dominant eye.)

In most defensive situations you are going to use a point shooting technique anyway and the target is going to be large.

Second. if you are going to be the primary user of the Smith, choose the insert that makes the weapon most comfortable in your hand. Don't be too concerned where it prints, initially. Practice will adjust your muscle memory and you will train yourself to point at the target. After all, most handguns are not readily user adjustable. The user adjusts to the weapon, not necessarily the other way around. Practice will also allow you to adjust to a fuzzy sight picture. It just takes time. Have fun.

 

[Steve48]

I agree with Brownie and Mac, but I'd also like to second what Airhead said. For bullseye shooting using the sights, get a pair of weaker reading glasses and see if they don't allow you to focus on the sights without having the target disappear.

I'm near sighted. To focus on my sights I actually use my regular glasses to focus me at infinity. Then I wear a pair of plain plastic safety glasses with a pair of weak reading glasses attached to them over the regular glasses. Talk about a "sight". It works, though.

But I spend most of my time practicing Brownie's point and shoot technique.

 

[Eagle Eye]

Thanks for all the advice. As for the eye issues I have learned (in the military) to keep both eyes open when sighting in and firing. That's not a problem. The use of glasses is for close up work such as reading and detail work. So naturally the sight picture will either be fuzzy on the sights or vice versa. I did try focusing on the front sight and that seemed to work the best, although it seemed as if I had to "Aim High" :laughing as we used to say in the Air Force. Not hard to deal with at all. The issue of the grip is pretty much put to rest. The wifey said she needs to get her own weapon because she really liked our "******* date" Also we will be looking into reloading in the future. Hey it was all her idea! :dancingbanana I think she's a keeper! Thanks for all the advice guys.

Brownie: I registered on your Theat Focused Forum (as the same name here) and lurk there also. Good info. I will look into your training classes in the future. Being on strict budget right now because of haveing only part time work is a bummer. I will check it out and plan for the future though.

 

[brownie]

Eagle Eye,

Thanks for your thoughts, look forward to working with you in the future.

Brownie

 

[SGB]

Not only does Brownie's type of point shooting technique make sense for your needs but a crimson trace laser added to your S&W M&P makes sense as well.

 

[Ghost]

Getting old sucks! The vision thing is a real pain. I no longer shoot as well as I used to and it's all in the sight picture. Like most of us I need glasses to read and to see distance, throw in and astigmatism and cross eye dominance and it becomes a real challenge.

Over the years my vision has changed so much. I tried progressive lenses which worked out pretty good for shooting, but not so good for driving. Then it was regular bifocals. Better for driving but BAD for shooting. Now I just wear shooting glasses and let it all blur a bit. When the blurs look about right I fire. Most of the time it's surprisingly good. But I don't shoot beyond about 15 yards anymore and I use BIG targets!

 

[SwampRat]

Getting old sucks! The vision thing is a real pain. I no longer shoot as well as I used to and it's all in the sight picture. Like most of us I need glasses to read and to see distance, throw in and astigmatism and cross eye dominance and it becomes a real challenge.

Over the years my vision has changed so much. I tried progressive lenses which worked out pretty good for shooting, but not so good for driving. Then it was regular bifocals. Better for driving but BAD for shooting. Now I just wear shooting glasses and let it all blur a bit. When the blurs look about right I fire. Most of the time it's surprisingly good. But I don't shoot beyond about 15 yards anymore and I use BIG targets!

I'm right there with ya brother...I found with an astigmatism my contacts worked out pretty good for shooting...One eye is for distance the other is for close up and the brain figures out the rest of it..problem came with being crosseye dominant..but hell, I havent used the sights on a handgun in years...Another help for getting on the sights was a pair of 125 readers, they got me where I could see the distance and had a fuzzy site picture..

 

[Eagle Eye]

Not only does Brownie's type of point shooting technique make sense for your needs but a crimson trace laser added to your S&W M&P makes sense as well.

The Crimson Trace grip is probably the way I will go but I will have to wait for full time employment and a bit of financial catch up before that'll happen.