Guns For The Blind?

[GunNRose 0]

I'm a new but old(er) (54) soon-to-be-firearms-owner who wears trifocals and knows she's going to need prescription glasses tailored just for target practice. When I went to the gun store on Tuesday I had a heck of a time focusing on the front and rear gun sights while simultaneously trying to focus on the target. I felt like a bobblehead doll!

 

Does anyone have any experience with purchasing prescription glasses for shooting? Or what about prescription safety glasses? (Why not? I have A MILLION DOLLARS at my disposal.)

 

I know I have to buy my gun first so I can bring it with me to the optometrist's office (been looking at a .22 4" S&W revolver). Can I expect to be pleased with the results of my visit?

[tinyboy 1]

for a million dollars, Ill go to the range with you and tell you where to aim

[Malsua 1,422]

I know I have to buy my gun first so I can bring it with me to the optometrist's office (been looking at a .22 4" S&W revolver). Can I expect to be pleased with the results of my visit?

 

ROFL.

Lets figure this out.

Buy gun: pleased

take gun to optometrist: still pleased I suppose:

optometrist calls 9/11: Less than pleased

swat team shows up: much less than pleased

boot on neck, knee in back: definitely not pleased

next 24 hours in jail and seizure of gun: Way beyond not pleased

Visit judge and lawyer bills for the next few months: epitome of not pleased:

 

I guess if you decide to stop time upon going to see eye doctor, you could be pleased, it goes downhill pretty fast after that.

[kenw 293]

Your primary point of focus should be on the front sight. You'll see where it is in relation to the target and the rear sight without refocusing. Once the front sight is between the rear sight marks and both are in proper relation to the target, you should be right on. I'm nearsighted, and the target is never in complete focus for me, but I can make out the black circle just fine, and I even hit it once in a while.

 

I know I have to buy my gun first so I can bring it with me to the optometrist's office

NJ law prohibits the transportation of handguns except to and from the range, gun shop or gunsmith. If you walk into your eye Dr.'s office with a handgun, you could conceivably go away for a period of years.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Maksim 1,504]

welcome to the forum.... =) will let the others handle this one.

 

but yes.... unless you doctor knows you are coming with a firearm... this can get ugly... bad.

[tj462nj 32]

There are companies that will put prescription lens in shooting glasses. Pm me and I can give you some info if you'd like.

[coldsolderjoint 84]

What others have said. The sights should be clear, and the target a little out of focus.

 

My friend swears by Wiley-X glasses. http://www.wileyx.com/index.aspx

 

I think you just get an extra prescription from your doc and send it in.

[GunNRose 0]

Malsua!

 

Such a quick response from you! And just to make fun of me!

 

No, really, I read on an optometrist's website that this is what you're supposed to do--bring your gun WITHOUT ammo, and go into your stance or pose or whatever so he can decide where to put your close-up, mid, and far range lens powers.

[GunNRose 0]

TinyBoy: It's a deal!

[GunNRose 0]

KenW: Thanks. Didn't know that.

[GunNRose 0]

MakSim: Don't worry. I wouldn't have done it without finding out whether or not it was really legal.

[tinyboy 1]

GunNRose-

 

I dont know what part of the state you are from, but if you want to come to the range with me and try some guns out for real let me know

 

Im a horrible shot myself and am NOT a teacher, but ll let you shoot some to see if you can aim and hit the target

 

tinyboy

[GunNRose 0]

TB: I'm in Camden County. Thanks for your offer. I might take you up on it someday--although, you: horrible shot, and me: horrible focuser--we COULD wreak havoc! My brother's friend has also said he'd take me around.

[Malsua 1,422]

Malsua!

 

Such a quick response from you! And just to make fun of me!

 

No, really, I read on an optometrist's website that this is what you're supposed to do--bring your gun WITHOUT ammo, and go into your stance or pose or whatever so he can decide where to put your close-up, mid, and far range lens powers.

 

I wasn't making fun of _YOU_. I was making fun of the hypothetical situation that you brought to mind when I read your missive.

 

I can tell you categorically, do not under any circumstance take a firearm, loaded or unloaded to anywhere except a range, a gun smith, a business that YOU own, hunting or to your home. It is NOT legal to do so in NJ. You will get caught, you will go to jail, you will be charged and convicted of a felony and your rights to even own a firearm will be stripped from you permanently.

[GunNRose 0]

New Jersey State Motto: Not User Friendly

[kenw 293]

New Jersey State Motto: Not User Friendly

You may be a new gun owner, but it sounds like you've been here a while.

 

Ken

[djg0770 481]

I'm a new but old(er) (54) soon-to-be-firearms-owner who wears trifocals and knows she's going to need prescription glasses tailored just for target practice. When I went to the gun store on Tuesday I had a heck of a time focusing on the front and rear gun sights while simultaneously trying to focus on the target. I felt like a bobblehead doll!

 

Does anyone have any experience with purchasing prescription glasses for shooting? Or what about prescription safety glasses? (Why not? I have A MILLION DOLLARS at my disposal.)

 

I know I have to buy my gun first so I can bring it with me to the optometrist's office (been looking at a .22 4" S&W revolver). Can I expect to be pleased with the results of my visit?

 

My dear Rose, may I suggest a laser? The good ones are not cheap (well, not cheap for me - if you've got a million $ they're a lot less than that)

 

http://www.crimsontrace.com/

[Bioed 0]

Rose

 

There's really no need to bring the actual gun-the doc just needs to know the distance to the sights. Once you've got the gun this should't be hard to figure out; then it's just a matter of showing him where you need to focus. I did this during my last eye exam-holding out my arms like I was shooting and adding the length of the gun. I ended up with with progressive lenses-the strength changes gradually from top to bottom-I shoot several different size handguns and rifles and it's a matter of finding the area on the glasses that brings the front sight into focus

[Wolfy 51]

GunNRose I actually did not bother reading this topic till tonight because I thought it was actually guns for blind people. Kinda like Braille on a drive up ATM WHY??????

 

But seriously If you look down the sights of a gun at a target you have 3 focal planes the rear sight, front sight and your target. It is impossible for the human eye to focus on more than one focal plane at a time. So for maximum accuracy the front sight should be the sharpest image.

[tony357 386]

I'm a new but old(er) (54) soon-to-be-firearms-owner who wears trifocals and knows she's going to need prescription glasses tailored just for target practice. When I went to the gun store on Tuesday I had a heck of a time focusing on the front and rear gun sights while simultaneously trying to focus on the target. I felt like a bobblehead doll!

 

Does anyone have any experience with purchasing prescription glasses for shooting? Or what about prescription safety glasses? (Why not? I have A MILLION DOLLARS at my disposal.)

 

I know I have to buy my gun first so I can bring it with me to the optometrist's office (been looking at a .22 4" S&W revolver). Can I expect to be pleased with the results of my visit?

 

Sounds like a shot in the dark to me.. :idea:

[GunNRose 0]

All of you guys have been extremely helpful and hilarious! I might have to print out this whole thread.

 

Now, isn't the laser a little like cheating? I mean, I really want to see if I can learn to be a good shot all on my own. Besides, I want to save my million dollars for other upgrades, like a 14K gold engraved barrel, a green jade grip, silver bullets, and platinum snap caps.

 

I'd like to tell you about the experience I had visiting the sport shop. I can't remember the name of it but it was in Bordentown. As I mentioned, I went with my brother, Joe, and his friend, Kernsey. They're both in their mid forties, rugged-looking guys, Joe a big-chested lead guitarist in a local rock band and Kernsey inked with tattoos, most of which were visible that day due to his wardrobe choices of cargo shorts and a T-shirt with the sleeves ripped out. I, on the other hand, at 5'4", weighing in at 108 pounds, dressed in skinny jeans, and with my hair in a bun on top of my head (bangs curled), looked like a middle-aged valley girl version of Tinkerbell.

 

So when my two, bruiser escorts both pointed at me when asked by the salesman, "Who is the firearms purchaser?" I was not surprised that he almost choked trying to silence his laughter. I mean, even I thought it was funny and had to laugh, too. But I want to tell you: after the salesman knew the buyer was me, he looked only me in the eye when giving his sales pitch, advice, and instruction. He treated me with respect, understanding that I would be the final decision maker in the purchase and that Joe and Kernsey were there only for support. Therefore, I would recommend this shop (if only I could remember the name) to any woman wanting a gun. You will be taken seriously. Oh, and the salesman was an older gentleman, ex-military, in case you should want to ask for him.

[Wolfy 51]

It was either Cheyenne Mt or the Sportsmen's Center. Both are about a mile from each other.

[kenw 293]

Rose,

 

Glad you're having a good time here.

 

Excellent choices on the accessorizing, classy without being to gaudy... and from a practicality standpoint, those silver bullets will be an ideal response to the occasional werewolf attacks I've been hearing about happening down your way. Just remember, don't waste them on the run of the mill street zombies. Regular hollow points drop them just fine.

 

As for the laser, if you're eventually going to be keeping a gun for home defense (something beefier than the .22), anything that gives you an advantage is just fine, but don't become dependent on it. Learn to shoot accurately first, then go for the gadgets. Technology is great, but if the batteries fail when you (God forbid) need them the most, you have to be able to jump to plan B.

 

Ken

[djg0770 481]

Rose,

 

You're such a good sport!

 

Sure, a laser is like cheating, but if you practice enough with it, and after you get good (probably 3 shots - in my experience women are VERY good shots) you probably can turn the laser off and hit close to where you POINT.

 

Some info on point vs aim

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulle ... php?t=7392

 

Have you tried to shoot with your regular glasses yet? As Malsua mentioned before, typically you focus on the front sight and the rear sight and target are 'blurry'. I put blurry in quotes, because it's relative. I would try it at the range - or even dry fire practice.

[GunNRose 0]

KenW: several people have told me to get a shot gun for home protection. So I'm thinking two guns--long gun for home protection and hand gun for target shooting. What's your opinion? Also, I'm wondering whether I'll ever be able to wield a hand gun bigger than a .22. My hands are impossibly small (ring finger size 3-1/2), but I'm stronger than I look; I've been exercising since I was in my twenties.

 

I want my first gun to be a revolver. I like the idea of a revolver. Nice, simple machine, all of that old West cowboy mystique about it. Is it dopey to be romantic about a gun in that way? And I know you can get good deals on used guns, but I want a new gun so I can put my own stamp on it. That's probably also dopey. I'm just dopey, I guess.

[Wolfy 51]

GunsNRose stop by at the BA shoot on Tue. I can bring some revolvers for you to try. BTW I think a 357 is an excellent choice for a first gun. You get 2 calebers and a broad power spectrum out of one gun.

[GunNRose 0]

DJ: I haven't shot a gun anywhere yet. I've only aimed one in the store. It was the first time I'd even looked down a barrel and lined up the sights. I loved lining up the sights; it was so cool. But then I had to do that bobblehead thing to see the target. It's hard to move the head yet keep the arms still. I think I might need lenses that allow me to keep the sights and target in relative focus by moving my eyes only, not my head. I imagine such a prescription is possible.

[GunNRose 0]

Wolfy: What and where is the BA shoot? And about the .357--does it take .22? The idea behind getting a .22 is that the ammo is 10x less expensive and you can therefore afford to practice a lot.

[kenw 293]

KenW: several people have told me to get a shot gun for home protection. So I'm thinking two guns--long gun for home protection and hand gun for target shooting. What's your opinion? Also, I'm wondering whether I'll ever be able to wield a hand gun bigger than a .22. My hands are impossibly small (ring finger size 3-1/2), but I'm stronger than I look; I've been exercising since I was in my twenties.

 

I want my first gun to be a revolver. I like the idea of a revolver. Nice, simple machine, all of that old West cowboy mystique about it. Is it dopey to be romantic about a gun in that way? And I know you can get good deals on used guns, but I want a new gun so I can put my own stamp on it. That's probably also dopey. I'm just dopey, I guess.

Anything that you can effectively use to protect yourself and your home is right for you. If you have something that is either too big to handle or too powerful to wield comfortably and accurately, it won't do you any good. There are small shotguns out there (20ga, .410, youth size stocks) that will work for small users, and if you can hit what you need to hit will serve you well. A handgun is fine, a shotgun is fine, a rifle is fine if you know how to use it and get comfortable practicing shooting it at a range and moving through your home with it.

 

My wife is 5'2'', and has small hands (I'm 6'6" and we look odd together). She started with a .22 pistol and after becoming comfortable with that, moved up to a 9mm. The gun is small and compact, not much larger than her .22, and she shoots very well with it at what would be considered self-defense ranges. It's rarely out of reach when she's home alone, and she would have no second thoughts about using it if necessary. Also, I'm more comfortable with her having the additional power of the larger cartridge, should she ever need to use it when I'm away from the house.

 

It's not dopey to want new. Just like cars, you don't want to be inheriting someone else's problems with something that you may one day need to save your life. The guns we have at home for SD are new, and our next purchases, which will be just for range shooting and collecting, will probably be used.

 

Sadly, self-defense is a real consideration, and you need to have confidence in and be able to use your tools if you (again, God forbid) ever have to.

 

Once you're settled with you gun(s), try to make it to one of the casual group shoots that the members here put together. Any of us will gladly help you with any issues you're having, and shooting with people you know and share a passion with is a real social event, and a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

 

K

[GunNRose 0]

Excellent, KenW.