Suggestions for me?

[Chumley]

Took my new Tactical Sport to the range for the first time.  I am still learning, but hoy did I enjoy that gun.  I know you can't focus on near and far at the same time so I use reading glasses and focus on the sights, but the farther out I get it is a big fuzz, so it is kind of a guess where the bullseye is.

How are you supposed to adjust your point of aim as you move out distances?  Any other thoughts for me when you look at the targets.  The first pic is 20 and 25. And the next one is 40 and 50'.

[bmo]

So bit of a disclaimer, I'm no pistol expert but i know a little bit.

Fundamentals definitely come into play more the further out you shoot. For me personally, I wrestle with trigger control and breathing the further out I shoot.

Do you keep both eyes open? There's nothing really wrong with closing one eye for target shooting but I feel like there's more benefit to keeping both open. For example, being able to see the target AND your sights at distance. Now the target and rear sight will be blurry of course, as they should, but that front sight should be clear in your dominant eye.

Your non-dominant eye will be able to see the blurry target and help you aim better. There is a certain point I've found you need to trust your sights though so that's where the fundamentals come into play. Further out you shoot, the more magnified one's errors will be on target. I'm sure somebody like Joe L. could give some better insight though.

[DenStinett]

I went to my Eyeglasses Guy and had him set me up with a pair of Glasses with my Midrange (3 - 6 ft) Lens ground into the upper inside corner of both Lenses
The Lenses are ground out of PolyCarbonate, plus I had mine PhotoGreyed, just for kicks
They work very well for me for both Handguns and Long Guns with Iron Sights

[1SOW]

A VA optometrist told me that at my age, the eyes can't focus far and then back to near as fast as they could when you were  20, 40, 50 or 60. 

The same sight picture works at any range.  The sight "weave"  is the same at any range.  The "actual" target size is the same at any distance.
As distance increases,  the "result of the weave is amplified". (A two inch group at 20 yrds IS a four inch group at 40 yards) The "weave" is controlled by the basics and your physical strength and ability.   

JoeL will tell you CALM, relaxed and strong will win over EXCITED, tight and not so strong.

[Joe L]

Chumley--I have had good luck with glasses prescribed to focus at the front sight distance.  I've had cataract surgery with implants set for distance, so I wear a pair of glasses specifically for shooting with the dominant eye lens set for sharp focus at the front sight.  I took a pistol with me to the optometrist office to get this pretty close.  I left the non-dominant eye lens with almost no correction. 

I shoot with both eyes open but smear just enough lip gloss on the non-dominant eye lens to blur it up some so that I don't get double vision. 

So, the rear sight isn't sharp, the front sight is sharp and the target is not sharp.  I look at the front sight and just place it in the center of the target.  The sight will wobble in the target area. 

The trick is to NOT chase the sight!!  We tend to try to release the shot when the sight alignment is perfect.  Doing so will usually move the gun.  I shoot better groups if I release the trigger smoothly to the rear while the sight alignment is wobbling around the center of the target.  I think more about smooth release of the trigger than about perfect sight alignment. 

I took a course once where the instructor tried to demonstrate this.  He said aim the gun at the target.  Then he reached up and said he was going to release the trigger while I held sight alignment and I would not know when he was going to do it.  The groups were better than when I tried to time the shot to match perfect sight alignment, which can't be done. 

So, what I would suggest is stay with a standard distance, say 25 or 50 feet.  Put up a target with just the blank side toward you so there is no target.  Line the gun up with the center of the sheet of paper and release a few shots.  With no "target" to try to force the shots to hit, you may be surprised at the group size.  Do this a few times, maybe 20 rounds, and then hang the target normally and try it again. 

I couldn't believe how well I could shoot a pistol when I didn't "force" the shot.  Maybe this concept of releasing while wobbling will help you some. 

Joe

[Chumley]

Thanks everyone, a lot to think about.  I will work on your suggestions.

[TheLocNar]

I think I've never seen worst shooting in my whole entire life. That gun has to be defective. Give it to me.

[Chumley]

Let me try it one more time and then I will let you know, okay?

[TheLocNar]

Go for it!