Thread: Iron Sights for 60+

Hi guys. So I just bought a BLR in .308. I’m really keen to try using the iron sights. I turned 60 last year. Anyone out there 60+ having success with iron sights?

Oh forgot to say I am short sighted and wear progressive lenses so I can focus on the front post ok

You will need 30yr old vision
Depends on you sight
You cant shoot with glasses on as you cant get line up

But my neighbor is 81 and still reads the paper without glasses
So luck of the draw or maybe listened to your mother when she caught u in the bath as a teen :-)

Hi Will,

I'm still around a decade off your age target ,but regularly use irons. I know of 70 year old plus shooters who do the same.

If you can focus on the front blade you are good to go

Give me a PM is you want to try out different options, I have found an aperture / ghost right setup for the rear is what I get best results with.

cheers thanks guys that's really helpful. I'll pm you @ebf, much appreciated indeed. I'm interested in ghost rings but I figure I should start with the factory sight and see how I go first. I have a pair of optical shooting glasses, just been trying them now, and it actually seems good. I focus on the front post, and I get a sharp enough edge for the rear blade to know if it's lined up. @Huntfisheat I have a .44 mag with an aimpoint hunter red dot and it's really cool. Can shoot to 100 no problem.

Originally Posted by WillB

cheers thanks guys that's really helpful. I'll pm you @ebf, much appreciated indeed. I'm interested in ghost rings but I figure I should start with the factory sight and see how I go first. I have a pair of optical shooting glasses, just been trying them now, and it actually seems good. I focus on the front post, and I get a sharp enough edge for the rear blade to know if it's lined up. @Huntfisheat I have a .44 mag with an aimpoint hunter red dot and it's really cool. Can shoot to 100 no problem.

"optical shooting glasses"
What do you mean.

So even with the Red Dot
You can shoot with glasses on
Or you dont have a blurred Dot without glasses

I use my prescription glasses with my Red Dots no problem.
I can’t use iron sights either U notch or aperture anymore no matter what I try ( glasses on or off )

PS - I’m 53 years old .

I mean the shooting glasses have corrective lenses. I can't see sh*t without glasses - I'm pretty short sighted. I use the red dot with glasses and it's fine. @Sarvo do you find that you can't line up iron sights with glasses on? @Ground Control that's a bugger. Still, I guess when I actually get to the range I may find the same.

Originally Posted by WillB

Hi guys. So I just bought a BLR in .308. I’m really keen to try using the iron sights. I turned 60 last year. Anyone out there 60+ having success with iron sights?

There are plenty of veterans (65+) shooting targets with open sights, 300 to 1000 yards.

Personally I'm too blind, I've got to use a scope for 25 yards smallbore.

Originally Posted by WillB

I mean the shooting glasses have corrective lenses. I can't see sh*t without glasses - I'm pretty short sighted. I use the red dot with glasses and it's fine. @Sarvo do you find that you can't line up iron sights with glasses on? @Ground Control that's a bugger. Still, I guess when I actually get to the range I may find the same.

No - cant line up at all
With a normal scope I look over top of glasses - which is good as I can keep then on for field use

Originally Posted by Ground Control

I use my prescription glasses with my Red Dots no problem.
I can’t use iron sights either U notch or aperture anymore no matter what I try ( glasses on or off )

PS - I’m 53 years old .

Buggered if I know then
I must hold my rifle wrong or something
But no way I can look through my prescription glasses and be lined up on a Red Dot or a normal scope
So RD no good as it has no Diopter adjustment
Leupold have been abandoned for 5 years now - as their Diopter + in not enough now

Here's some targets I shot with my Swiss K31. My eyes are older than most forum members. I use glasses for reading but nothing (well plain safety glasses) when shooting with irons, diopter or scopes.

Group 1 4x Nickel Scope, Group 2 irons. 102 yds. (I should note the K31 has vey nicely shaped irons particularly the notch in the rear sight.


Iron sights. AM was actually 6 o'clock under the black.


Iron sights. 100 yds. AM 6 o'clock under the black.


Diopter sights. 100 yds

Just be prepared to change it ever few years as your eyes continue to change
Or accept that it's going to happen and think further forward to open sights and quick release mounts that allow a low power scope
Because you will end up there anyway

I have Skinner sights
Tang sights
Aperture sights
Open sights
Express sights
Some work better than others but all are suitable for task

Also as you age re focus your scopes more often
You will get a surprise how sharp they are again

Skinner makes a rear aperture sight which also mounts Talley QD rings. That looks like a good option to me

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Also as you age re focus your scopes more often
You will get a surprise how sharp they are again

Recently had 2 scoped rifles out of the safe that had been undisturbed for several years. The scopes were noticeably not sharp and needed adjusting. Yet my last glasses update showed my eyes were only very slightly different from 3 years ago.

One rifle I would have trouble shooting now is my PH Musketoon. It has a rear sight very close to the shooter.