Problem with eyes and optics

[Summit454]

Looking for some help here- Let me start by stating I have been to the optometrist a few times and I currently have 20/20 vision and do not have an astigmatism.

Experience- 5 year Marine and 18 years in LE. I’m not claiming to be the best shot on the range, but I’ve always been well above average.

The problem: I can’t seem to shoot optics accurately at distances farther than 75-100 yards. Example- I have difficulty grouping at 50 yds (3in grp). My group with irons is better at 50 than with a red dot. At 100, I can still hit steel but it's rough. Again, with irons at 100 I am solid. Once I get to 200, I can’t hit steel at all but again, shoot great with irons. At the 200, I can find a place to aim in the dirt to get repeatable hits on steel- it’s like 6ft left/8ft up. Once I find that point, I can repeatedly hit steel. I would think my optic is just off but if I hand off my rifle to five different people, they all aim at the target and hit it- I know because we’ve tried. At this point, I pretty much just shoot irons at the range for qualifications- generally I still group just as good or better than most others using optics.

That’s all with an AR platform but the problem is the same or worse for magnified optics- ie hunting rifle. I’m trying to get into hunting but this presents a problem for me.

It sounds crazy, but I’ve had several range instructors sit with me and verify this issue. They all shake their heads and say “I’ve never seen this, I dunno”.

Is this possibly due to the type of optic I’m using? I don’t know much about optics, so I really don’t know where to start besides checking my vision- which was 20/20.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Convex]

My advice is to see an ophthalmologist who will give you the full spectrum of tests which are much more extensive and may discover a condition you didn't know you had or might be sneaking up on you.

One thing they discovered w/me was glaucoma soon enough to treat it/put it to sleep before it had done any damage, and of course any damage to your optic nerve takes place very slowly to where you're not going to notice until there's been extensive damage which once done is irreversible.

Don't depend on an optometrist for a "clean bill of health" for your eyes even though you have 20/20, see an ophthalmologist

 

[Convex]

Kind of a funny sequence of events: Had my Surgeries maybe around a year ago to remove cataracts giving me according to my surgeon the vision of a 30 yr. old.

Recently turned 75 yrs. old. Had to renew my Drivers License a few days B4 my BD so I'm in line to take my eye test, a few folks started rooting for me while I'm reading off the eyechart and to my surprise I got some applause/a few handshakes when they took the specs restriction off my DL.

Two older guys yell out "Hey man, write down what ya been eatin".


The DMV folks were laughing telling me it's usually the other way around at my age. I felt good about that.


I thank God I went and got my eyes checked when I did.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

Do some extensive research and find the "best of the best" medical people to consult with.
When you get a reply like this "Your issue is not my specialty".... Move on. A second tier Doctor will give you second tier results.
You will not find the medical professionals you need practicing at a rural hospital or walk in clinic.

 

[Ronin22]

I was diagnosed with LOFT. When I can't hit my targets its because of LOFT. "Lack Of Fucking Talent!"
J/K I am the opposite as the OP. I need scoped rifle to shoot in my older age.

 

[Budrichard]

An Optometrist is NOT an Opthamologist!
All an Optometrist can do is take a script and make something for you to correct your vision.
An Opthamologist is a specifically trained Medical Doctor that can diagnose eye problems and prescribe methods to deal with problems.
That said, all Opthamologists are not alike.
You need to find a Medical Center with a trained array of Optical people working consort with one another to help diagnose your problem.
I use the Eye Institute in Milwaukee.
I recently had Cataract surgery for my right (shooting) eye. I can now see better than ever before!
I recently took first place in the Military Open sight competition at our Club.(100yds)
Without this surgery, I would not have been able to score as well as I did.
Take some time, do some research as to what’s available near you.
Make an appointment.
-Richard

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Is your parallax set correctly on the optic?

 

[SporterII]

Optic set up and use.
You shoot irons , that suggests you just need to understand use of the optic.
Floaters are my enemy. At least they pass. Not cool on the clock

 

[Baron23]

Curious…when shooting w the scope, are you one or two eyes open?

 

[Haney]

Or, maybe he does not have an eye problem ?

 

[chevy_man]

I bet a lot of it is mental. That's too far off to be parallax induced.

You're either focusing so much on the scope you're doing something else wrong, or you're focusing so much on the irons you're doing everything right.

Did you mount the scopes yourself, and set the eye relief for you?

 

[Convex]

The equivalent of that here is the Stein Inst. @ UCLA. It's a win-win to have this kind of an outfit go over UR eyes, bottom line is if you get a clean bill of health from them, U can rule out an issue w/UR vision as the problem and start looking @gear and/or your technique.

 

[J_D]

Are you using a First focal plane or second?

I shoot with glasses to see the turrets, but a good FFP optic allows you to dial in at distance clear as a bell, and the ocular settings need to be dialed in correctly as well.

 

[koshkin]

Without seeing what you are doing, it is very hard to diagnose.
What part of the country are you in?

ILya

 

[Mitchell3006]

Well I think your eye's are fine! You could not do what you do with irons if they where not. Having retired from the Army and having been a LE POST Firearms instructor I will give you something else to consider. You described a Dot. If you bench zero the firearm with the 12 o'clock of your Dot as the point of impact you will have a more precise POA. For speed under 25 yrds you can just put the beach ball on their chest. For head shots inside of 25yrds or for shots to 100 like your trying, this zero will help. I also like the chevron of the ACSS Vulcan Recital. It makes the transition from inside 25 to 100+ easy. You also might work on finding a smoother trigger to add in the longer shots. Good Luck and keep up the good work. Just keep trying. Slow and steady trigger and aiming wins the fight at 100+.

 

[Convex]

Typed "can you have 20/20 vision and still have serious problems w/your vision" into a search and got a boatload of reference articles showing up.

Some mention that there are several hundred of what you can call diseases related to vision, along w/the fact that you can have a number of these diseases and still have 20/20 vision, and the suggestion that 20/20 doesn't mean perfect vision.







What I've just uploaded and said doesn't mean the OP has a problem, but I think the consensus from what I've read is that a comprehensive exam by ophthalmologists is the best way to find out where your vision is at/what U have/don't have


What I've never forgotten from the reference materials I got from my Surgeon along w/what he said to me after my surgeries was my eyes are connected to the rest of my body, and "if you don't take care of yourself, your surgeries will have been wasted because your vision will deteriorate".

He also said there's no way to keep your vision and guzzle hard booze, it's one or the other.

 

[Scopeye]

Try switching to a better quality optic before jumping to conclusions. Borrow someone's Leupold even their low end cheapest $399 VX Freedom with front focus 3-9x33 AO EFR parallax adjuster just to see if better glass with an adjustable objective improves your shooting then go from there.