Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism?

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Frank Petronio
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Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism?

Post by Frank Petronio »

Apologies for being an infrequent, newbie poster but basically I plink in my 9m basement range and occasional tap metal spinners in the backyard with a 1983 FAS 604 pneumatic air pistol (which I love). I'm 56 years old and require +2.0 readers for close work and have a variety of top and bottom bifocal shooting glasses for my other powderburners. Right now I am running an Ultradot redot on a BME Weaver mount on the FAS, it has proven to be solid and reliable for 1000s of pellets but I am developing an astigmatism that causes the dot to "spider" and grow. I shoot around this and it can work but I am wondering if I should consider swapping it for a more traditional optical scope? I have no issues using scoped rifles (once I adjust the initial focusing ring) with clear non-magnified glasses.

Concerns include whether the scope will have enough focusing breadth that I can adjust it at 21-22" arm distance using clear non-magnified glasses (imagine being able to see the scope and the target again!). And whether the scope and rings can hold up to cocking the top opening FAS (like a Beeman P17) (not a recoil issue).

Any recommendations and experiences are welcome, thank you.

(I already know the answer is to get a Steyr PCP, please tell my wife.)

Image20150902_fas604_0179 by Frank Petronio, on Flickr
Rover
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Rover »

It's not the Red Dot that's a problem, it's YOU!!!

Get some prescription glasses!

Forget the PCP....you can't buy points.
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Frank Petronio
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Frank Petronio »

Rover wrote:It's not the Red Dot that's a problem, it's YOU!!!

Get some prescription glasses!

Forget the PCP....you can't buy points.
I figured you would post so I put that Easter Egg in just for you!

You're right, last visit to the eye doc told me it wasn't a big enough problem but this year it is! However I am still wondering if an optical scope might just be better for me all around and avoid another round of changing shooting glasses (I seem to have a box full and ones for open sight pistols, scoped rifles, clay shooting, etc. kind of ridiculous).
dronning
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by dronning »

If you think a dot moves way faster than iron sights wait until you use a scope! The movement will make you dizzy!

Yep I know you movement is the same but what you see gets amplified too! It's very distracting.

Scopes are great for bench or supported shooting.

- Dave
Certified Safety Instructor: Rifle & Pistol
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
~ Ben Franklin
Rover
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Rover »

You only need a single lens, but if you're just going to shoot a Red Dot, get a pair of glassed correct for distance and correcting astigmatism. You can use them for everyday wear, driving, etc.

This is what I personally do, except when using iron sights.

Several guys at the club are trying to make do (unsuccessfully) with bifocals.
45ACP223
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by 45ACP223 »

Rover is correct on getting prescription glasses to correct your astigmatism is the best advice.

I don't see why using a red dot on 10m AP is such a big deal around here, especially for us with aging eyes. Everyone seems to poo poo them for AP. I guess it's the purist attitude, kind of like SSP vs. CA, right Rover? :-) Your setup looks like excellent AP training for Bullseye shooting. Bullseye shooters have the option to use iron sights, red dots, or optical scopes as long as the magnification is no more than 1x. Red dots make aiming easier as you don't have to worry about aligning the front and rear sights, but then you have the extra dot movement to deal with that kind of offsets the gains.
Rover
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Rover »

Well, actually you can't use a Red Dot on ANY International competition gun. That includes air pistol.

I only use one on my Bullseye .22.
45ACP223
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by 45ACP223 »

Rover, this is true, and perhaps I should not have posted this in this thread, since the category is Olympic Pistol, but there are airgun club matches in my area that allow red dots since we have shooters 50 and up with aging eyes. When I used to shoot NRA Bullseye competitors, I regularly practiced AP with a red dot in my basement to help with trigger control and arm strength.
Rover
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Rover »

We have a local club that is the same way, but it doesn't happen at Phoenix Rod & Gun Club.
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Frank Petronio
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Frank Petronio »

Well I this seemed to be the most logical subform to post in, understanding that I'm not trying to compete but at the same time trying to be a little more serious than plinking a Crosman BB gun at pop cans.

Heavens I even take the FAS outdoors and plink in the wind, hardly optimal but fun.
Rover
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by Rover »

God knows, we have lots of "windy" shooters on this forum.
paw080
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by paw080 »

Good Grief Frank, 21"-22" arm distance?? Are you using a two hand Taco hold or something?

First of all, follow Rover's advice and get a single focus prescription for your dominant eye.

If you do that, you won't need any kind of dot or scope for 10M AP shooting.

Okay, for plinking shooting, you can do anything that you wish if it provides plinking enjoyment.

Being 56 years old is no excuse to not go to an Ophthalmologist/Optometrist for eyesight correction.

Wal-Mart reading glasses just don't cut it; you need a prescription that also corrects for anomalies

like cylinder skew on whatever axis it exists. I'm 75 years old, have had Cataract surgery in both eyes,

also had detached Vitreous in both eyes. Yet, using a prescribed correction lens I can clearly focus on

the front sight blade of my Bullseye pistols, my 10M pistols and my Morini 84E and Pardini PGP 75

50 M Free pistols. The differing sight radii on these pistols, does require three different prescribed

lenses.

When training on my backyard 10M AP course, I also have spinners and 10M SP

silhouettes setup when I need a break from the intense AP training.

Well; Good luck with whatever you choose to do about your vision problem.

Tony
siordian1
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Re: Optical scope over red dot for 10m plinker w astigmatism

Post by siordian1 »

I too have very bad vision. I get new glasses ever other year and I found this to help.

http://www.eyepalusa.com/

You have to find the right spot on the lens to get the best vision, with this I can clearly see either the front sight on my air pistol or the dot on my BE guns. Not very expensive, $30-40.00.
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