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Thread: Anyone find they zero better with a larger target?

  1. #11
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    I asked this question once never got an answer, probably was off-topic in the thread in which it was posed or it was such a novice question (in my case) that no one could relate.

    If the target has an equal or smaller width than my front sight at whatever range I can still manage if there's enough backing board on either side to "frame" it. If it's by itself, I get all wobbly and try to milk it. I think there's also some mental barrier there in that the I know what I'm trying to do and WANT to do it so I make it too important and overthink instead of just doing.

    Example: If I put a 6"x9" piece of cardboard on a 1"x2" in the target stand I have a harder time hitting it than if I take a full-sized silouette target and aim for a 6"x9" square taped off in the center. Maybe there's some elementary logic regarding this of which I'm unaware but it can be frustrating.

    Short answer to your question: I can relate.

    I appreciate your question and look forward to the replies it'll hopefully generate.

    *ETA: It helps to read everything fully before replying, you're describing a physical limitation - I've got 10 years to get there, mines a skill limitation.
    Last edited by Scotter260; 10-08-13 at 23:08.
    "...forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

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  2. #12
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    Yeah, it's easier for me to shoot tighter groups with both my iron sights and my Aimpoint PRO when shooting at a larger target like a man size silhouette. I just aim for center mass (whether shooting off a bench or offhand) and my groups are considerably better then when I shoot at those small 6" or 8" target's. It doesn't matter which size rear aperture I use. When I use my AP, I use the lowest setting that conditions allow.

    Also, I do shoot a little bit better groups with my AP then I can with my iron sights. However, I'm way faster with my AP then with my iron sights.

    NYH1.

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  3. #13
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    As I grow older and my sight diminishes, I use larger front sights. With the larger front sight, my shot groups are smaller.

    I zero on a SR-1 center placed at 100 yards, then confirm zero on a silhouette target. I use a line of white hold on the SR-1 and center the black ball of the target on the front sight instead of centering the sight on the black ball. You would be surprised at how much it tightens up your groups.
    Train 2 Win

  4. #14
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    Zero, no not really, but then I am still young. I will admit that when I shoot for groups at distance that shooting on a silhouette I tend to group better, pistol and rifle, then if I am just shooting a straight bullseye.
    "I don't collect guns anymore, I stockpile weapons for ****ing war." Chuck P.

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  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by T2C View Post
    As I grow older and my sight diminishes, I use larger front sights. With the larger front sight, my shot groups are smaller.

    I zero on a SR-1 center placed at 100 yards, then confirm zero on a silhouette target. I use a line of white hold on the SR-1 and center the black ball of the target on the front sight instead of centering the sight on the black ball. You would be surprised at how much it tightens up your groups.
    T2C, I find the larger my front sight is, it covers more of my target making it harder for me to shoot tighter groups and makes it especially harder to hit smaller targets. How does this help you? Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

    Thanks, NYH1.

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  6. #16
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    48 isn’t old. Everyones eyes are different. I’m 67 and have no trouble with iron sights. In fact, I don’t even own an optic for my AR. Granted, the target isn’t all that clear at 50 yards, but I can find the bull. I use targets I print from my computer on regular sized paper. I’m not sure using a larger target would help me. Might help you. You need to do what works for you. An optometrist might be able to prescribe something that would give you your 20/20 iron sight vision back, or close to it. I’m lucky to not need glasses for far vision, but I can’t read squat without reading glasses. Gettin old isn’t for sissies.
    Gary
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  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by NYH1 View Post
    T2C, I find the larger my front sight is, it covers more of my target making it harder for me to shoot tighter groups and makes it especially harder to hit smaller targets. How does this help you? Maybe I'm doing something wrong.

    Thanks, NYH1.
    I am talking about precision fire. With my match rifle and handloads, for years shooting sub MOA groups was easy and I preferred a 0.062" wide front sight. For a period of time I modified a front sight to 0.068", but those days are gone. Now I prefer a 0.074" front sight. I stopped shooting high power matches and mostly shoot carbines nowadays.

    On a carbine the front sight is fuzzy, so a narrow front sight gets lost in the sight picture and indexing a narrow front sight on the center of a target is a guess. In low light conditions it is even worse. The wider sight is easier for me to pick up quickly and force my eyes to focus on.

    When zeroing on a small target you have to think about centering the target on the top of the front sight and not the other way around, which requires an adjustment in thinking. I use a line of white hold and set my sights to shoot 1-3/4" up into the black, which is a POI of +2" at 100 yards. Once I transition to a silhouette, I generally don't have to make a sight adjustment. Using a center chest hold on a silhouette, getting good hits with a carbine from 3 yards to 225 yards requires no adjustment in my sight picture.

    The days of shooting 20 gauge shotgun hulls off a fence rail at 100 yards are long gone for me. If your eyesight is still good enough to use a narrow front sight, it may not be time for you to go to a wider front sight.
    Train 2 Win

  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by wingspar View Post
    48 isn’t old.

    LOL! I heartily agree!

    Just saying that after 40 I started to notice a slowly-increasing, subtle degradation in my vision which had been better than 20/20. I, like you, still have good distance sight, but like you reading a pill bottle drives me nuts!

    Some good suggestions in here and all are appreciated.
    11C2P '83-'87
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  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by ABNAK View Post
    LOL! I heartily agree!

    Just saying that after 40 I started to notice a slowly-increasing, subtle degradation in my vision which had been better than 20/20. I, like you, still have good distance sight, but like you reading a pill bottle drives me nuts!

    Some good suggestions in here and all are appreciated.
    Wait until you start creeping toward 60. It ain't no picnic.
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  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by T2C View Post
    I am talking about precision fire. With my match rifle and handloads, for years shooting sub MOA groups was easy and I preferred a 0.062" wide front sight. For a period of time I modified a front sight to 0.068", but those days are gone. Now I prefer a 0.074" front sight. I stopped shooting high power matches and mostly shoot carbines nowadays.

    On a carbine the front sight is fuzzy, so a narrow front sight gets lost in the sight picture and indexing a narrow front sight on the center of a target is a guess. In low light conditions it is even worse. The wider sight is easier for me to pick up quickly and force my eyes to focus on.

    When zeroing on a small target you have to think about centering the target on the top of the front sight and not the other way around, which requires an adjustment in thinking. I use a line of white hold and set my sights to shoot 1-3/4" up into the black, which is a POI of +2" at 100 yards. Once I transition to a silhouette, I generally don't have to make a sight adjustment. Using a center chest hold on a silhouette, getting good hits with a carbine from 3 yards to 225 yards requires no adjustment in my sight picture.

    The days of shooting 20 gauge shotgun hulls off a fence rail at 100 yards are long gone for me. If your eyesight is still good enough to use a narrow front sight, it may not be time for you to go to a wider front sight.
    Ok, understood. Although I'm more then halfway to 60. . . . .still pretty far from it. However, my eyes have been getting pretty bad lately and they really don't like open/iron sights of any kind. When I use my iron sights, the wider the front sight the worse they are for me. I just stick with the stock front sight and don't shoot past 200 yards with them so I get by.

    NYH1.

    Take nothing I say personal, remember....it's just the interweb!
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