new shooter needs help

B

bdotson

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I am planning on stepping up my shooting game. I have never shot competition but would like to try it some day. Here is my question I have noticed that when I shoot for longer periods of time say 1 hour or so the target starts to blur as I look at it. This seems to worsen. The longer I look the worse it gets is this normal? what can be done to help thanks Buddy
 
Eye Strain

Sounds like your over working your eyes. How long since you've had a complete eye physical?
 
Eyepiece focus, maybe............. Read the instructions that came with your scope and focus it while looking at a solid white wall or the clear blue sky.

-Dave-:)
 
may be 2 years or so.how do you over work your eyes? How do keep from over working your eyes? anyone else experence this problem or is it just me?
 
Dave I will try that but it seems right when I start only after a hour or so do I start to have the problem should I re adj the focus then? thanks
 
Barrel Mirage??

Try a mirage shield over your barrel the next time it happens. If you don't have one, just drape a towel over the barrel and see if that helps.
 
Thanks Henry I will give it a try but it does not seem like mirage. If I close my eye for a moment, then open it. it will be clear for a short period of time(5-7sec) and then get blured again?
 
It would seem to me....

bdotson said:
Thanks Henry I will give it a try but it does not seem like mirage. If I close my eye for a moment, then open it. it will be clear for a short period of time(5-7sec) and then get blured again?
Click to expand...

that you are having an issue with the "health" of your eyes. People seldom realize just how much energy the eyes consume, or how tiring bad galsses or cheap sunglasses, or just the continuous use of one's eyes can be. NO organ uses as much energy as the human eye. And in the shooting sports, if you can't see it, you can't hit it. Go see a good opthamologist (MD specializing in eyes) and get a full workup. Might be amazed what you will find. Better yet, if you can be as lucky as my wife and I, find one who also shoots. He/she will have a better understanding of what is going on while you are tiring.
 
I think what you describe is normal -- but then, I've never had "normal" vision. It could also be your prescription . . .

A story that might help. . . For a long time, when I went to the eye doctor & they had me read a chart, I worked hard at it. I didn't relax & read what I could, I tried hard to read as far down as I could. Apparently my glasses prescription reflected this. When the doc got in some new technology that somehow gave them a different way to evaluate eyes, the device showed a different prescription was needed. But, they always use both "the machine" and the patient's response, so they gave me coaching on how to read the chart -- basically, just relax & don't tense up the eye muscles. Now my prescription is optimized for not straining instead of straining.

None of this will let you focus for a long time. Shots are best taken, as you say, after 5- 10 seconds of aiming. This works well, though. If you are shooting fast & holding off, you'll take them that fast. If you are waiting for a particular condition, you don't have to constantly re-aim, just aim once & watch the flag -- you don't have to strain to watch the flag . . .
 
Something else just came to mind.

You could be describing the same thing we discovered about my wife. You could well be right-handed, shooting right-handed, and actually be LEFT eye dominate. That would also account for the FAST weariness. You are using your eyes in a manner that they are not used to working. What you describe is similar to the condition that my wife complained of before we switched her over to shooting lefty. BIG improvement
 
Thanks so much for the replys. I think a trip to the doc is in order now!.:( and I just bought a new gun and cant see the target!!!ha
 
bdotson said:
Dave I will try that but it seems right when I start only after a hour or so do I start to have the problem should I re adj the focus then? thanks
Click to expand...

If the reticle isn't focused properly you will strain to keep it clear. Once your eye becomes fatigued, the whole sight picture will be blurry and only keep getting worse. Don't wait until your eyes are fatigued to focus the reticle......do it at home, or before you start to shoot. Remember, it is important that the background be solid, with nothing to draw your attention (focus) away from the reticle.

-Dave-:)
 
New Shooter Eye Problem

Seems like the same problem I got. Only mine is much worse. Lifetime of bad eyes complicated by old age. Can't seem to fix either one of 'em.
 
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