Best Pistol Sights for Old Eyes

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Duration:   4  mins

What are the best pistol sights for old eyes? Rob Pincus stresses that you need to have good sights you can use reliably in a defensive situation. That means those sights need to be able to help you put the bullet where you need it to go very efficiently in the context of defensive firearms use.

AGING EYES

As you age, you may experience near-sightedness, far-sightedness, cataracts, poor night vision, or any other number of problems as your eyesight degrades. Rob feels that as his vision has changed as he’s gotten older, it’s been more important than ever to stick to the fundamentals that make a good defensive pistol sight: to have a large front sight post inside a very large rear sight notch.

Rob designed the claw sights with Ameriglo to be exactly that: a big, bright front square (not a circle) that sits inside a relatively wide rear notch. That allows you to pick up the front sight cleanly and easily when using self-defense weapons, even if your up-close vision has degraded.

TRADITIONAL SIGHTS

The traditional handgun sights, which were common for decades even on defensive pistols, have a very narrow front sight post and a narrow rear notch. Because this setup gives less tolerance for error and higher potential for precision, it is good for competition and bullseye shooting as well as law enforcement qualification courses.

But with defensive shooting and its related handgun training, we simply do not need that level of precision. Nine to 15 feet is the range of the majority of defensive shooting situations, and we are aiming at the chest or sometimes the head, so the large square front sight and wide rear notch are the best setup of pistol sights for old eyes, and in fact for any eyes.

OTHER SIGHT OPTIONS

Rob offers his opinions on the large circular front sight sitting in a wedge, and red-dot sights, and explains why these are not his preferred choice for defensive pistols. To sum up, Rob believes the best pistol sights for old eyes for defensive use are the bright front square and wide rear notch, such as the Ameriglo claw sight or other similar sights.

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17 Responses to “Best Pistol Sights for Old Eyes”

  1. Kevin

    Hi, I put a red dot on my KC2000 and no matter how I tried I couldn’t pick up the dot without much gyrations, I really like the laser sight red green for me especially without glasses I can pick up the dot witout ANY trouble. All of my guns have a laser on them, and where the dot is the bullet will go.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Louis,

      Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge in personal defense. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.

      If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the special offer below:
      https://go.personaldefensenetwork.com/C30161
           

      Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Louis

    The Ameriglo Claw sight has been discontinued what sight has Ameriglo replaced the Claw sigth with?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Louis,

      Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge in personal defense. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.

      If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the special offer below:
      https://go.personaldefensenetwork.com/C30161
           

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Dave

    Rob:
    I understand the wide box sight in the wide rear sight for old eyes, but where are you trying to put that bullet, right on top of front sight sitting on top edge, or behind the box front sight??

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Dave,

      Thank you for contacting us.

      The impact point should be where the front sight is covering (not top edge). Check out this PDN video for more clairfication on sight alignment, picture, and bullet impact. https://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/video/sight-alignment-picture-017771/

      If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-231-0650, or chat with us on our site.

      We greatly appreciate your business!

      Sincerely,

      Lindsay
      Personal Defense Network Video Membership

      Reply
  6. HENRY

    where can i purchase the Ameriglo Claw sights you referenced in the video “Sights For Old Eyes”?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Henry,
      Here is what our expert had to say:
      They are currently out of production but there are a few left in the I.C.E. Training store. Shoot an email to dpoole@echo5.com the model of handgun you have.

      Let us know if other questions come up, we’ll be glad to help!
      Sincerely,
      Personal Defense Network Video Membership

      Reply
  7. KEVIN

    My question is on the broader subject of “Old Eyes”. I’m left-handed with glaucoma in my left eye. Would you recommend shooting with both eyes open or changing hands and closing my left, or something else? Also, after more than forty years wearing contact lenses, I’m now wearing glasses full time. Do you recommend prescription shooting glasses, or don’t bother? And, if so, any particular brand? Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Jim

    Loved this video! I’ve been looking for a big front sight forever. Unfortunately the sight recommended here isn’t being produced by Ameriglo anymore. Can you recommend another?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Jim,

      Ameriglo does have some other options that are close but we don’t know of another manufacturer who produces that “lumi-square”. Another manufacturer who makes sights that come in many different front color combinations is Night Fision (https://www.nightfision.com)

      -Deryck
      Personal Defense Network

      Reply

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