Project Appleseed

I shot my first Appleseed event during last Patriot's weekend, and one of the take away was to replace the Muller Speed Shoot I used. It is a fantastic scope but it has a 4 MOA dot and provides no feedback on canting the rifle (one of my many issues...). 

Today I went to the range to zero the new old scope (a cheap one that I had lying around, cross-hairs and 2 MOA dot). With that accomplished I decided to shoot my original LTR: 10/22 with tech sights and Hogue stock. I built it a couple of years ago with the intention to participate in Appleseed but then, life got in the way and it was sitting on my safe until February of 2013. After I finally register for an event, I took it out to the range to verify function and zero. That day I shot the 400M bells (reduced to 25M) form a sand bag and no sling (of course!) and I found that I couldn't see the target! (That's why I ended up using a scoped 10.22)...

No, my eye sight hasn't improved a bit since February, but after April, my confidence has!

I still see the bells as a gray blurry cloud (blurrier that it should be when focusing on the front sight), and the glare of the withe computer paper really get my eyes tire but I got nice groups in black while shooting by the numbers using a 6 O'clock hold. My only concern is that after a little while my eyes got so tired that I was having difficulties keeping track of the targets while shifting NPOA.

I experimented keeping closing my non-dominant eye and keeping both eyes open and found that keeping both open works better for me.

So, I'll be in the line on 6/2 shooting the scoped 10/22 but between that event and August's, I'll be dry firing and going to the range with the LTR to get my eyes used to it... After all, I ordered a Garand and I ain't mounting a scope on it!

It seems you're well on your way to becoming a Rifleman!  Confidence is key! 
Even now, after years of being a Rifleman, occasionally I'll begin a shooting session and it simply won't go well, usually because it's been a while and whatever other excuse I give myself at the time.  But then I snap myself out of it because I know I can do it and voila! 

Practice is also key - with more practice your eye fatigue will fade until it's no longer an issue.  Also, while it may not improve your vision enough to see more than a blurry cloud, practice will improve your ability to place your POA right where it needs to be and give you the confidence to keep it there.

Keep up the good work, a Rifleman persists!

Oh, and you'll love your M1

You might try using a pair of glasses and putting come frosted scotch tape over the non dominant lens. This lets light through so you won't find yourself squinting or your dominant pupil dilating. It may also help with the eye fatigue.


BTW a scout scope can be used quite well on the M1 and it will allow you to id targets at distances that would not otherwise be possible. Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement and tips!

I will definitely try the frosted tape... I funny you mentioned the scout mount, I was looking at that option since I now that, eventually I will have to use magnification for small / distant targets...

Thanks,

Ivan

Let me bring this thread back to report that I see no blurry mess anymore!

On my tech sights, I replaced the match front post with a standard one and the rear aperture for their insert ready aperture system. With a little bit of experimentation, I settle on the 0.042" insert. This combination plus a disposable ear plug under the bridge of my glasses (to rise my prescription to my line of sight) produces a nice sharp & crisp sight picture! I was able to get consistent 3 MOA groups (with several 2MOA ones) on the 1" squares drill targets...

Can't wait to shot an AQT with this rifle:

I sometimes find my vision "graying" out when I look through the scope for a while. I don't know if I am shallow breathing and experiencing a mild hypoxia(I have asthma). Or, if it is a function of my vision. I know I need new glasses. Anybody else experience this?