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Bi-focals + Walther PPQ M2 Q5 Match Steel Frame + Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight
Lady Kaylee
Member Posts: 20 ✭
Hi Friends, you all gave me good advice on a rifle for my son so I figured I would ask for myself.
I live in the suburbs and shooting targets at the local indoor range has become my Covid hobby. I'm not great but good enough to pass NRA distinguished expert pistol qualification (15 ft & 30 ft left and right hand two handed and single handed) with iron sights and am seeking a new challenge. My next challenge is to join the local range's 300 club where you put 10 rounds into a quarter at 15, 30 and 45 feet each. And I want to work up to consistently getting 3 inch groupings at 75 feet.
Problem is my accuracy at 45 ft and 75 ft drops off because of my bi-focal vision. When I shoot 1 handed the front site is blurry to my near vision lens or the bullseye of the target is blurry to my long distance lens (and yes I need to see the eye doctor again). It feels like I'm guessing at the front sight and the target more than seeing the front sight. I'm thinking of upgrading my current 9mm Walther PPQ to the Q5 match for better accuracy and adding in optic sights for better vision. The polymer frame costs $800 and the steel frame costs $1700. Do you think the difference in price is worth it for how I want to use it?
p.s. if you have advice on bi-focals and improving vision when shooting, I'm all ears for that as well. Or advise on the best value optic sight for the Q5 I'd appreciate hearing that. The Trijicon RMR is sold out and expensive so leaning towards the Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight - 3 MOA dot.
I live in the suburbs and shooting targets at the local indoor range has become my Covid hobby. I'm not great but good enough to pass NRA distinguished expert pistol qualification (15 ft & 30 ft left and right hand two handed and single handed) with iron sights and am seeking a new challenge. My next challenge is to join the local range's 300 club where you put 10 rounds into a quarter at 15, 30 and 45 feet each. And I want to work up to consistently getting 3 inch groupings at 75 feet.
Problem is my accuracy at 45 ft and 75 ft drops off because of my bi-focal vision. When I shoot 1 handed the front site is blurry to my near vision lens or the bullseye of the target is blurry to my long distance lens (and yes I need to see the eye doctor again). It feels like I'm guessing at the front sight and the target more than seeing the front sight. I'm thinking of upgrading my current 9mm Walther PPQ to the Q5 match for better accuracy and adding in optic sights for better vision. The polymer frame costs $800 and the steel frame costs $1700. Do you think the difference in price is worth it for how I want to use it?
p.s. if you have advice on bi-focals and improving vision when shooting, I'm all ears for that as well. Or advise on the best value optic sight for the Q5 I'd appreciate hearing that. The Trijicon RMR is sold out and expensive so leaning towards the Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight - 3 MOA dot.
Comments
Two comments to consider...
A 3 MOA dot will be .3” (or cover .3”) at 10 yards, and 3” at 100 yards. So at 45’ or 15 yards it would be .45” and at 75‘ or 25 yards it would cover 2.5 times the .3 inch or .75” . A 3” dot at 300 feet isn’t bad when you think of target like a hog, deer etc.
If you’re headed to the Eye Doc, think about progressives. You’ll have more than the 2 options you get with true bifocals.
good luck
These are the ones I'm using;
https://sspeyewear.com/products/top-focal-assorted-interchangeable-kits
ETA;
Lots of RMR's on the auction side. A buddy of mine uses one with the triangle reticle. He adjusts his POI for the apex (top) of the triangle.
You didn’t say what gun you are running now, I’d be curious.
Can someone who is shooting at the level you want to get to, pick up your current pistol and achieve that level of shooting?
Real fundamental marksmanship is going to be a large part sight picture & trigger control.
If your current pistol doesn’t have the capability to shoot with the accuracy you want, then you need to move to a different gun to achieve your goals. Before you spend money on a new gun- ask yourself is it really the gun holding you back?
If the gun is not holding you back, then it is technique, training, and execution.
“Problem is my accuracy at 45 ft and 75 ft drops off because of my bi-focal vision. When I shoot 1 handed the front site is blurry to my near vision lens or the bullseye of the target is blurry to my long distance lens (and yes I need to see the eye doctor again).”
If you can get the correct sight picture 2 handed, but cannot do so strong hand only- that is a technique issue 1st.
You should be able to improve this with lots of dry fire practice at home.
“ (and yes I need to see the eye doctor again).”
The best money I have spent on shooting in years was to get 3 sets of prescription shooting glasses (clear, slight tint, full tint).
For the shooting you want to do, the only dot I would recommend is the Trijicon SRO with a 1 MOA dot. - It is worth the $$$.
Whatever you do- you can never expect to “shoot 10 rounds into a quarter” @75ft with a 3MOA or larger dot. Your sight picture simply will not be capable of what you are chasing.
My last thought is the Walther Q5 match was built from the ground up for USPSA. I haven’t shot one- but you may be limited in holsters, spare parts & accessories if you purchase such a specialized pistol. -Just a consideration.
PS- post a few videos here - Its fun to see what others are shooting.
Look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUejbCKV6wQ
I will research both of those glasses options. I definitely think it will make a difference in my shooting since I have to tilt my head back to see through the bottom of the bi-focal
@drobs I looked into lasik and the eye doctor said it would be good for a few year, but then I'd have to get it again as my eyes changed over time or use corrective lens again so it seemed it would be cheaper to stick with corrective lens.
I had the same type vision problems as your having till I had multi vision cataract surgery done on both eyes. Now I see as good if not better then when I was a teenager. Getting the multi vision over the single vision cataract surgery according to my eye doctor was the only way to go. He is a good shooter and was very knowledgeable when I told him what problems I was having shooting and seeing the sights. They are more money but worth it.
My eyes haven't focused well on open sights for years so most of my target and hunting type handguns have dot optics mounted especially the 22's. We shoot 22 pistols at 25, 50, and 100 YARDS vs feet.
22 pistol at 100 YARDS! Wow I have a long way to go before I even attempt that.