I am personally quite fortunate in that I don’t need spectacles even as I near 75. Hopefully, it will stay this way. But one can never be too careful.
I personally am a big fan of hunting with iron sights. In the mangrove forests where I grew up hunting Axis deer (and where I would go on to shoot three man eating Royal Bengal tigers), vegetation is extremely dense and game animals mostly present themselves at ranges under 70 yards (with the vast majority of shots being taken under 50 yards and often as less as 30). Shots taken must be quick and instinctive. In those kinds of forests, a telescopic sight would do you no good. Wide V backsights and an uncovered ivory bead foresight are the best setup, since they are quick for the eye to line up & instinctively shoot.
I also prefer the same setup for driven hunts since I personally find open sights to be quicker to employ on running game.
For example, my 7x57mm Mauser Churchill Gun Makers Model Deluxe.
View attachment 744077
That said, one must be aware of one’s own limitations at all times. When employing iron sights, I seldom fire at ranges above 150 yards (preferably under 100).
When hunting the vast majority of plains game, Cape buffalo (in open terrain), leopard over bait or lion over bait in Africa… a telescopic sight is infinitely advantageous. As a matter of fact, not employing telescopic sights in such scenarios can lead to the hunter being severely restricted in terms of the shots which he can make. Or worse, a wounded & lost head of game,
I personally am not a fan of telescopic sights on any rifle larger than .450 caliber. Or for rifles intended for hunting elephant, hippopotamus on land or leopard over hounds. And definitely not for rifles intended for spooring wounded dangerous game (especially in thick foliage).
I dedicated a section on the selection of the most appropriate sights on hunting rifles in Chapter VI of my autobiography. Some younger sportsmen may find it helpful.
I also strongly encourage my fellow aging sportsmen to regularly partake in optical exercises (as prescribed by any competent Doctor). It really does go a long way in keeping one’s eyesight well. It may not work for everyone, but it often does. My father is 94 and he fortunately doesn’t need spectacles either.
, the 2nd leaf is more for classic look than practicality. Here is my reload charting for 225 gn NF and the 2nd leaf at 300yd zero: Assuming a black bear is the game, the bullet leaves the vital zone at
