Daisy Avanti 499 - Eyes Not What They Used to Be

[SamTheMan]

Hi guys - as said in the title, my eyes aren't what they used to be. I have to use a scope with any rifle when shooting at a distance. (I still shoot defensive handguns & lever action hunting brushguns with irons since the range is relatively short and the targets are relatively large.)

I thought it would be fun to have an Avanti 499 for short range shooting fun, especially when the weather is nasty outside (very heavy winds being the main concern). The 499 is for target shooting at 5 meters, which will work great.

My question is this, please.  For guys who have 'vision challenges', how easy is it to shoot your 499 with its peep sight ? Do you do this with or without prescription glasses on ?  (I was going with the Daisy 5899 receiver sight.)  I'd hate to get one and then find I couldn't shoot it very well because I couldn't see with the sights well enough.

Thanks !

[Slavia]

I shoot aperture sights with my glasses on.  Even without glasses fuzzy circles are easier to align than fuzzy straight lines.

[ac12]

I need my glasses to hit ANYTHING using any sight.
OK maybe I won't need my glasses to hit a 48 quart ice cooler at 10 feet.

It is a BB gun, ALWAYS wear glasses. 
BBs ricochet more than people think they would.

An alternative is a 953 or CMP refurbished 853 ($100).
I like my 953 for 10m casual target shooting.  I upgraded the sights with 753 type sights.
Or for plinking I put a cheap Tasco red dot sight on the 953.

[big_o_lar]

i was going to give the same advice as the others 753 853 953 [great advice i would add],

i say go for the 499 and try the iron sights the worst that happens is you get a great mantel hanger


oh and i have bad eyes and love the target sights on the cmp 853 front sight looks like this.

[SamTheMan]

Thanks guys. I think I'll look more deeply into this subject. I'm not really a target shooter, more of a hunter & field shooter. I was looking at this air rifle for fun indoors at short range with relatively low power (but some precision). That's why I was considering the 5m Avanti 499. Also, I didn't want to put a lot of money into this air rifle. But I think I'll also check out the Daisy 953 that was mentioned by several people. I can order one of those with target sights also. I'll just have to determine what would work better for my particular needs. Your suggestions were appreciated.

[Yarp]

Glasses always.

Have you considered a CO2 rifle for indoor plinking?
Here's an AR2078 thumbhole-stocked rifle for 170 beans. (.177 cal, MIC) The blurb below the link was copied from the E. Arthur Brown website.
http://www.eabco.com/store/airguns/air-rifles/ar2078-bolt-action-co2-rifle-recoilless-thumbhole-qb78-model/
  - Bolt Action CO2 Single Shot Pellet Rifle
  - Powered by 2 Standard 12 gm CO2 Powerlets or, Bulk Fill CO2
  - Practically Recoilless Firing, No Spring Piston Recoil
  - Velocity up to 650 fps with .177 Pellets
  - Trigger Adjustable for Pull and Travel
  - Match Grade Aperture Sights with Inserts
  - Grooved Receiver for Solid Scope Mounting
  - Thumbhole Stock with Adjustable Butt Plate
  - De-Gassing Key System