Safety Glasses? Do you wear them while you shoot?

[Fergy35]

Every time.

A friend I worked with at a metal fabrication shop was running a punch press while not wearing safety glasses. The punch shattered and a sliver of the die lodged itself in his eye, requiring surgery to remove it. He was very lucky that they were able to save his eye.

After seeing that, I stopped whining about safety glasses and now I wear them whenever there is a potential risk to my eyes. That includes operating power tools, shooting, working under my car etc.

 

[cpttango30]

I have to agree that not wearing safety glasses is not very smart.

I must ask one question. How many of our fathers ever wore safety glasses while shooting?

When I have the money I will more than likely buy a nice pair of Oakly M-frames for shooting. Right now I have not found any that work for me in my price range.

People tell us red meat is bad for us eggs are bad for us (Or are they good now I can't remember) sex is bad for us this and that driving is bad for us coffee and soda are bad for us but guess what we all still do it.

As far as name calling I missed that post as well.

 

[leadcounsel]

For those who don't wear safety glasses, have you SEEN the damage and result of someone that loses an eye? It ain't pretty.

I agree with Bart and others that it just isn't worth it in the cost/benefit and liklihood analysis. I would say that in my experience 1 in 5,000 pieces of debrees have come back to hit me. I once got a small piece of copper jacket literally stuck in my shin from a ricochet at an indoor range. I also had my Keltec P3AT blow a handful of hot debrees back into my face. Luckily I had glasses on.

A lifetime of blindness, pain, and regret isn't worth the little effort and cost of wearing glasses.

Most of us are extremely interested in preserving our personal safety, security, bread-winning ability, and are risk avoidance in nature. We wear seatbelts, motorcycle and bicycle helmets, have insurance, and CCW.

When I have the money I will more than likely buy a nice pair of Oakly M-frames for shooting. Right now I have not found any that work for me in my price range.

I have yet to hear a good reason other than laziness to NOT wear glasses. They are 5 bucks at Walmart!

 

[Cannonball888]

"I wear shooting glasses all the time in case I have to fire on someone"

 

[GBExpat]

I wore no safety glasses when shooting, without mishap, until 10 years ago ... for some forgotten reason, the possible terrible consequences of that really hit me one day (and not just about shooting, but when working with power tools, etc) and I have not been sans eye-protection since.

 

[cloudedice]

Even with the glasses I still get stuff in my eye. With the number of times I've been hit in the face with little pieces of whatever it was, there's no way I'll ever shoot, recreationally, without them.

 

[john917v]

I used to think that people were exaggerating when they would wear safety glasses and hearing protection. That was also back when I was a reckless fool. My glasses are thick enough to serve as bullet-proof windows on vehicles in large-enough quantities, but when I get contacts, I am going to wear safety glasses, even if they are just the $5 camo. ANSI ones from Wal-Mart. I have been wearing hearing protection while shooting, though. I have come to realize that I would REALLY regret losing my eyesight/eye(s) because I didn't take 10 seconds to put on eye and ear protection. To those who think "it is for sissies" try walking around for a while with your eyes closed, or with earplugs on. Then, try imagining HAVING to live like that. Not fun.

 

[nwilliams]

I always wear safety glasses when I shoot anything.....ALWAYS

I've had more than a few shell casings ricochet off my shooting glasses over the years, certainly glad it wasn't my eyeball. Wearing ear and eye protection doesn't make you any less of a man, its like wearing a seat belt while driving, its just common sense.

 

[anythingshiny]

I usually wore them until one day during a local advanced pistol course, I left them in the car and thought my regular glasses would be enough as they are 'polycarbonate whatever 3000'.

I was #2 man thru the door, #1 man had already engaged the first steel plate and I peeled left behind him headed for the corner. My glasses are smallish and very very stylish i must say...so when the 1/4 inch hunk of fmj stuck in my face just ever so slightly below my glasses, I was not surprised.

I felt the pressure and smelled it, but did not really feel it. It JUST missed my lower orbit rim and would have definately punctured the eyeball had it come in at a slightly lower angle.

We finished the evolution and the RO called me over...we looked at it and decided it was safe enough to just yank out.

Since then I either wear a full coverup with side shields or I wear contacts and safety gogs.

I may not look like Bono but I can still see at the end of the day!

 

[NC Dave]

Always. Is there really any reason not to?

In fact, I use a pair of fit-over safety glasses on top of my regular glasses. Yes, my regular glasses themselves would do the job, but have you seen what progressive lenses cost?!?!?

A $5 pair of Hoppes shooting glasses that get thrown away and replaced when they get scratched up is a heck of a lot cheaper than my prescription lenses! They also offer protection from things flying in from the side and from the top.

 

[Rick O'Shea]

Quote:
Right now I'm sporting a nice burn the size and shape of a piece of hot .22 LR brass on my left temple. ...

That is why I also wear a baseball cap when firing something that kicks cases back at me periodically ... and I will often button the top button of my shirt, if it sports buttons.

Yep, I'm starting to collect some caps just for shooting. I think this might be my next one.. :http://www.cafepress.com/grantcunningham.74617962#

 

[jerkyman45]

I don't but that's because I wear glasses anyways and I always thought wearing additional covering is just sort of superfluous.

 

[trashpickinman]

Safety glasses on top of my prescriptions glasses. Along with earplugs and level II kevlar body armor. I also wear a hat, usually cowboy hat but sometimes just a baseball cap.

I've grown quite close to my internal organs.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

I do now after firing my friends ruger .45 and having a ejected shell come straight back and nail my persrciption glasses leaving a nice gouge. If i was wearing no glasses i would have had a serious eye injury and could possibly be blind in that eye.

that damn gun thows shells everywhere in totally random directions.

 

[Zedicus]

Like your Hearing, your Eyesight is something you can't replace.

Yes I wear Safety glasses of some sort and Hearing Protection when shooting.

 

[Thumper_6119]

At the range, I always wear safety glasses. (My 12 year old Oakley Romeo's are approved safety glasses, and I still wear them everyday). Ya just never know......

 

[cracked butt]

I must ask one question. How many of our fathers ever wore safety glasses while shooting?

My father always wore prescription safety glasses - probably more to see clay disks than for safety . My grandfather never wore glasses while shooting and lost an eye in a pheasant hunting accident.

 

[ZeSpectre]

With powder burners....ALWAYS
With airguns...ALWAYS (now).

When I was very young I used to shoot a Crossman 2100 classic pellet rifle a lot but was pretty lazy about eye protection. (you know, the multiple pump type of gun) one day a pellet bounced and zapped me dead square on the forehead just at the top of the bridge of the nose. Not a serious injury but hurt like hell and bled like a stuck pig. It woke me up and I got religious about eye protection after that!

 

[RugerBob]

my perscription glass have safety lenses. since I have to wear them all the time I guess I would have to say yes. but when I am casting I do wear a larger heavier duty set, just in case.

 

[jackstinson]

I've had polycarbonate lenses in my glasses for decades.

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

You better believe I wear them. I was standing behind a friend of mine shooting a mini-14 ranch rifle and the brass few out of that sucker at the weirdest angle right into my eye which was thankfully closed at that second. I mean it went flying far. So, now, when I or anyone I am around is shooting I wear eye protection.

 

[searcher451]

My range is fairly sticky about insisting that active members wear protective lenses of one sort or another, from shooter's glasses to sunglasses. If you don't have 'em on, Ranger Rick will be happy to remind you.

 

[RancidSumo]

I don't but after reading this thread I think I will start.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I wear glasses every day, so it's not much of a burden. I switched to a dedicated pair of shooting glasses (Knoblock frames with a custom prescription/tint) about 9 months ago. Very nice.

 

[Mike128]

Recreationally I always wear my Oakleys. But not always while hunting since I need all the light I can get sometimes. I try to when it's bright enough outside. Some blowback does make you think about your eyes.