Who actually wears eye protection?
- Thread starter Cowboybebop
- Start date
- Status
When I am shooting, or near anybody who is shooting, I wear eye protection...ANSI Z87.1 rating minimum...100.00% of the time. IMO not wearing eye protection around firearms or while shooting is incredibly stupid.
I also nearly always (once in awhile I forget) wear them when working with anything under spring tension. Even something as simple as an AR-type rifle's detent flying out while working on the lower could be very bad for an eye.
And when working with primers.
Regular non-safety rated eyeglasses do not offer protection from high velocity objects, like bullet/target splatter, or something that goes kaboom. In fact, they can be even worse, shattering and pelting your eye with shrapnel.
I know it can be a real pain in the butt to have to wear contacts, or wear safety glasses/goggles over glasses (yuck), or find and buy safety rated prescription eyeglasses...but just be aware that most eyeglasses are only good to protect from things like spent brass, dust, dirt, maybe diverting some gasses....but not the major stuff.
I have even upgraded to Oakley Ballistic M-frame 3.0's which meet the MIL PRF-31013 in addition to ANSI Z87.1
I also nearly always (once in awhile I forget) wear them when working with anything under spring tension. Even something as simple as an AR-type rifle's detent flying out while working on the lower could be very bad for an eye.
And when working with primers.
Regular non-safety rated eyeglasses do not offer protection from high velocity objects, like bullet/target splatter, or something that goes kaboom. In fact, they can be even worse, shattering and pelting your eye with shrapnel.
I know it can be a real pain in the butt to have to wear contacts, or wear safety glasses/goggles over glasses (yuck), or find and buy safety rated prescription eyeglasses...but just be aware that most eyeglasses are only good to protect from things like spent brass, dust, dirt, maybe diverting some gasses....but not the major stuff.
I have even upgraded to Oakley Ballistic M-frame 3.0's which meet the MIL PRF-31013 in addition to ANSI Z87.1
Last edited:
Schwing
Member
I wear prescription lenses as well so it isn't a choice. Even if it was, I would never shoot without eye protection. There are several online vendors who sell prescription safety eye-wear and it is surprisingly affordable.
Had I not been wearing them about 4 years ago, I would be short an eye. I have no idea what hit me but something smacked my right lens while the range was hot. It hit hard enough to destroy the lens and bruise my cheek below where the rim dug in.
Had I not been wearing them about 4 years ago, I would be short an eye. I have no idea what hit me but something smacked my right lens while the range was hot. It hit hard enough to destroy the lens and bruise my cheek below where the rim dug in.
Yo Mama
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2008
- Messages
- 3,230
In another thread I discussed a Ruger LCP disassembling it's self while my Uncle was shooting it. He never shoots, and wanted me to take him out. I did, but made him wear eyes and ears. He asked why, and said he didn't need it, trying to give them back to me. I told him if he didn't put them on, we were going home. After the gun blew up in his hand, he was grateful I made him.
I learned the hard way to wear eye protection when doing ANYTHING that could cost me my vision.
When I face planted onto concrete and broke my right elbow it was the Gargoyle safety glasses that took the full force of the impact to my face.
Didn't even break my nose.
The ONLY time I have shot without safety glasses in the last 30 years is when using my Browning SA22 rifle because the design makes it nearly but not quite impossible for debris to get into your eyes.
Sizzling my left wrist with an ejected casing is another matter entirely.
When I face planted onto concrete and broke my right elbow it was the Gargoyle safety glasses that took the full force of the impact to my face.
Didn't even break my nose.
The ONLY time I have shot without safety glasses in the last 30 years is when using my Browning SA22 rifle because the design makes it nearly but not quite impossible for debris to get into your eyes.
Sizzling my left wrist with an ejected casing is another matter entirely.
Predator55
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 139
Hey, their your eyes and if your not worried about losing one or both, your free to do so. I wear eyes anytime I'm shooting or hunting, the only time I wouldn't have eyes on is in a SD situation at night, otherwise my sunglasses are on.
Last edited:
I can't see stuff without them, so I don't have a choice. I have a pair of prescription sunglasses from Zenni optical that I wear 90% of the time.
I am plagued by fogging too, but these Uvex glasses took care of that for me. I can't wear them while shooting for the reason I already mentioned, but they're nice for metalworking and stuff like that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RMH1J..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=2X0SCQVXKA1VYJ7CEC45
I am plagued by fogging too, but these Uvex glasses took care of that for me. I can't wear them while shooting for the reason I already mentioned, but they're nice for metalworking and stuff like that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RMH1J..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=2X0SCQVXKA1VYJ7CEC45
GBExpat
Member
If that reflected my condition they would be essential to me, also, as I sometimes walk over to the farm to shoot ... and the cows have visited many of the places prior to my arrival.
TomJ
Contributing Member
Eye and ear protection is mandatory at our club. Even if it wasn't, I don't understand not using them as the consequences of eye or ear damage far outweigh the discomfort of wearing protection.
dogtown tom
Member
The only statistic that matters is WHEN it happens.
Wearing your seat belt
Locking the doors to your home
Carrying a firearm
Not eating week old leftovers from the fridge
I've never been in a car wreck in 43 years of driving, doesn't mean I don't wear a seat belt because statistically the chances of being in an accident are extremely low.
Wearing eye protection
Wearing your seat belt
Locking the doors to your home
Carrying a firearm
Not eating week old leftovers from the fridge
I've never been in a car wreck in 43 years of driving, doesn't mean I don't wear a seat belt because statistically the chances of being in an accident are extremely low.
kBob
Member
I wear them almost all the time. When I am shooting alone and from the bench with a traditionally stocked rifle, on occasion they get pushed up and the frame is in the way with some rifle stocks and I have on occasion pushed the glasses up out of the way to make the shot. Soon as face comes away from the stock they are back on. As most of my shooting is not from the bench this is seldom an issue.
Generally if I have my full kit with me I can make by bench rest high enough this is not an issue.
I worry far more about other people's gear causing problems than my own. I can think of only one time when my own rifle, pistol, or shotgun caused me to bleed on the range. (Rewelded M-1 receiver that had been used to make a BM59 shattered, the main reason I am pretty good about eye protection now) About the worst was on an indoor range that allowed steel and Mister 10mm Moron set up a set at an angle and proceeded to bloody my face and smudge and scratch my safety glasses. As the folks then owning that range did not seem interested in correcting the steel shooter I have not been back. New management so maybe.....but for certain with my eye protection.
-kBob
Generally if I have my full kit with me I can make by bench rest high enough this is not an issue.
I worry far more about other people's gear causing problems than my own. I can think of only one time when my own rifle, pistol, or shotgun caused me to bleed on the range. (Rewelded M-1 receiver that had been used to make a BM59 shattered, the main reason I am pretty good about eye protection now) About the worst was on an indoor range that allowed steel and Mister 10mm Moron set up a set at an angle and proceeded to bloody my face and smudge and scratch my safety glasses. As the folks then owning that range did not seem interested in correcting the steel shooter I have not been back. New management so maybe.....but for certain with my eye protection.
-kBob
MIL-DOT
member
I realize "KA-BOOMS" are rare, but I guess I must've watched one You-tube video too many, because after one in particular a few years ago, I decided, "that's it, I'm wearing safety glasses from now on", and I have.
Fortunately, I have a bevy of them lying around. Some are various polycarbonate-lensed sunglasses from my bike racing days, but I also have several pairs of various clear-lensed safety glasses from back when CDNN was sending out a pair with every order.
Nowadays, I pretty much consider them as critical as hearing protection.
Fortunately, I have a bevy of them lying around. Some are various polycarbonate-lensed sunglasses from my bike racing days, but I also have several pairs of various clear-lensed safety glasses from back when CDNN was sending out a pair with every order.
Nowadays, I pretty much consider them as critical as hearing protection.
Mike OTDP
Member
I need glasses anyway, so it's no problem for me. My shooting glasses are Knoblochs, with a 37mm lens in front of the right eye, a plastic blinder in front of the left eye. Side shields, too - when you shoot muzzle-loaders, they are recommended.
sorebutton
Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2016
- Messages
- 30
I never realized there may be people that choose to not wear any. That just seems silly.
morcey2
Member
Eyes and ears when I'm anywhere near shooting activity.
What's the worst that could happen without wearing hearing protection? (Assuming shooting non-suppressed):
100% chance of hearing damage. A single round fired from a 22 rifle _will_ cause hearing damage if not protected. Is it immediate? No. Is it cumulative? Yes. Is it irreversible? Yep. There are some affects that are reversible such as short-term ringing in the ears, but they're a symptom of the underlying damage which is permanent.
What's the worst that could happen without wearing eye protection?
Almost zero% chance of something actually happening. BUT (and it's a big one) the effects are generally immediate and catastrophic. If you have a ruptured case in a rifle that doesn't handle things well, you'll at least have a face full of hot gas and debris. If you're not wearing glasses, you'll be in a world of hurt to say the least. Even if you're not the one shooting, there are significant risks. I've had hot brass bounce off my face from someone shooting pistols a "theoretical" safe distance away. I've also been hit by small lead shavings from revolvers. Will it protect you from ever possible threat to you eyes? Probably not. If someone hands you someone else's 30-06 reload that is supposed to be full of 57 grains of W760, but it's full of 57 grains of Titegroup, the glasses will do little to stop the bolt from embedding itself in your skull if you're dumb enough to shoot it.
As an RSO, if I see you shooting without eye pro, you're gone. No warning, no "pretty please", nothing. If you're shooting at a range I'm running, you've already had the rules explained to you. I don't care if you've "been shooting that way for years." or "They've never enforced that before." I do a lot of BSA (scouting, not really-cheap-scope) activities and most of the people who argue are scouts who have been shooting for a while but have decided that they're invincible. If I won't let them shoot until they have eyes/ears and their leaders start arguing with me, which happens much more often than I thought it would, the whole group can get kicked out of the activity. I've only done that once, but it has happened.
So, in summary.... If you value your eyes at all, wear eye protection. If you never have an mishap where it saves your eyes, great. If you have issues with fogging or other things, take multiple sets and lots of cleaning wipes. Or shave your eyebrows to keep them from oiling up the lenses. Just don't wear glass lenses without something over them. And most sunglasses don't count. They're not impact rated, but they're generally better than nothing.
Just my $0.02.
Matt
What's the worst that could happen without wearing hearing protection? (Assuming shooting non-suppressed):
100% chance of hearing damage. A single round fired from a 22 rifle _will_ cause hearing damage if not protected. Is it immediate? No. Is it cumulative? Yes. Is it irreversible? Yep. There are some affects that are reversible such as short-term ringing in the ears, but they're a symptom of the underlying damage which is permanent.
What's the worst that could happen without wearing eye protection?
Almost zero% chance of something actually happening. BUT (and it's a big one) the effects are generally immediate and catastrophic. If you have a ruptured case in a rifle that doesn't handle things well, you'll at least have a face full of hot gas and debris. If you're not wearing glasses, you'll be in a world of hurt to say the least. Even if you're not the one shooting, there are significant risks. I've had hot brass bounce off my face from someone shooting pistols a "theoretical" safe distance away. I've also been hit by small lead shavings from revolvers. Will it protect you from ever possible threat to you eyes? Probably not. If someone hands you someone else's 30-06 reload that is supposed to be full of 57 grains of W760, but it's full of 57 grains of Titegroup, the glasses will do little to stop the bolt from embedding itself in your skull if you're dumb enough to shoot it.
As an RSO, if I see you shooting without eye pro, you're gone. No warning, no "pretty please", nothing. If you're shooting at a range I'm running, you've already had the rules explained to you. I don't care if you've "been shooting that way for years." or "They've never enforced that before." I do a lot of BSA (scouting, not really-cheap-scope) activities and most of the people who argue are scouts who have been shooting for a while but have decided that they're invincible. If I won't let them shoot until they have eyes/ears and their leaders start arguing with me, which happens much more often than I thought it would, the whole group can get kicked out of the activity. I've only done that once, but it has happened.
So, in summary.... If you value your eyes at all, wear eye protection. If you never have an mishap where it saves your eyes, great. If you have issues with fogging or other things, take multiple sets and lots of cleaning wipes. Or shave your eyebrows to keep them from oiling up the lenses.
Just don't wear glass lenses without something over them. And most sunglasses don't count. They're not impact rated, but they're generally better than nothing. Just my $0.02.
Matt
alsaqr
Member
i always wear eye protection. A piece of a percussion cap hit my eyeglass lens hard enough to leave a big deep scar. Without glasses my eye would have been a goner.
SSN Vet
Member
I ware prescription glasses anyways, so I just were what I always were. I do not put safety glasses over my glasses, nor clip on side shields.
I'd like to get a pair of nice prescription safety glasses, but they aint cheep.
If I had my contacts on, or ever got Lasik, I'd definitely ware safety glasses whenever shooting firearms.
I'd like to get a pair of nice prescription safety glasses, but they aint cheep.
If I had my contacts on, or ever got Lasik, I'd definitely ware safety glasses whenever shooting firearms.
ESS with prescription inserts. And double hearing protection for center Fire. Already got a touch of tinnitus. Our club requires hearing and eye protection on all ranges. They waived the hearing protection for the high school rim fire rifle team who started shooting on our indoor range after the school's range closed;I guess because they "always shot that way"
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Inazone
Member
I know enough people missing eyes, fingers and other parts due to "unlikely" accidents that there's no argument against eye protection that is good enough for me. Well, that and the fact that I have to wear glasses due to my horrid vision.
A couple years back, my wife bought her first carry gun (S&W Bodyguard) but never had time to go to the range, so I took it on one of my trips to break it in. I ran through a box of FMJ without issue, but I was just a couple rounds into a box of JHP when I pulled the trigger, felt my face get peppered with something hot, and heard the mag hit the ground. The gun went "boom" instead of "bang" and my hands and face were covered in powder. Got nicked on my eyebrow just above my glasses and upper lip by what I assume was brass. I've also had my fair share of spent brass bounce back off my glasses under normal conditions.
A couple years back, my wife bought her first carry gun (S&W Bodyguard) but never had time to go to the range, so I took it on one of my trips to break it in. I ran through a box of FMJ without issue, but I was just a couple rounds into a box of JHP when I pulled the trigger, felt my face get peppered with something hot, and heard the mag hit the ground. The gun went "boom" instead of "bang" and my hands and face were covered in powder. Got nicked on my eyebrow just above my glasses and upper lip by what I assume was brass. I've also had my fair share of spent brass bounce back off my glasses under normal conditions.
jimmyraythomason
Member
None for me other than my prescription classes and those have caused me to change the position of my head when using a scope that I know my marksmanship has suffered because of it. I will use goggles when testing a new rifle build but never with a known and proven firearm.
FL-NC
Member
The only time I don't wear it is shooting long range. I shoot a lot of steel with handgun and short range carbine. Also I was in an explosion once, and if it wasn't for eye pro I would probably be blind in at least 1 eye.
- Status
