For the range of firearms that I shoot and the conditions in which I use them, I do not wear eye protection.
If however, I started using black powder firearms I most definitely would utilise some form of protection.
This is a personal choice but I fully respect other people's decisions in this matter.
I am a 50:50 safety glasses wearer, for load development and new firearms I always wear safety glasses plus I will wear them a reasonable amount of time at the range. I do not wear them when shooting overland mostly because I never think to take them with me.
/d
Du lytter aldrig til de ord jeg siger. Du ser mig kun for det tøj jeg har paa ...
First thing , I agree with personal choice, slightly Ironic for me cos I spend all my working life telling people they have to wear safety glasses. But this is not work it is pleasure and we have too many MUST OBEY rules in our sport. Having said that , I always wear them, not just in my BP shooting but also in the gallery rifles as well. My choice. I do think it is foolish not to but won't be trying to push it down anyone's throat.
2 early incidents (apart from my QHSE job [sorry Dromia] and 30 yrs of being a paramedic) have persuaded me to use eye protection.
1979, whitburn army range, walther P38, top cover over firing pin, blew off and bounced off my cheek.
1980 (give or take a year) Tyne valley GC, my mate shooting his brand new 66, with factory ammo, I got a sharp pain in my eye Despite having some winchester (aviator type) safety glasses on. Went to Sunderland eye infirmary and they took a tiny sliver of lead out !! Back to Longstaffs for timing to be tuned.
So , use eye protection would be my vote.
I wear them when I'm shooting auto, semi or my lever actions, and I did when I shot BP. Being left handed a semi is always going to throw stuff in your face so it is best to always wear. But I don't always when shooting my bolt guns or when I'm out hunting.
Incidentally one of the two injuries I have had whilst shooting have been largely due to the glasses. Shooting in the advancing target comp at the Phoenix one year a hot .22 case flew and hit the brim of my cap and fell behind the glasses - it sat and caused a 22LR sized burn on my cheek. I still wear the glasses though.
I feel it is personal choice for experienced shooters but on our shooting experience days and with newbies at the club we supply and ask them to wear glasses and maybe it'll be like seatbelts, once the habit forms it sticks.
Arming the Country, one gun at a time.
Good deals with Paul101, Charlotte the flyer, majordisorder, Charlie Muggins, among others. Thanks everybody.
I have had more eye injuries wearing glasses than without, each time where the projectile has been deflected by the glasses. The only shooting injuries I have had have been splash back on our 25 metre range where the lead stuck to my neck and chest when shooting prone.
Black powder shooters give me a serious asthma attack, should ranges be obliged to provide breathing apparatus for me or should I just do as normal and not inconvenience the majority.
