Do you use Shooting glasses?

greyson97 · February 19, 2010, 03:53 PM

At the range I shoot at, sunglasses or prescription glasses are sufficient to allow you to shoot, they dont require "rated" shooting glasses or anything like that,

but do any of you regularly/religiously use shooting glasses? yellow or gray tinted? polarized, etc? do they provide a noticeable improvement in sighting, etc?

cause I use prescription glasses, but i was thinking about getting some dedicated shooting glasses

also if you do, and they do improve your performance, can you describe them, or give a model, or style

Brian Pfleuger · February 19, 2010, 03:58 PM

If you've seen what catastrophic failure and/or ricochets can do to regular glasses... I think you'd change your mind about them being "enough".

Yes, at the range I always use real, made for the task, shooting glasses. Hunting, no. I take my chances with one or two shots.

AcridSaint · February 19, 2010, 04:17 PM

My regular prescription glasses are yellow tinted. I do find images sharper than when I switch to my clear or prescription sunglasses.

The Tourist · February 19, 2010, 04:23 PM

I know the concern. I had mine made for me for shooting and riding. I have a pair, one tinted.

Since I was concerned about wind when riding and shooting debris on the side of my face, I had my guy make wrap-arounds. He found a supplier that made the frame capable of holding "no line bi-focals." While I do not need much correction at distances, he "cranked them up" one prescription notch, and distances are much crisper.

I can look at distances, and immediately scan down to look at my gauges.

When shooting I have both the capacity for distance and close up, and I can clearly read the cartridge boxes.

They are entirely polycarbonite, frames and all.

Siderite · February 19, 2010, 04:27 PM

Always for the range (static or dynamic). Wrap-around safety glasses keep the unburnt powder out of my eyes. And it isn't just your guns that could be an issue. Recently a few lanes down, a shooter had a out-of-battery explosion.

mikejonestkd · February 19, 2010, 04:28 PM

IIRC the standard for safety glasses should carry the label " Z-87 ".

My father worked in eye care for 45 + years, and I have enough stories to make you vomit concerning the failure of regular glasses in sports, especially shooting sports.

I have prescription lenses in regular safety frames with side shields, they are not pretty but they can take quite a bit of abuse.

Old Grump · February 19, 2010, 04:30 PM

2 pair, one yellow tinted for over cast days and one bronze tinted, next pair will be blue or smoke but so far bronze and a brimmed hat have sufficed for bright days.

Duke City Six · February 19, 2010, 05:45 PM

I can see the sights much better with reading glasses.

Does anybody know of shooting glasses with magnification?

And I don't mean just the little bifocal bit at the bottom for reading, but the whole lens.

I would REALLY like to find some.

45Gunner · February 19, 2010, 05:57 PM

I used to have a dedicated pair of glasses for shooting but my prescription changed. I wear tri-focals and get them at the VA so I decided to spend the extra bucks. The glasses are made tough so I can shoot or ride my motorcycle with them...some kind of protectorant stuff, can't remember what it is called. They also have UV protection and some kind of coating on them so "free" glasses cost me about $175 with all the extras. I have the same thing made in sun glasses even tho my regular glasses are transition so I am good to go in any kind of light in any type of conditions.

Most times, when at an indoor range, I will put a pair of safety glasses on over my other glasses. Not the most comfortable but sure beats getting hit in the eye with something. I wear also wear a ballcap to prevent shells from dropping into my face/eyes and put side protectors on my eyeglass ear pieces so I can't get hit from the side. One can never be too safe.

Rattlehead · February 19, 2010, 05:58 PM

"IIRC the standard for safety glasses should carry the label " Z-87 ". "

I usually go by the Army's APEL list. Sawflys boast that they can take a 12 guage blast, so I usually go with tat or te ESS ICE (which fit my face a bit better, and are lower cost).

The minor inconvenience is worth the protection

Edited to add: duke, both the ESS and Sawflys have the option for RX inserts for vision correction.

Doc Intrepid · February 19, 2010, 06:00 PM

I've seen one or two guns blown up from double-charged reloads, and a few other issues...but all of the failures I've personally witnessed occurred with handloads as opposed to commercially manufactured ammunition.

I've never seen a gun blow up using commercial ammunition - have you guys?

When I fire reloads I wear clear safety glasses over my regular glasses.

When I am shooting commercial ammunition, I'll often just go with the standard glasses. I'm probably living life on the edge, however, I do that every time I drive anywhere in this town anyway...

dgludwig · February 19, 2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

I've never seen a gun blow up using commercial ammunition - have you guys?

I've never experienced it myself nor ever witnessed it happen but, from what I hear and read, it happens. In terms of using the proper eye wear protection, better safe than sorry.

lomaxanderson · February 19, 2010, 06:30 PM

my sunglasses are really tinted safty glasses and so are my clear ones...

woody wood · February 19, 2010, 06:34 PM

i've wondered the same thing!
i use perscrption-non shatter lenses and have thought,what if?
once outside, i was shooting a mpa 9(mac 10) and was bump firing,using blazer ammo.the last round the shell broke and caused the rest of the shell to hit my glasses.no big deal-had to push the bullet out of barrel.but made me think-what if?
so now i think i will get shatter proof lenses.but i do have a question.
i am nearsighted (only need glasses for distance),should i practice with
non perscriptive glasses? so that if some one comes in the house when i dont have glasses on-i could be ready?

hoytinak · February 19, 2010, 06:35 PM

I use a pair of Oakley M-Frames for my shooting glasses, just swap out the lens to adjust for different light. Not sure what they're "Impact Protection" (that's what they call it) is rated at but if you watch the videos of it on their website it's pretty impressive. Plus I've got one lens that saved my left eye by stopping a piece of shrapnel from an IED explosion on my last deployment....that's enough to convince me.

Also the M-Frame and Pro M-Frame lens can be fitted with Rx implants for those that need prescription glasses.

Adventurer 2 · February 19, 2010, 07:27 PM

I use a pair of clear Gargoyles that were issued to me when I was in the Army. I think their advertising campaign, back then, demonstrated their glasses stopping a BB at X fps. They cover the eye area very well. They work great at keeping gnats out of my eyes and stopping tree limb eye pokes.

nhm90 · February 19, 2010, 07:33 PM

I always wear mine...especially when firing my handloads.

BigJimP · February 19, 2010, 07:43 PM

Yes, I wear shooting glasses all the time / Indoors and outdoors ...

Mine are prescription as well ..... with a bi-focul lens in the bottom of the lens so I can read / see my mags clearly, etc ... DeCot HyWyd

http://www.sportglasses.com/

After you buy the frames / as your prescription changes - you can then just order new lenses. For Indoor ranges / I use a Light Gold / Light Yellow - it seems to bring in a little more light. DeCot made a special lens for my handguns / so I can see front sights clearly ( strong eye only ) and in weak eye a distance lens. It lets me have a compromise / where I can see the front sight / and still see target relatively clearly.

DeCot isn't cheap / but they're a very good product and very good people to work with.

crimsondave · February 19, 2010, 07:49 PM

I'll man up and admit that I rarely do, and I'm an idiot for not wearing them.

RETG · February 19, 2010, 07:57 PM

Always have, always will at the range.

Stevie-Ray · February 19, 2010, 07:59 PM

I'm never without them. An ill-timed .44 magnum that shaved some copper off a round, bloodied my face, and hit my shooting glasses as well, showed me the potential consequences of not wearing them.

BitterTait · February 19, 2010, 08:05 PM

Use my lab goggles. They're wrap around, comfortable, don't fog and I've seen one subjected to a low-velocity 9mm round and survive.

**JohnKSa** · February 19, 2010, 08:07 PM

Yes, and not because I'm worried about a gun blowing up.

My glasses have already saved me from injury--an empty cartridge ejected straight back and the mouth of the case cut a deep crescent into the polycarbonate lens directly over my right eye. Another stray case from that shooting session cut my forehead badly.

An incomplete list of ways you can injure an eye while shooting.

Ricochet off the target. I have seen a small metal piece ricochet off a steel target and embed itself deeply in the flesh of a shooter.
Barrel cylinder gap splatter from a revolver. I've seen a person next to a revolver shooter get hit by a bullet shaving. The piece of lead went into the person's arm deeply enough that it had to be removed with tweezers.
Ejected casings from semi-autos. They eject with considerable force and can easily cause a severe eye injury.
Case failures. Guns are typically designed to contain these well but they can still allow gases and small particles to escape at high velocity.
Catastrophic failures. These are rare but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
Escaping springs and parts. Where there are guns there are often people taking guns apart. I've seen a part ejected from a firearm under enough spring force that it embedded itself deeply into drywall.

It's also prudent to wear protective eyewear when cleaning your firearms. Back in my younger, more careless days I once had a small spring-loaded part bounce off of a hard contact lens. That's an odd feeling...

DiscoRacing · February 19, 2010, 08:07 PM

never have... probably should

Howard31 · February 19, 2010, 08:18 PM

Eye glasses for protection is really a no brainer.Public and most club ranges require eye and ear protection.
Prescription glasses is another matter.The thing I hate most about getting old is wearing glasses.
If you shoot iron sights your focus has to be on the front sight.I use a yard stick and I hold the rifle or handgun and have my wife measure from my eye to the front sight.Stick a small brad in the yardstick at the mark and head down to your optomitrist.I have known people that actually took their firearms to the eye doctor but a yard stick draws a lot less attention.
You can have that perscription in your line of aiming sight or get a frame like Knoblocks or Championschoice which allow you to use a flat lens and position it exactly in line with the sights.
If you don't have an astigmatism you can get some el cheapo reading glasses at the five and dime.They come in different strenghts and take your yardstick and try some on.

February 19, 2010, 03:53 PM	#1
greyson97 Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,284	Do you use Shooting glasses? At the range I shoot at, sunglasses or prescription glasses are sufficient to allow you to shoot, they dont require "rated" shooting glasses or anything like that, but do any of you regularly/religiously use shooting glasses? yellow or gray tinted? polarized, etc? do they provide a noticeable improvement in sighting, etc? cause I use prescription glasses, but i was thinking about getting some dedicated shooting glasses also if you do, and they do improve your performance, can you describe them, or give a model, or style Last edited by greyson97; February 19, 2010 at 04:22 PM.

February 19, 2010, 03:58 PM	#2
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,607	If you've seen what catastrophic failure and/or ricochets can do to regular glasses... I think you'd change your mind about them being "enough". Yes, at the range I always use real, made for the task, shooting glasses. Hunting, no. I take my chances with one or two shots. __________________ https://ecommercearms.com I am the owner/operator! Ask me for custom prices! Nobody plans to screw up their lives... they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

February 19, 2010, 04:28 PM	#6
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,727	IIRC the standard for safety glasses should carry the label " Z-87 ". My father worked in eye care for 45 + years, and I have enough stories to make you vomit concerning the failure of regular glasses in sports, especially shooting sports. I have prescription lenses in regular safety frames with side shields, they are not pretty but they can take quite a bit of abuse. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

February 19, 2010, 04:30 PM	#7
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	2 pair, one yellow tinted for over cast days and one bronze tinted, next pair will be blue or smoke but so far bronze and a brimmed hat have sufficed for bright days. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

February 19, 2010, 05:57 PM	#9
45Gunner Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 1,902	I used to have a dedicated pair of glasses for shooting but my prescription changed. I wear tri-focals and get them at the VA so I decided to spend the extra bucks. The glasses are made tough so I can shoot or ride my motorcycle with them...some kind of protectorant stuff, can't remember what it is called. They also have UV protection and some kind of coating on them so "free" glasses cost me about $175 with all the extras. I have the same thing made in sun glasses even tho my regular glasses are transition so I am good to go in any kind of light in any type of conditions. Most times, when at an indoor range, I will put a pair of safety glasses on over my other glasses. Not the most comfortable but sure beats getting hit in the eye with something. I wear also wear a ballcap to prevent shells from dropping into my face/eyes and put side protectors on my eyeglass ear pieces so I can't get hit from the side. One can never be too safe. __________________ 45Gunner May the Schwartz Be With You. NRA Instructor NRA Life Member

February 19, 2010, 04:17 PM	#3
AcridSaint Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2009 Posts: 407	My regular prescription glasses are yellow tinted. I do find images sharper than when I switch to my clear or prescription sunglasses.

February 19, 2010, 04:23 PM	#4
The Tourist Junior member Join Date: June 20, 2005 Posts: 2,348	I know the concern. I had mine made for me for shooting and riding. I have a pair, one tinted. Since I was concerned about wind when riding and shooting debris on the side of my face, I had my guy make wrap-arounds. He found a supplier that made the frame capable of holding "no line bi-focals." While I do not need much correction at distances, he "cranked them up" one prescription notch, and distances are much crisper. I can look at distances, and immediately scan down to look at my gauges. When shooting I have both the capacity for distance and close up, and I can clearly read the cartridge boxes. They are entirely polycarbonite, frames and all.

February 19, 2010, 04:27 PM	#5
Siderite Junior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Posts: 14	Always for the range (static or dynamic). Wrap-around safety glasses keep the unburnt powder out of my eyes. And it isn't just your guns that could be an issue. Recently a few lanes down, a shooter had a out-of-battery explosion.

February 19, 2010, 05:45 PM	#8
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Posts: 304	I can see the sights much better with reading glasses. Does anybody know of shooting glasses with magnification? And I don't mean just the little bifocal bit at the bottom for reading, but the whole lens. I would REALLY like to find some.

February 19, 2010, 05:58 PM	#10
Rattlehead Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2009 Location: NC Posts: 244	"IIRC the standard for safety glasses should carry the label " Z-87 ". " I usually go by the Army's APEL list. Sawflys boast that they can take a 12 guage blast, so I usually go with tat or te ESS ICE (which fit my face a bit better, and are lower cost). The minor inconvenience is worth the protection Edited to add: duke, both the ESS and Sawflys have the option for RX inserts for vision correction.

February 19, 2010, 06:00 PM	#11
Doc Intrepid Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2009 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,037	I've seen one or two guns blown up from double-charged reloads, and a few other issues...but all of the failures I've personally witnessed occurred with handloads as opposed to commercially manufactured ammunition. I've never seen a gun blow up using commercial ammunition - have you guys? When I fire reloads I wear clear safety glasses over my regular glasses. When I am shooting commercial ammunition, I'll often just go with the standard glasses. I'm probably living life on the edge, however, I do that every time I drive anywhere in this town anyway... __________________ *Treat everyone you meet with dignity and respect....but have a plan to kill them just in case.*

February 19, 2010, 06:30 PM	#13
lomaxanderson Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2006 Location: La. Posts: 349	my sunglasses are really tinted safty glasses and so are my clear ones... __________________ All I want to do is live in peace...for that I'm willing to die STOLEN COLT NIGHT DEFENDER sn NDF0311 Mason Rhea Gsd

February 19, 2010, 06:34 PM	#14
woody wood Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2010 Location: minnesota Posts: 271	i've wondered the same thing! i use perscrption-non shatter lenses and have thought,what if? once outside, i was shooting a mpa 9(mac 10) and was bump firing,using blazer ammo.the last round the shell broke and caused the rest of the shell to hit my glasses.no big deal-had to push the bullet out of barrel.but made me think-what if? so now i think i will get shatter proof lenses.but i do have a question. i am nearsighted (only need glasses for distance),should i practice with non perscriptive glasses? so that if some one comes in the house when i dont have glasses on-i could be ready?

February 19, 2010, 06:35 PM	#15
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	I use a pair of Oakley M-Frames for my shooting glasses, just swap out the lens to adjust for different light. Not sure what they're "Impact Protection" (that's what they call it) is rated at but if you watch the videos of it on their website it's pretty impressive. Plus I've got one lens that saved my left eye by stopping a piece of shrapnel from an IED explosion on my last deployment....that's enough to convince me. Also the M-Frame and Pro M-Frame lens can be fitted with Rx implants for those that need prescription glasses.

February 19, 2010, 07:27 PM	#16
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 672	I use a pair of clear Gargoyles that were issued to me when I was in the Army. I think their advertising campaign, back then, demonstrated their glasses stopping a BB at X fps. They cover the eye area very well. They work great at keeping gnats out of my eyes and stopping tree limb eye pokes.

February 19, 2010, 07:33 PM	#17
nhm90 Member Join Date: November 30, 2008 Posts: 27	I always wear mine...especially when firing my handloads.

February 19, 2010, 07:43 PM	#18
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	Yes, I wear shooting glasses all the time / Indoors and outdoors ... Mine are prescription as well ..... with a bi-focul lens in the bottom of the lens so I can read / see my mags clearly, etc ... DeCot HyWyd http://www.sportglasses.com/ After you buy the frames / as your prescription changes - you can then just order new lenses. For Indoor ranges / I use a Light Gold / Light Yellow - it seems to bring in a little more light. DeCot made a special lens for my handguns / so I can see front sights clearly ( strong eye only ) and in weak eye a distance lens. It lets me have a compromise / where I can see the front sight / and still see target relatively clearly. DeCot isn't cheap / but they're a very good product and very good people to work with.

February 19, 2010, 07:49 PM	#19
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I'll man up and admit that I rarely do, and I'm an idiot for not wearing them.

February 19, 2010, 07:57 PM	#20
RETG Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2009 Location: Somewhere in Idaho, near WY Posts: 507	Always have, always will at the range.

February 19, 2010, 07:59 PM	#21
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	I'm never without them. An ill-timed .44 magnum that shaved some copper off a round, bloodied my face, and hit my shooting glasses as well, showed me the potential consequences of not wearing them. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

February 19, 2010, 08:05 PM	#22
BitterTait Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 144	Use my lab goggles. They're wrap around, comfortable, don't fog and I've seen one subjected to a low-velocity 9mm round and survive.

February 19, 2010, 08:07 PM	#23
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,318	Yes, and not because I'm worried about a gun blowing up. My glasses have already saved me from injury--an empty cartridge ejected straight back and the mouth of the case cut a deep crescent into the polycarbonate lens directly over my right eye. Another stray case from that shooting session cut my forehead badly. An incomplete list of ways you can injure an eye while shooting. Ricochet off the target. I have seen a small metal piece ricochet off a steel target and embed itself deeply in the flesh of a shooter. Barrel cylinder gap splatter from a revolver. I've seen a person next to a revolver shooter get hit by a bullet shaving. The piece of lead went into the person's arm deeply enough that it had to be removed with tweezers. Ejected casings from semi-autos. They eject with considerable force and can easily cause a severe eye injury. Case failures. Guns are typically designed to contain these well but they can still allow gases and small particles to escape at high velocity. Catastrophic failures. These are rare but it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Escaping springs and parts. Where there are guns there are often people taking guns apart. I've seen a part ejected from a firearm under enough spring force that it embedded itself deeply into drywall. It's also prudent to wear protective eyewear when cleaning your firearms. Back in my younger, more careless days I once had a small spring-loaded part bounce off of a hard contact lens. That's an odd feeling... __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

February 19, 2010, 08:07 PM	#24
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	never have... probably should

February 19, 2010, 08:18 PM	#25
Howard31 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2009 Location: Hudson Valley,NY Posts: 231	Eye glasses Eye glasses for protection is really a no brainer.Public and most club ranges require eye and ear protection. Prescription glasses is another matter.The thing I hate most about getting old is wearing glasses. If you shoot iron sights your focus has to be on the front sight.I use a yard stick and I hold the rifle or handgun and have my wife measure from my eye to the front sight.Stick a small brad in the yardstick at the mark and head down to your optomitrist.I have known people that actually took their firearms to the eye doctor but a yard stick draws a lot less attention. You can have that perscription in your line of aiming sight or get a frame like Knoblocks or Championschoice which allow you to use a flat lens and position it exactly in line with the sights. If you don't have an astigmatism you can get some el cheapo reading glasses at the five and dime.They come in different strenghts and take your yardstick and try some on.

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