Safety glasses

[SDSmlf]

Old man had rules. Had to sell it. Think he respected my creative problem solving efforts, knowing full well they were pure BS. Still have a slight scar on bicep. Not like I ran the nail through my foot. More of a flesh wound. But a nail through the sole of my shoe and into my foot none the less. Had to get a tetanus shot - couldn't risk threat of 'lockjaw'. Whatever that is. Solution still works and makes sense. To this day, seem to find a reason to get a tetanus shot every five years or so without stepping on a nail. Usually in urgent care or emergency room.

 

[SDSmlf]

Hunter John, where in NY are you from? Grew up south of Buffalo and still hunt in the area with friends and family every year, even after living nearly 25 years in the Carolinas.

 

[Calum]

'afternoon,

When reenacting, I always wear my repro glasses with polymer lenses. When live firing, it's them or modern shooting glasses.

Many years ago, I was grinding something on a car I was working on. Hot fragment got behind the full face shield I was wearing and melted it's way into one eye. Didn't even realize it until several days later. When it was nice and rusty. They ground it out. Yup, literally a tiny dremmel. Not fun! That incident has always caused me to realize how easy it is, even with protection.

Ears are another thing. Touched off my 1911 once, without my ears in place. I had just got a pair of the electronic ones, so you can hear "just like not wearing them". Ringing took a week or to to subside to the previous (pre-shot) levels. Never forget them either!

Mike

 

[RedFeather]

I've had four eye operations. They are no fun. Only have good vision in one eye, so protection is mandatory for me. (My range's latest news letter reminded us eye and ear protection are a must have there for everyone on the line or standing around.) During recovery from my last operation I mistakenly got a bill from the hospital for the operating room. $30,000+. Was an eye opener, no pun intended. Think of what that would buy! And side protection can be as important as head on. Someone recently blew up a smokeless rifle. Be no fun to occupy a position alongside that.

 

[don hepler]

This past weekend, our club had it's regular monthly black powder shoot. We have a few husband and wife shooters and just shoot for fun. Some like to dress in traditional clothes and bring original antique rifles and pistols for show. We also enjoy food cooked in traditional style, prepared by the ladies. One young girl, probably in her 30's brought her 94 year old grandfather, to show off his civil war collection. The girl and her husband wanted to shoot a flintlock, so one of our older members, who is new to flinlocks let them shoot his rifle. He left some open powder on the shooting bench and it blew up, and burned her forearm, with second degree burns and pitted her sun glasses. Now our club is in fear of a lawsuit and the elderly gentleman paid her medical expenses, replaced her glasses, and now the club is in a questionable situation.

That may be the end of the monthly shoots. But most of all we hope the young girl will recover from her injuries.

This is how fast things can go wrong.

 

[nhmoose]

That is why anyone guest or member signs a liability release before being allowed anywhere near a range at my club.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I wear them. My vision is not something I want to lose due to a fun pastime.

 

[don hepler]

We have them sign a release form also, however, in a case of gross negligence, it may or may not hold up in court. Getting people to sign a release and then having unsafe conditions, doesn't always clear you from liability.

We know the girl came from a gun friendly environment, and we doubt she will take any action against our club, still there is uncertainty.

Sometimes just signing a release makes the person feel that they have no recourse, but that doesn't make it 100% done deal.

 

[pondoro]

I love the story about stepping on a nail. I was a kid in the 60's and it brought back memories. "Lockjaw" was one of the primal fears - scarier than "The Old Man."

I have no idea how valid the fears were, but we all had a healthy fear of lockjaw in my parts. We'd climb trees to stupid heights and swim in abandoned quarries, but rusty nails invoked stark fear.

On topic - I always wear safety glasses when shooting. I've been hit in the face by "grit" from muzzleloaders and splashed led from firearms and even took a splashed jacket or two in the legs beneath my shorts. Shorts are a bad idea when shooting steel but the matches seem to only happen when it is > 80 outside.

 

[nhmoose]

We have them sign a release form also, however, in a case of gross negligence, it may or may not hold up in court. Getting people to sign a release and then having unsafe conditions, doesn't always clear you from liability.

We know the girl came from a gun friendly environment, and we doubt she will take any action against our club, still there is uncertainty.

Sometimes just signing a release makes the person feel that they have no recourse, but that doesn't make it 100% done deal.

And the IDIOT who left an open container of BP on the shooting bench would get a 3 month suspension for that alone. You club must have a no loading on the SHOOTING bench that is normal the gun is loaded behind the shooting line in the loading zone before the area any spectators are allowed.

Too many lawyer wannabes in the club could end your BP shoots. Make sure you have rules in place to stop this problem. BTDT at our club when I was the secretary of it the only ones that should even mention law stuff is the paid LAWYER not the wannabes.

 

[don hepler]

I'm sure there will be a complete investigation and this will not be allowed to happen going forward.

 

[Mike Payne]

I think it's a personal choice. I have been shooting flinters for about 41 years got few burns from shooters on my left ( my fault) but never have anything hit my face or around my eyes.
The last couple of years I have started shooting with PC reading glasses on because I am 62 and can't see!

 

[cw1873]

I always wear them. I have had little bits of powder and tiny cap bits hit my face with the MLs, have had a larger part hit me in the face with a modern rifle.

Eyes are so soft and squishy and easy to hurt...