You’ll be a star kid: The best shooting glasses

Shooting is one the most dangerous hobbies due to the damage it can cause to your eyes. So shooting glasses are a good idea. We’ll discuss why they are a smart idea, which types are available and what features you should consider before purchasing a pair. We’ll also be discussing our top picks for the best-selling shooting glasses. It’s estimated that around 30,000 eye injuries are caused by shooting sports each year. These injuries include corneal abrasion/corneal swelling, sclopetaria, hyphema (blood in your eye), traumatic optic neuropathy (optic damage), and globe rupture. Carbon and other debris can be launched at the shooter’s face when a cartridge explodes. Hot brass can also be ejected from semi-autos at dangerous angles. The bullet can return to its original form if it hits a target as shrapnel, or as a ricochet. These dangers are present when the firearm works properly. If a gun malfunctions, there are many other possibilities. Kentucky Ballistics could have almost died if he hadn’t worn his eye protection when his.50 caliber Serbu RN-50 exploded. Kentucky Ballistics’.50-caliber BMG rifle exploded after a hot SLAP shot, severely injuring him. Kentucky Ballistics. Image source and more info: Kentucky Ballistics. The permanent damage that can result from training doesn’t justify wearing shooting glasses. Your shooting glasses should fit your nose well enough to keep them in place, but not too tight that they are uncomfortable. The frames should fit your ears naturally without having to adjust. Your shooting glasses should be wrapped around. The reason is that both the frontal and side protections greatly reduce the chance of trap and skeet shooters injuring their eyes. Whether you are trap shooting or trying your hand at steel pistol shooting, protecting your eyes from all angles is essential. This includes most eye-pros that you can purchase at a hardware store. If you can, purchase shooting glasses that meet or exceed MIL PRF 32432 Ballistic Fractration standards. This military standard requires eye protection to be able to withstand seven times the impact force of ANSI Z87.1. That means that any goggles (or glasses) with this rating must be able withhold a.22 caliber projectile at 560 fps, and a 3.88mm projectile of 640 fps. If you have to buy eyewear that is not ANSI-rated, consider Z87+. This rating indicates a high impact rating. Z87-2+ is the high-velocity rating for prescription safety glasses. The Authorized Protective Eyewear List will show if the eye protection has been certified by the military. You can find the APEL list here. The glasses will also be marked APEL on their frames. Source: U.S. Army. For those of us who have four eyes, the question is whether you can A. You can wear your glasses as is, or you can get away with wearing them. Whether you should get prescription shooting glasses or over-glasses. Most prescription glasses made of polycarbonate are compliant with basic ANSI standards, but not high-impact standards. They rarely protect your eyes from the sides. It’s not a good idea. Prescription lenses are better than goggles. Some goggles and over-glasses may not fit over your glasses. They are also not comfortable to wear. It is important to have both eye protection and hearing protection while at the range. Young shooters practice while wearing both shooting glasses as well as earmuffs. You should also ensure that your children have the right kind of eye protection. There are two types of shooting glasses. Glasses/spectacles can be described as safety glasses, but many are nothing more than generic safety glasses. Some glasses have extra features for shooters, such as thin frames that can be worn under earmuffs and coatings that prevent scratches and visual distortions. These goggles are very similar to snow goggles and would look great on the slopes. These have thicker lenses than glasses which gives them greater durability. The 2015 APEL goggles section. Source: U.S. Army. While they are common in the military, the average civilian shooter will find them a bit cumbersome. They are also more expensive so you might not want to buy them unless you have a good reason. Do you prefer the option to swap lenses or do you prefer permanent clear or tinted lenses? Are you looking for them to be compatible with prescription glasses, night vision, or a basic pair that will work? These questions are up to you. You can purchase replacement/additional lenses from Oakley, or get a kit version (called an Array) with multiple frames and lenses. All lenses come with a coating that provides UV, anti-scratch, and anti-fog protection. These lenses can also be purchased with prescription lenses from specialty retailers. Single pairs of Array kits (often black frames with clear lenses), can be bought for between $100 and $130. Champion Traps and Targets Youth Clear Shooting GlassesKids also need protection. Champion Target makes these “fold-smart” youth shooting glasses with clear lenses in a variety of frame colors. The lenses are fully wrapped, have a scratch-resistant coating, and are ANSI Z87.1+ rated to protect against impact. They are available at most retailers for $10. ArmouRx 5003 Safety glassesArmouRx glasses come in prescription or non-prescription forms and have an ANSI Z87+ high impact rating. These glasses are available in multiple frame and lens colors and can be purchased for as low as $30. They are lightweight thanks to a side shield, an anti-scratch coating on their outside and a durable polymer frame. Honeywell UVEX XC Safety glassesThe Honeywell UVEX XC safety sunglasses have two outstanding attributes. They are APEL compliant, which means they meet military standards for safety glasses. They can be easily found for as low as $20. UVEX XC glasses are interchangeable, just like Oakleys. They also have a coating that protects against scratches and fogging, as well as UVA/UVB light defense. There are many frame and lens colors available, including clear and tinted. They are not compatible with prescription lenses. They are not compatible with prescription lenses. The frame can be extended to fit over glasses. Honeywell makes an RX lens insert that can attach RX lenses to the frames. Clay shooters have been a niche market for shooting glasses for a long time. The Radians Clay Pro Shooting Glasses make a great set for beginners, but they might turn some people away. Radians Clay Pro is available in a vermillion tint (a little bit like a pink color). It has full wrap lenses and spring hinges for an easy fit. There is no top frame to prevent vision from being obstructed. The frame is almost wire-like and fits easily under earmuffs. They are rated at ANSI Z87.1+ to provide impact protection. The vermillion tint is said to be beneficial for those with red/green colorblindness. This set is a solid entry-level set and costs only $15. Oakley’s subsidiary ESS CrossbowESS is an eye protection manufacturer that specializes on ballistic eye protection. It has models listed on APEL. The Crossbow series is a good mid-shelf option.The lenses are swappable and have a UVA/UVB blocking/anti-fog/anti-scratch coating, however, only the Clear and Smoke Grey lenses and Black frames are APEL-approved. Prescription lenses are also available. A basic black frame with clear lenses starts at $40. Caldwell Adjustable PRO Range GlassesThe Caldwell Adjustable PRO Range Glasses are ANSI Z87.1-certified for high-impact resistance. They have UV-blocking lenses that wrap around each side and an adjustable nosepiece to adjust the fit. They are also affordable at less than $10 and less than $5 at many retailers. Magpul Rift Magpul is able to create some very tough gear from polymer, including safety glasses. The Rift model is available with standard and Rx lenses. It is ANSI Z87-rated and is billed to be compliant with MIL PRF 32432, although it is not on the APEL. They are scratch-resistant, UV-blocking, and side protection. Everybody knows that shooting better is a good thing. Non-polarized lenses start around $100, while polarized lenses start around $140. Wiley X Romer 3 shooting glassesWiley X is an eyepro brand that is listed on the APEL. This includes the X Romer 3 set. These glasses can be worn under ear muffs or with NVGs if necessary. Prescription lenses can also be ordered as long as the PD (pupillary Distance) is greater than 64mm. They come with all the usual specs: an anti-fog coating and a UV-blocking coating on the outside. If you wish to switch between clear and smoke tinted lenses, the non-prescription set includes interchangeable lenses. Prices vary depending on the options. Howard Leight Genesis Sharp Shooter by Honeywell is another solid budget option. It is ANSI Z87.1 rated and meets military standards. The Genesis Sharp Shooter glasses come with or without tinted lenses. They also have anti-fog and UV-blocking coatings. The frame is thin enough to be worn under earmuffs. It can also be adjusted to be worn over eyeglasses. However, it cannot be used with Rx lenses. They are available for as low as $10 to $15 per pair. Learn more about Personal Protective Equipment. Next Step: Download your Storm Tactical Printable Target pack62 Printable MOA Targets with Drills – Rifle Ranges in YARDS. This impressive target pack comes from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.