Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Shooting glasses are meant to protect your eyes, but will they actually save your eyes from a blast from a shotgun?

I was doing a little research on this topic and came across a test that was performed by American Hunter on this very subject. The results were both, surprising and telling.

The test was on about ten different types on shooting glasses ranging from $5 to $300. A foam filled mannequin head was fitted with two small balloons to simulate the soft eye tissue. They then set the mannequin at 25 yards and blasted away with 8 shot heavy dove load. If the glasses prevented the shot from popping the balloons, the target was moved forward five yards, until the glasses failed. After the glasses failed they were not tested at closer ranges.

In order to qualify the experiment, they placed an unprotected mannequinn at 40 yards and fired. The balloons popped from 40 yards, meaning at 40 yards with no eye protection, you would be seriously injured!

Let’s take a look at the results of five of the glasses tested:

 As you can see, price played little to no role in performance. The safety rating, Z87.1, is really the key to selecting shooting glasses. The $6 Rendezvous withstood birdshot at 8 yards, while the metal framed prescription $300 non-rated Hy-Wyd’s failed at 15 yards. Polycarbonate is the way to go. Plastic lenses, e.g. the ones you get off the shelf anywhere, are actually more dangerous than nothing at all. They send sharp projectiles everywhere when struck. This was a real eye opener for me.

I’ve hunted countless times without eye protection, but no longer. It is simply foolish to risk losing your eyesight over a six dollar investment.

This is also a great lesson to pass on to your children at an early age, even with BB guns.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

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