Safety glasses while reloading

[goldpelican]

The small/large primer 45 ACP thread had me thinking - do many people on here wear safety glasses when reloading, especially when handling primers? Are there any people that DON'T?

My grandfather lost an eye shortly after WWII from a reloading accident - was doing something with 303 British and lost an eye from a primer. Life long impact.

 

[Dudedog]

Safety glasses = YES Cheap insurance.
I don't see well with two eyes now a days so I would be in trouble with one (or none)
I prime off press with a Lee hand primer so no primer tube kabooms to worry about. (of course the hand primer could go kaboom also). Priming and not wearing them is in my mind a very bad idea.
I wear mine when loading at the press as well, even though I am not priming there.

 

[LocoGringo]

Absolutely do wear safety glasses while reloading. I've seen too many photos of accidents where shrapnel was sent flying everywhere and I value my eyesight. Can't really think of a good reason NOT to wear safety glasses.

 

[Shaq]

I wear glasses all the time, anyway. But when I prime, I add a face shield. (Call me whatever you like, I'll LOL). I've never had a primer go off in 40 years of loading, but that one time could really hurt.

 

[GBExpat]

I wear them so that I can SEE! ... old, presbyotic eyes, dontchaknow?

 

[Jonesy814]

Safety glasses are a definite for me when reloading

 

[RMH]

Yes. Couldn't find the bench without them. Getting old isn't for the faint of heart.

 

[FROGO207]

I really do value my eyesight! Enough so that I have prescription safety eyeglasses. That is all I wear when awake and as a bonus never have to go and find a pair of safety glasses when I do something where I would need them. I can easily remember five major times when I would have had serious problems had I not had safety glasses on. Kind of goes along with steel toe boots, knee pads, and other such gear when you should be using them.

 

[Havok7416]

The hassle of wearing a pair is nearly non-existent. A pair of polycarb lenses is worth it every time for me.

 

[.308 Norma]

Kind of goes along with steel toe boots, knee pads, and other such gear when you should be using them.

And hearing protection.

 

[cfullgraf]

Before cataract surgery, I wore glasses all the time. Since cataract surgery, I need glasses only for close work. I have full lens magnifying safety glasses for a variety of close work that I do. Much better than struggling with bifocal safety glasses.

 

[hdwhit]

goldpelican wrote:
...do many people on here wear safety glasses when reloading,...

On my last pair of glasses, I paid a bunch extra to get ballistic rated poly carbonate lenses, so while I do not wear wrap-around eye protection, the central 120 degrees of my visual field is protected and I never have to worry about whether or not I have them on. If I can see clearly, they are on.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

The reloading bench is on my shop, so my shop glasses are always on when reloading. Why would I take them off?

 

[Duster340]

Yes, I also always wear safety glasses when reloading. It's a no brainer imo

 

[Steelworker]

My eyes are my livelihood.... so I were them religiously.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

Look in the completed round bin . Now look on each side of stools. Safety first and last. Good old military training.

 

[Kingcreek]

I always wear safety glasses w cheater bifocal when reloading. I get them at the local welding supply for less than $3 a pair.

 

[Rule3]

Remember, With power tools, and Reloading always!

 

[Doublehelix]

I actually wear a full face shield! I don't wanna ruin this pretty face!!!

 

[someguy2800]

I don't wear any eye protection. Probably should but don't.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I use reading glasses for close all close work. Using the classic Lee Loaders (mallets toward all), it is too easy to pop a cap. And it is loud enough to justify ear protection too.

 

[Reloadron]

Since I wear glasses anyway yes, I wear safety glasses when loading. About 20 years ago newsprint was getting smaller or my arms shorter. I was 45 at the time so enjoyed a good run of perfect vision. I guess since I hand prime the priming is where my greatest concern would be. During my later work years safety glasses were required anywhere out on the plant floor so I just began wearing my glasses all the time.

Would I suggest the use of safety glasses even to a person with perfect vision? Absolutely! Talk to someone who has lost their vision or even partial vision as a result of an accident.

Ron

 

[SCC]

Safety glasses, no, just readers. However, I do so much other stuff in the workshop that requires a face shield that they've become second nature. I have one hanging above the press and it goes on whenever I'm handling/inserting primers. (Progressive press, so that's all the time.) I've got so used to wearing it that I forget it's on and sometimes try to scratch my nose with predictable results. Face shields have saved me several times in the workshop. Hopefully never at the reloading bench.

 

[Demi-human]

While statistically the likelihood of having a primer ignite and cause others to go off and send shrapnel flying, is quite low, who needs extra risk in their life. I wear them when shooting also.

I like the extinguishers DRAINSMITH. I have only one press so I have only one extinguisher.

 

[Kingcreek]

In 35 years of reloading I've had ONE primer det while seating on a Dillon 550, no chain fire, no damage or injury, just a loud bang as a reminder of why I wear safety glasses.
Of course there is brass trimming, the possibility of shattering a die, etc that could also raise risk of eye injury.
It's pretty foolish not to wear eye pro. I've never had a fire either but I have a halon FE in the reloading room and a large ABC right outside the door.