Shooting safety glasses.... Lens color help?

[Mulligan]

After reading of several ugly firearm accidents/incidents on the forum, I came to the conclusion that it is not just my own loads and rifles I need to protect myself against. The good folks on the bench beside me could also significantly impact my safety as well and this more than anything, prompted me to invest in better eye protection for shooting F-Class and BR. I have to admit, the video of the 50 cal coming apart, got my attention, but the @Forum Boss article on the AR coming apart when shooting a 30 blackout in a .223 really made me take pause. http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2019/08/scary-stuff-300-blackout-fired-in-a-223-rem-barrel/

I bought some Wiley X glasses and am now pondering lens colors. We normally have bright sunny days with a brown (dirt) background. Is there a particular color lens that helps the black rings on an F-Class target pop out? What about the blue rings and square on an IBS target?
Thanks
CW

 

[K9TXS]

I know what you mean. I go to the range at least once a week. One time when I was there, a fellow the second bench over from me was shooting a revolver. His cylinder timing was slightly off. Every time he shot, I felt a little bit hit on my cheek.

I have to use prescription glasses. So I use the type like a machinist uses. High impact lens and side shields. I could see on my right side shield there was a very small spot that came from his revolver. I know it came from him because I clean the glasses before and after my range day.

 

[Mulligan]

I know what you mean. I go to the range at least once a week. One time when I was there, a fellow the second bench over from me was shooting a revolver. His cylinder timing was slightly off. Every time he shot, I felt a little bit hit on my cheek.

I have to use prescription glasses. So I use the type like a machinist uses. High impact lens and side shields. I could see on my right side shield there was a very small spot that came from his revolver. I know it came from him because I clean the glasses before and after my range day.

Exactly!
CW

 

[vonb]

On sunny days, I have found brown and rose color glasses to offer better contrast than black/gray shades. Amber works for overcast days. Non-polarized in all cases. The bigger issue for me is to find glasses that don't distort the image. Some of the UVEX glasses do that to me. I've just started trying out the Crews glasses. Lastly, I like minimal frames so as to not block vision.

 

[Rsadams]

Yellow for dim days , brown for bright.... For shooting skeet etc.... The purple or rose really help with birds blending in to the trees etc.... I use non polarized Oakley prizm lenses made for shooting , they also make colors stand out... I strongly suggest you try a few colors that will be used for your shooting situation before buying.... For shotgun sports , one pair of Yellow , one pair of purple , and one pair for bright days....

 

[wkdickinson]

After reading of several ugly firearm accidents/incidents on the forum, I came to the conclusion that it is not just my own loads and rifles I need to protect myself against. The good folks on the bench beside me could also significantly impact my safety as well and this more than anything, prompted me to invest in better eye protection for shooting F-Class and BR. I have to admit, the video of the 50 cal coming apart, got my attention, but the @Forum Boss article on the AR coming apart when shooting a 30 blackout in a .223 really made me take pause. http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2019/08/scary-stuff-300-blackout-fired-in-a-223-rem-barrel/

I bought some Wiley X glasses and am now pondering lens colors. We normally have bright sunny days with a brown (dirt) background. Is there a particular color lens that helps the black rings on an F-Class target pop out? What about the blue rings and square on an IBS target?
Thanks
CW

I had the same "come to Jesus" discussion with myself about a month ago, after seeing the same videos as you. I have felt guilty for a long time about often not wearing safety glasses when I shoot. But I've been through a ton of them and can't find anything that works. I do wear glasses and my prescription is complicated (prisms), but I can shoot just fine with no glasses, just can't with the cheap plastic lenses. So I decided to bite the bullet and order a pair of Decot "Hy-Wyd", "Hy-Low" glasses. I normally wear "progressive" lenses, but have problems finding the right place on the lenses to look through when shooting, so I ordered bifocals, in Trivex (shatterproof).

I asked the same question of the tech I spoke with about color. Most of my shooting is off the bench or F-class. They recommended their "light bronze" color. She said it helps the scoring rings "pop", and will also helps some with glare on a very bright day.

So I got them about a week ago and wore them around the house and around town for a few days and was VERY pleased with the prescription and fit. Today was the first opportunity to shoot with them and I can't express how pleased I am - it was like shooting with nothing between my eye and the scope. No issues with head position or anything else. Not cheap, but worth every penny!

 

[Mulligan]

I had the same "come to Jesus" discussion with myself about a month ago, after seeing the same videos as you. I have felt guilty for a long time about often not wearing safety glasses when I shoot. But I've been through a ton of them and can't find anything that works. I do wear glasses and my prescription is complicated (prisms), but I can shoot just fine with no glasses, just can't with the cheap plastic lenses. So I decided to bite the bullet and order a pair of Decot "Hy-Wyd", "Hy-Low" glasses. I normally wear "progressive" lenses, but have problems finding the right place on the lenses to look through when shooting, so I ordered bifocals, in Trivex (shatterproof).

I asked the same question of the tech I spoke with about color. Most of my shooting is off the bench or F-class. They recommended their "light bronze" color. She said it helps the scoring rings "pop", and will also helps some with glare on a very bright day.

So I got them about a week ago and wore them around the house and around town for a few days and was VERY pleased with the prescription and fit. Today was the first opportunity to shoot with them and I can't express how pleased I am - it was like shooting with nothing between my eye and the scope. No issues with head position or anything else. Not cheap, but worth every penny!

Good stuff,
I talked to another shooter who likes the light purple from Wiley X for his Rx shooting glasses.
I will try and grab a brown and red to try.
thanks
CW

 

[Toddy]

I use Decot hywyd hi-lo bi-focals for F class. Rose for bright days and yellow for overcast days. This is what Decot recommended and I am very happy with them.

 

[WyleWD]

I bought a set of Walker shooting glasses that have I think 4 different colors of interchangeable lenses. IIRC they were only like $25. Not bad for the price point, but it REALLY helped me decide which color lenses to buy on a better made and more expensive prescription set of glasses. I settled on the yellow or amber. JME. WD

 

[Mulligan]

Shooting Glasses Lens Color Guide - Decot Hy-Wyd Sport Glasses, Inc.

Let our shooting glasses lens color guide teach you which lens colors will suit you best in your shooting application be it clays, rifle or pistol.

www.decot.com

I found this very helpful

CW

 

[Mulligan]

Question, polarized or non-polarized? And why?
CW

 

[Kracken McGraw]

After reading of several ugly firearm accidents/incidents on the forum, I came to the conclusion that it is not just my own loads and rifles I need to protect myself against. The good folks on the bench beside me could also significantly impact my safety as well and this more than anything, prompted me to invest in better eye protection for shooting F-Class and BR. I have to admit, the video of the 50 cal coming apart, got my attention, but the @Forum Boss article on the AR coming apart when shooting a 30 blackout in a .223 really made me take pause. http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2019/08/scary-stuff-300-blackout-fired-in-a-223-rem-barrel/

I bought some Wiley X glasses and am now pondering lens colors. We normally have bright sunny days with a brown (dirt) background. Is there a particular color lens that helps the black rings on an F-Class target pop out? What about the blue rings and square on an IBS target?
Thanks
CW

I’m very interested in the responses that you get also. I would think their would be a lot of difference in looking through coated lenses of a scope, compared to what color of lenses you would use for clay shotgunning.

 

[bsekf]

I have Ranger Rx and use clip on colored lens. The have served me well for 20+ yeas. If you find the right amber lens it almost puts things in 3D. Through a scope, I usually go with clear glass. Having the wrong color is a GREAT excuse for a trap shooter!

 

[Ccrider]

Low light I prefer clear.

 

[miningshawn]

I have become a true believer in these. Love the "open" bridge, they are comfortable, and the orange lenses really help on an overcast day.

 

[dc.fireman]

There is a very good explanation, by the German sight company Centra located in this catalog.

The download is free. Read pg. 16 for the explanation.

FWIW, I tend to use an orange filter (on bright days) or a yellow one on dim days. I only look to reduce the amount of blue light coming into my sight picture. My rear diopter controls the sharpness of the bullseye. While I used to favor a polarizer, I've found that I no longer need one, when the correct filter is in place.

 

[Fast14riot]

Question, polarized or non-polarized? And why?
CW

I went polarized with my prescription shooting glasses because where I shoot there are far more bright sunny days than overcast or hazy days. It helps reduce glare and improves contrast, and I typically drive home with them on which is a huge help, too. No noticeable affect with my scope, but viewing phone or tablet screens you need to be looking at it pretty much dead square or it blacks out, if using e targets.