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Author Topic: Flintlock eye injuries?  (Read 3512 times)

Offline dmf38

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Flintlock eye injuries?
« on: April 02, 2009, 07:27:12 PM »
Hello everyone, I just joined the forum.  I'm getting my first flintlock soon.  A Lyman Plains rifle, probably .50 caliber.  Just for target shooting fun!  But I was curious to know how common it is for people to get eye injuries while shooting flintlocks, since the pan with sparks and smoke is right in front of your face.  I don't want to wear those uncomfortable safety glasses if I don't have to.  I wear regular eyeglasses already.
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Offline rollingb

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« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2009, 07:33:53 PM »
All I wear is regular eye glasses, and I've never had a problem. :rt th
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Online BEAVERMAN

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« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2009, 07:37:00 PM »
If you wear eye glasses you should be 99.9% safe,
« Last Edit: April 02, 2009, 07:40:17 PM by BEAVERMAN »
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Offline jbullard1

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« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2009, 07:37:59 PM »
I guess I have been lucky, I've had no problems from my gun just have to watch the folks to my side
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« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2009, 07:38:06 PM »
That's what I wear as well, or my stylishly cool safety glasses...

Did have to scrape some flint specks off of them once when I had a really poor flint.  Thankful I had them on too.

Offline dmf38

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« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2009, 07:52:12 PM »
Ok, it sounds like I won't have to worry much about eye injuries then.  Thanks everyone!   :)
- All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them. -                -- Arapaho proverb

Offline Captchee

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« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2009, 08:47:20 PM »
nope not alot to worry about . just dont stand on the lock side  and look at the flashole or lock  when someone is about to shoot . even if your standing 10 ft away

Offline Chairslayer

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« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2009, 09:07:52 PM »
I've even been sprayed further than 10 feet. Luckily I was looking downrange, not at the shooter. Learned my lesson there, now I make sure I'm behind the shooter too.
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Online Hank in WV

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« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2009, 10:06:00 PM »
Same as rollingb,regular glasses and n problems.
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Online Craig Tx

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« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2009, 10:14:37 PM »
I just use regular glasses as well.

I shot once without something in front of my eyes and got sprayed, and now I don't shoot without glasses.

Of course now that I no longer wear contacts I'm always wearing glasses...   8)

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Offline Fletcher

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« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2009, 01:29:03 AM »
Captchee - listen to what he says.

A fair long time ago I got too close watchin' a guy shoot his Brown Bess. (on the lock side of him so I could see how it worked)

It only took about 6 weeks for my eyelashes and upper forehead hair to grow back  :idea:

I think I still pull a fleck of black powder out of my cheek now and then.

OBTW - didn't hurt the guy shootin' the Brown Bess a bit :?
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Offline Roaddog

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« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2009, 05:57:11 AM »
I always have my glasses no when target shooting. How ever when deer hunting I don't. I will be shooting just one shot most of the time and I just need the glasses for seeing up close. Now if I am squirrel hunting I keep them on for I will be getting quite a few shots off.
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Offline Gambia

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« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2009, 06:19:45 AM »
Quote from: "Captchee"
nope not alot to worry about . just dont stand on the lock side  and look at the flashole or lock  when someone is about to shoot . even if your standing 10 ft away

 A couple years ago, I was standing about 15 feet away from one of the guys I shoot with and one of the hot embers went right in my eye. It passed my eye glasses and hit my eye, Trust, I never had anything burn like that. The only thing that helped was, one of the guys carried eye drops and he stuck some in my eye, That put out the fire, OMGoodness....and no, I still don't wear safty glasses, I never said I was smart.

Offline Wyoming Mike

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« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2009, 07:41:32 AM »
I too have been sprayed a few times but by other people and not by the rifle I am firing.  I just wear normal glasses.  One time the wind was kind of strange and it whipped an ember under my glasses but that could have happened with safety glasses.  It was one time in 30+ years.

Other times I have caught a little spray on my forehead and the top of my glasses under windy conditions.  Nothing painful but I could feel it.
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Offline Captchee

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« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2009, 08:01:49 AM »
i would also say  that   the oppiset is also true . when shooting , be mindful of the jet from your flashole . if there is another shooter standing to your lock side ,  call out Flinter  so they know  your about to shoot . exspecialy if its someone new that may or may not be  knowlagable about  flintlocks . if it takes  actualy say ; aaahh could you please step back , i dont want to burn you . then thats what you should do .
 most folks though quickly learn  to not  stand next to out locks  when we shoot