Dyl003 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Only just got my shotgun and have booked on a BASC course - Introduction to Wood Pigeons Confirmation letter states I require eye and ear protection on the day. Any tips on what to get? Do people generally always wear ear protection when using shotguns, both clay and game? And do these smaller type in ear setups work ok rather than larger over ear protection? What I did notice when I took shotgun lessons is with the over ear ones I struggled to hear the instructor talking as they worked so well! Eye protection I guess you don't wear too often out in the field, or am I wrong? And would you suggest clear lenses or do the coloured ones work better this time of year? Should I just go for something cheap like this? http://www.uttings.co.uk/p116303-browning-claybuster-shooting-glasses-mirror-1279493/#.VK1dflqgeM4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) In terms of glasses - any type of basic safety specs are fine. It's to stop any bits of incoming clays that you break from taking your eye out. Following on from that, I also always wear a hat of some sort when clay shooting. Have seen a few cuts to the head on people As to ear protection, it's really a personal matter. I use Bilson Impacts - electronic, so I can hold a conversation with other people, but they kick in when the shot is fired to deaden the noise. So good that you can talk to someone 50 yards away on a game shooting day, but still have ear protection. Those are over-ear, and I think they cost £80 or so 2-3 years ago. You can be anywhere from virtually free earplugs to several hundred pounds. Whatever you want to spend. But do get it right - if you damage your hearing, it's done forever. Edit : I think my safety specs cost me £5 Edited January 7, 2015 by robbiep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynn Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 You will always want to wear ear protection when shooting. Once your hearing is damaged, it never repairs itself, so it's downhill all the way. I wear Emtec noisebreakers myself as I can wear them all day, still hear speech clearly whilst protecting my hearing. I find that a full set of cans presses my glassses into the side of my head and makes them uncomfortable. Eye protection is always a good idea. It's particularly useful on a clay ground as you have bits of broken clay driting about all over the place. Probably not quite s important in a pigeon hide but useful nevertheless. I wear specs so I'm sorted everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Get your self ear protection from the very start. I should have done this many (too many) years ago, and would not have the terrible Tinnitus that I am suffering with now (for the past 35 years) These are excellent value for money. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impact-Sport-Electronic-Earmuff-Folding/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420653101&sr=8-4&keywords=howard+leight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolkngood Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) Only just got my shotgun and have booked on a BASC course - Introduction to Wood Pigeons Confirmation letter states I require eye and ear protection on the day. Any tips on what to get? Do people generally always wear ear protection when using shotguns, both clay and game? And do these smaller type in ear setups work ok rather than larger over ear protection? What I did notice when I took shotgun lessons is with the over ear ones I struggled to hear the instructor talking as they worked so well! Eye protection I guess you don't wear too often out in the field, or am I wrong? And would you suggest clear lenses or do the coloured ones work better this time of year? Should I just go for something cheap like this? http://www.uttings.co.uk/p116303-browning-claybuster-shooting-glasses-mirror-1279493/#.VK1dflqgeM4 I always wear safety glasses when game shooting (unless rain makes it impossible). Accidents can and do happen (I've witnessed a beater being shot and know someone hit in the face on a hare shoot). If you're looking skyward there's always spent shot falling and you don't want a cock birds spur in the eye if it falls in your direction. As for Hearing Protection, I cannot recommend MSA Pro Supreme with the Gel ear inserts enough. You can use over top of your glasses with no discomfort. Very comfy and very effective. As a warning to all pigeon shooters, many years ago I added some dead grass stalks to my camo net for added camouflage. The wind picked up and blew the net inwards and one of the grass stalks scratched my retina. I had to stop shooting and go to the hospital to have it checked out. Fortunately no lasting damage but could have been so much worse. Edited January 7, 2015 by Suffolkngood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moblies Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Screwfix if you have one near you. Safety Glasses for a couple of quid and in various tints if we ever get any sun. Ear wear can be a bit brightly coloured but that's not a bad thing. and if you lose them in the field you will not care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sian Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Personally I think ears and Eyes should be protected always. I prefer in ear protection although I have the other kind as well that has volume on them but I find them annoying and in the summer too hot. In ear protection ranges form dirt cheap sponge things that you throw away to quite expensive technical ear protection, moulded to your ear. I am mid range in that respect. Glasses range in price from very cheap to silly expensive but it is a matter of choice for the individual as to how much they want to spend. I am a clay shooter so I do have a range of colours for different scenarios and I have to admit to a liking for the Pilla range as some of their lenses help my dodgy old eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belly47 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-8-january/product-detail/ps/p/sports-glasses-3/ aldi got sports glasses in tomorrow as it happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly47 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Get your self ear protection from the very start. I should have done this many (too many) years ago, and would not have the terrible Tinnitus that I am suffering with now (for the past 35 years) These are excellent value for money. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impact-Sport-Electronic-Earmuff-Folding/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420653101&sr=8-4&keywords=howard+leight I use these, have done for years and there great, even bought some for my shooting buddy (father in law) who's deaf in one ear and has a hearing aid in the other.... He thinks there great too, only bought them for him as I was fed up with him saying pardon all the time..... He says that if you turn the volume up to full it's like having normal hearing again.... Only cost me 39.99 delivered from this site just watch out for offers..... Tedly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripey999 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 I wear Howard Leights too, brilliant bit of kit. On a daily basis I have to wear hearing aides in both ears as a result of hearing damage from the forces. When I am shooting I use the electronic Howard leights which allows me to have normal conversations (the volume takes the sound up higher than normal conversations so great for those like me with hearing problems) and when a shot is fired the sound is greatly reduced to a thud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Take it from someone with hearing loss and tinnitus you really really don't want it so always wear ear defence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Albert Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Most clay grounds require eye, ear and head protection at all times. This applies to everybody with you as well whether they are shooting or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safc1973 Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Another vote for Howard Leights - have had others but these are much better. Always wear a hat when clay shooting now after a large jagged bit of clay missed my head by about a foot. For glasses I use DeWalt safety glasses - about £10 from B&Q. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 i have peltor optomeIII and those are very good and extremely comfortable. they are not the easyest to work with if you have gunstock hitting your earmuffs. but they are the finest hearing protection i have ever used. the peltor sport tac are good too but not as comfy. i use the optomeIII because it has a very high rating in industry and the original shooting muffs i used were these but in green. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_EU/PPE_SafetySolutions_EU/Safety/Product_Catalogue/~/3M-PELTOR-Optime-III-Ear-Muffs?N=5023508+3294361742+3294361744&rt=rud they do a optome 1-2-3 and they have different levels of protection, i wouldnt hesitate using the op-1 for shooting. these.... the peltor shotgunner muffs are rated to #21, the optome 1 is ~#27, but the big optome III mufs are rated to #35 (i forgot the units). but i am buying a second pair. i have had mine for 5 years now, i will not go out without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Take it from someone with hearing loss and tinnitus you really really don't want it so always wear ear defence. And take it from Paul von Mauser, a gun genius with an eye patch, you really really don't want one either,so always wear proper eye protection. I use Leights and add foam plugs when on the range, and ESS or Wiley X eye shields. Find what suits you but get glasses that are marked to, at least, BS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyl003 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 Well I ordered the Impact Sport ones by Howard Leight as they had great reviews and I like the low profile http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impact-Sport-Electronic-Earmuff-Folding/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1420653101&sr=8-4&keywords=howard%20leight&tag=pigeonwatch-21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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