Do you wear eye / ear protection when reloading?

**Ron3** · 04-01-21, 08:38

I just started and wore both.

I thought about dropping the ear pro and keeping the eye pro.

What are the odds a primer detonates while reloading?

I dont read much talk about it happening so just thought I'd ask.

**lonestardiver** · 04-01-21, 08:50

Originally Posted by Ron3

I just started and wore both.

I thought about dropping the ear pro and keeping the eye pro.

What are the odds a primer detonates while reloading?

I dont read much talk about it happening so just thought I'd ask.

I wear reading glasses so I have eye protection on but nothing for hearing. While it is possible for a primer to go off while reloading, I have not encountered it yet but I hear of others on the forums. Likely it is a small chance it could happen.

**jsbhike** · 04-04-21, 09:37

Originally Posted by lonestardiver

I wear reading glasses so I have eye protection on but nothing for hearing. While it is possible for a primer to go off while reloading, I have not encountered it yet but I hear of others on the forums. Likely it is a small chance it could happen.

If you mean reading glasses like the ones sold in dollar stores and pharmacies, they make safety glasses with bifocal sections that are the trick.

https://www.fullsource.com/elvex-rx-200/

Just don't get full lens magnifiers. I didn't catch that on an order once.

**T2C** · 04-04-21, 09:40

Originally Posted by jsbhike

If you mean reading glasses like the ones sold in dollar stores and pharmacies, they make safety glasses with bifocal sections that are the trick.

https://www.fullsource.com/elvex-rx-200/

Just don't get full lens magnifiers. I didn't catch that on an order once.

Those are very good glasses, I own several pairs. The full lens magnifiers are good for people who's eyesight is not as good as it was 40 years ago. I wear 0.5 power to 0.75 power full lens magnifiers when competing in iron sight rifle matches.

**jsbhike** · 04-04-21, 09:48

Originally Posted by T2C

Those are very good glasses, I own several pairs. The full lens magnifiers are good for people who's eyesight is not as good as it was 40 years ago. I wear 0.5 power to 0.75 power full lens magnifiers when competing in iron sight rifle matches.

I should have added a qualifier on to the "just don't get". I can't handle walking around with them on, but seated they do fine. Bifocal ones I will wear to the store and tend to just keep them on around the house.

There is at least 1 company making bifocal safety glasses that have the magnifiers in the top half of the lens for overhead work like a vehicle on the rack.

**PracticalRifleman** · 04-01-21, 09:12

A primer going off won’t be so loud as to damage your hearing. It’s also pretty rare and means the reloaded was making mistakes.

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**Ron3** · 04-01-21, 09:18

Originally Posted by PracticalRifleman

A primer going off won’t be so loud as to damage your hearing. It’s also pretty rare and means the reloaded was making mistakes.

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Yea, that's what I'm thinking.

I've fired shotgun primers in a garage and rimfire primers (Aguila .22 powderless ammo) in the house. Loud like someone clapping their hands loud and close enough to ring ears but not enough to actually deafen you.

**1_click_off** · 04-01-21, 11:05

I use eye protection on my progressive press, when I am single staging I only use eye protection while priming.

Ears, no.

I was reloading some 45-70 with one of those lee hand held loaders you tap everything with a hammer a few years ago and got a little rough and set off a primer. About as loud as a 22 standard velocity round.

**markm** · 04-01-21, 13:30

Neither. I had a large primer go off in my single stage once. I'm in the habit of whipping the primer arm down onto the press body to clear debris from the cup. Well I did that with a damaged, live primer and bang! Not a big deal. I was really more worried about the vaporized lead in the utility room where my press sits.