The injury shown in these photographs was not staged. It happened while a revolver was being tested—and it demonstrates just how quickly an ordinary trip to the range can produce an unexpected hazard.
A member of the Triumph Sporting Arms team was standing approximately one yard behind and to the right of the shooter while a revolver chambered in .327 Federal Magnum was being fired.
Then something struck him. He described the sensation as simply:
“Something bit me.”
A small metal fragment struck the area between his nose and eye, leaving a cut along the side of his nose. The recovered fragment appears to be a small piece of bullet-jacket material, although its precise source has not been independently confirmed.
Although the injury was relatively minor, its location was not!
Had the fragment traveled approximately three-quarters of an inch higher, the result could have involved the eye.
The recovered object is tiny. That does not make it harmless.
Small particles can travel at considerable speed when a firearm is discharged. Their size may make them difficult—or impossible—to see before they strike.
Revolvers present a particular consideration because there is a small space between the front of the cylinder and the rear of the barrel. When the revolver fires, hot gas and particles may escape laterally through this cylinder gap.
Firearm manufacturers specifically warn that lead particles, powder grains, lubricant and hot gases can be projected from the sides of a revolver at high speed. They instruct shooters and bystanders to remain clear of the sides of the cylinder and to wear appropriate eye protection.
This does not necessarily mean the revolver was defective, nor does it establish whether the fragment originated from the bullet, ammunition, firearm or another surface. That determination would require examination of the firearm, ammunition and recovered material by a qualified professional.
It does mean that the hazard was real.
The fragment struck exposed skin near the eye. Therefore, it would not be accurate to claim that the glasses stopped this particular fragment.
The lesson is still unmistakable.
The person was wearing Magpul shooting glasses that provided substantially more coverage and impact protection than ordinary prescription glasses, casual sunglasses or no eyewear at all. Had the fragment followed a slightly different path, the protective eyewear could have been the only barrier between a flying piece of metal and the eye.
That is precisely why protective equipment is worn before something goes wrong—not afterward.
Dark lenses do not automatically provide impact protection.
When selecting shooting glasses, look for eyewear that has been tested and marked for impact resistance. The designation commonly recommended for high-impact safety eyewear is ANSI Z87+. Some purpose-built ballistic eyewear also meets military high-velocity impact standards, such as MIL-PRF-32432.
Magpul states that certain models in its eyewear line carry ANSI Z87+ and MIL-PRF-32432 high-velocity impact ratings. The exact model and markings on the glasses shown here should be confirmed before identifying their specific certification in the published article.
Protective eyewear should also provide good coverage around the sides of the eyes. OSHA’s eye-protection requirements recognize that side protection is important whenever flying objects are a hazard.
For range use, consider the following:
Fit matters as much as the label. Protective eyewear that sits too far from the face, slides down the nose or leaves large gaps may provide less protection than intended. OSHA’s protective-equipment guidance similarly emphasizes selecting equipment that fits properly and remains in position.
The injured person was not firing the revolver. He was standing behind and to the side of the shooter.
That is an important part of this story.
Eye protection is not only for the person pulling the trigger. Everyone on or near the firing line should wear it, including:
When a revolver is being fired, no one should stand alongside the cylinder or forward of the shooter. Hands, fingers and other body parts must also remain clear of the cylinder gap.
Protective eyewear does not replace safe positioning. Safe positioning does not replace protective eyewear. Both are necessary.
When a firearm produces an unexpected fragment, unusual discharge, abnormal sound or other questionable event, firing should stop.
The firearm should be safely unloaded and removed from service until it can be examined. The ammunition, fired cases and recovered fragment should be retained when possible because they may help a qualified gunsmith, ammunition manufacturer or firearm manufacturer determine what occurred.
Any injury near the eye should also be taken seriously and evaluated appropriately. A person should not assume that an injury is superficial simply because vision initially appears normal.
Safety glasses cannot prevent every possible injury. No item of protective equipment can compensate for unsafe firearm handling, poor range positioning or a firearm that requires inspection. Protective equipment exists to reduce the consequences when something unforeseen happens.
In this case, the difference between a cut on the side of the nose and a potentially serious eye injury may have been measured in fractions of an inch. That is too close to leave to chance.
Wear properly rated eye protection every time you shoot. Require it for everyone accompanying you. Make sure it fits properly, provides adequate coverage and is designed to withstand impact—not merely sunlight.
For more information on this or any other subject regarding firearms and firearms safety, please call us at (972) 951-1077, visit us at www.triumphguns.com or better yet, stop by! We’re located at 2250 Morriss Rd. #208, Flower Mound, TX 75028.
