Clubman Shooting Spectacles - British Made!

[zooma]

Over the last few weeks I have been testing the new Clubman Shooting Spectacles that have been designed for use when shooting target pistols.

These "shooting glasses" are just a bit different to all the others that I have seen as they have been recently designed and made in the UK and have been manufactured using the 3D printing process and carbon fibre shafts.

In short they look different, are very adjustable, work really well, are available in a variety of custom colours, and maybe the best bit of all is that they are nothing like as expensive as the Champion and Olympic glasses that I already have - and yet they fit me better and work every bit as well!

When I have bought a set of expensive shooting glasses previously the next expense (and delay in getting them into action) is the necessary trip to my optician to get a special lens made to suit my eyesight and the size of the lens holder that came with the glasses.

A simple fix that works really well with these shooting specs is to take a look through a set of the cheap reading glasses that can be found for sale in most supermarkets (and many other sources) and choose a size that allows you to read the small print at arms length. Make a note of the magnification that works for you ( ie +1.25) and let the Clubman maker know, and this size can be supplied already fitted.

Sound too simple? Well I have a small choice of different power lens here that I have been able to let others try and use and they really do seem to work well - and spare lens can come already mounted in a "lollipop" shaped holder that can be fitted directly into your frames - and at a fraction of the cost of a "proper" lens from your optician.

Of course you still have the option of having your optician make a lens to fit into a spare "lollipop" holder - but everyone who has tested these so far seem to be more than happy with the quality of vision provided by these inexpensive lens that the frame maker can supply.

There is no version of these shooting glasses developed for rifle shooting (yet) but hopefully these will follow as I have already had comments about how easy it would be to make an off-set nose piece and a smaller sized lens to suite the rifle shooters requirements.

A well known local pistol shooter has always shot with a variety of ready made reading glasses ( probably chosen the same way as suggested above) with various treatments to the non aiming eye piece ( masking tape, rubbing the lens with wet and dry paper to make it opaque etc), but when he tested mine he also found the benefit that the optional iris gave as it helped the head to remain in the same position every time.

He has now actually parted with some cash and bought himself a pair - quite an achievement for a life long miser who has made do with his £2.99 special's for years!

[rancidtom]

No use if you have an astigmatism in your shooting eye though.

[Rutty]

No use if you have an astigmatism in your shooting eye though.

I'll 2nd that. It is very important that any astigmatism is corrected by your shooting lens.

Rutty

[Sir_SwampThing]

Who sells these, I cannot find anything on the 'net?
Cheers
Chris

[1066]

No use if you have an astigmatism in your shooting eye though.

I make these shooting specs - I'm quite happy to supply a lens holder to fit your own lens if you have special requirements.

[zooma]

I'll 2nd that. It is very important that any astigmatism is corrected by your shooting lens.

Rutty

Hey Rutty,

Using these shooting spectacles with an astigmatism is no problem at all - just buy the corective lens that you need from your optician (as I suggested) and have it made to fit the lens holder that comes as standard.

These innovative new shooting glasses do not need the "cheap option" lens to make them attractive to use - but if you can make use of them then it does offer a good cost saving and gets you shooting sooner rather than having to wait to get a specialist lens to be made.

It is worth considering that there are a lot of pistol shooters that don't have an astigmatism that needs correction, and if they are like me and just have old tired eyes that no longer focus on the front sight as clearly as they used to be able to do, then the cheaper option of buying these cost effective lens from the same source as the frames is a real bonus.

They work really well for me - and for others that have tested them too!

[zooma]

No use if you have an astigmatism in your shooting eye though.

Yes they are - just get a corrective lens made ( as you would for any other shooting frames) to correct the astigmatism.

[nige346]

These look good & anything that looks good and can reduce the price of items such as shooting glasses is great in my books, I'm sure there are many club shooters and beginners that would appreciate lower cost options, I think someone needs to start thinking about getting their own website set up, Please drop me a pm with prices ect and I will ensure my fellow club members and others I know are aware of these,

[I. J.]

A well known local pistol shooter has always shot with a variety of ready made reading glasses ( probably chosen the same way as suggested above) with various treatments to the non aiming eye piece ( masking tape, rubbing the lens with wet and dry paper to make it opaque etc), but when he tested mine he also found the benefit that the optional iris gave as it helped the head to remain in the same position every time.

He has now actually parted with some cash and bought himself a pair - quite an achievement for a life long miser who has made do with his £2.99 special's for years!

Life long miser? Me? I will have you know only today a tramp came up to me only and said "Gis us a quid for a butty!"
I replied "Lets have a look at it then!" Heart of gold I have.

Tis true I have purchased a pair of these shooting glasses and initial impressions are very good. Just setting them up tonight I managed a 48 ex 50 . This means my latest pair, which I bought only last week for the grand sum of 50p from Oxfam, yes I did haggle, may have to be kept as back up.

[1066]

Sorry chaps - I've now cleared some space in my inbox.

[rancidtom]

Yes they are - just get a corrective lens made ( as you would for any other shooting frames) to correct the astigmatism.

Yes, but using a pair of reading glasses from Tesco or the lens from them won't correct an astigmatism.
If you take a careful look at many of the cheap reading glasses you may find that the lenses are not perfect anyway, you may be lucky that the lens actually has an error that corrects a minor astigmatism, however that's about as likely as a win on the lottery, it's more likely to make things worse.
Having a standard size lens holder and asking an optician to prepare a lens for your prescription is the answer as you mentioned.
I'm not criticising the design or the production of the spec frames, I just wished to draw attention to the fact that those people who do have short (or long) sight problems are more likely than not to have some minor astigmatism as well that will be enough to affect the sight picture.
I have a pair of Varga frames that I have owned for years, I have 2 lens holders, one for rifle and one for pistol. I suppose I should buy another frame for less hassle but I very rarely shoot rifle and pistol at the same event. They didn't cost me a fortune, in the grand scheme of it a whole lot less than a rifle or pistol, some people have spent more on a glove or boots than I have on my frames and lenses.
If you need reading glasses it is worth going to the optician to get properly tested for astigmatism and any other eye problems while you are there, also explain that you wish to use them for target shooting, if your optician is mystified by this try another optician, but they should normally prescribe you a lens that will allow you to focus easily on the front sight element. You can then use the prescription reading glasses with a tape or card blinder to see if it actually does improve your shooting, if it does then buy whatever shooting frames take your fancy either these or more expensive ones and have your optician grind a lens to fit your lens holder.

[zooma]

Life long miser? Me? I will have you know only today a tramp came up to me only and said "Gis us a quid for a butty!"
I replied "Lets have a look at it then!" Heart of gold I have.

Tis true I have purchased a pair of these shooting glasses and initial impressions are very good. Just setting them up tonight I managed a 48 ex 50 . This means my latest pair, which I bought only last week for the grand sum of 50p from Oxfam, yes I did haggle, may have to be kept as back up.

I have to admit - your old green shooing glasses are much better looking, and we will certainly miss seeing you wearing them

Movember will never be the same again!

[mikec4]

A well known local pistol shooter has always shot with a variety of ready made reading glasses ( probably chosen the same way as suggested above) with various treatments to the non aiming eye piece ( masking tape, rubbing the lens with wet and dry paper to make it opaque etc), but when he tested mine he also found the benefit that the optional iris gave as it helped the head to remain in the same position every time.

He has now actually parted with some cash and bought himself a pair - quite an achievement for a life long miser who has made do with his £2.99 special's for years!

He's adamant that he never pays more than £1 for a pair of "shooting glasses" and replaces them at regular intervals. The clubroom is littered with a selection of these items, modified as described with masking tape,
etc.

I'm not sure if any survived last weekend's work party when the range and clubhouse was cleaned to within an inch of its life and many items of (s)crap were removed from the premises.

It will be interesting to see this major investment.....

Got to be better than the Groucho Marx impersonation kit he tried recently

[I. J.]

I get them from Poundland. There’s a clue in the name. 😄

[zooma]

Slap-Stick is still alive and kicking in Lancashire when IJ is around