Hearing Damage and Home Defense

[j-shot]

I already lost my left ear hearing from shooting my 50cal sniper rifle while I was deployed to Iraq. Also, have constant ringing in the ear on my both ears so it does not bother me if I have to shoot again without any hearing protection in order to stay alive.

Worse is shooting inside the vehicle (5.56 to 7.62) with all windows closed.. it will give you nice headache....

Yikes no thanks! Sorry you had to do that!

[hambam105]

Why would it be so difficult as to ask the BGs to wait a sec so you can put on your hearing protection?

[teflondog]

I've deliberately shot 147gr 9mm in a shoot house with no ear protection. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated. To me, it was slightly louder than lighting firecrackers indoors. My ears rang for an hour and that was it. I was shooting Gold Dots in a full size M&P 9.

[accel]

How do soldiers, police and actors in the movies do without ear protection?

[417atty]

delete

[Che762x39]

I fired a 45 ACP indoors and I don't recall any significant hearing loss.

Now duck hunting is what caused my hearing loss according to the professionals.

[william444]

357 magnum will make your ear drums bleed indoors without hearing protection.

7 walls later, and your neighbors child, and your hearing is going to be the least of your problems.

[Thepug99]

There are some guns that are louder than others. I would stay away from those. I would recommend you setup your home defenses(kick resistant doors , etc) to buy you the time needed to put on eye and ear protection .

[Jimmy's]

I've fired several 9 mm through my duty gun in the courtyard of an apartment complex. My gun, and all of the others, sounded like cap guns.

Adrenalin does funny things to your brain but your ears heard the decibels of those shots loud and clear. Don't be fooled.

[CAGLS]

Muzzle in a pillow. 😉

https://youtu.be/cnMeTlXsXC8

[denpython]

A very legitimate question OP.
You got a few sensible answers.
I appreciated them as well.

[L84CABO]

All of us wear hearing protection when practicing. No one is likely to put on hearing protection in a home defense scenario.

What are you talking about? I have a pair of electronic ear muffs sitting on the nightstand. Takes literally a second to throw them on. If it turns out there isn't time, oh well. But they're there.

[xxINKxx]

Ide rather be deaf then dead.

plus I'm married, so its a win-win situation.

[Blade Gunner]

Ask the BG to wait while you put your ears and eyes on. Deaf and blind in one eye or dead? You decide.

[Lumpia is sarap!®]

Blew my ear drum while scuba diving, it healed in a year.

So you'll be fine. One other option if you're ears are sensitive: pepper spray.