22lr with no ear protection

[oilcanhenry]

I have done it for decades and ears are still 100%. My doc says I just lucked out and am not affected. I would suggest anyone use protection. It is a very simple equation. Don't and you could lose hearing. Do and you know you are safe. Seems simple.

I agree, Shooting an 18" .22 LR Rifle doesn't ring my ears at all, but a .22 LR pistol will. That's my cut off point, but I rarely shoot that old handgun anyhow.

Lots of vets have come back from war with little hearing loss, and others do have it. I knew a Navy jet aircraft flight-deck signaler who, even WITH earmuffs still had a bad loss of hearing. I guess it all just depends on many factors.

[GunnyUSMC]

My ears ring 24/7 also. I have been shooting guns since I was 11yo. When I started I didn't wear ear protection. At the age of 18 I entered the Marine Corps with a slight hearing loss. Now I have ringing, can't understand kids, if someone is not looking at me when they are talking, I have a hard time understanding if there is any background noise.
My hearing loss started with shooting 22s. Grenades, artillery, gun fire and a few other nasty things along the way added to the loss I have today.
Always wear hearing protection. Anything you can save is worth it in the long run.

[BillSmithers]

how bad it is? been shootin and dont see side effects as of yet

ruger 10/22 is the rifle

I'm 67 and have tinnitus. I always plug and muff even for .22.

You DO NOT EVER want to have tinnitus.

[BillSmithers]

Yea I was going to say that too. For ear protection, you want to look at how much decibel reduction they are rated for. The little cheap foam plugs actually have a much better decibel reduction rating than any ear muffs on the market. If you really want to reduce the noise, put in plugs and muffs.

I talked to a Harrier pilot at an air show who said he had plugs on inside his helmet and still lost 40% of his hearing. Something about those stabilizing nozzles on the ends of the wings gave off the worst high pitch whine that pierced all hearing protection. Also he said the canopy was not sealed and whole cockpit didn't block out any sound.

No ear plugs are as good as good muffs such as these -

http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Black-Professional-Earmuff-90561-4DC/202670479

Best to use both.

[cmichini]

If you don't want to use ear pro:

Sub-sonic ammo with a suppressor. We had one out during a fundraising shoot I RSO'd at a couple of weeks ago and all you really heard was the hammer drop and the steel plate ring.

[5.56]

What? Huh?

[normanbaker]

I use both earplug and ear muffs when hunting cause I don't want to get in trouble with my ears like some guys here

[MaHoTex]

It is very bad. Hearing loss is cumulative, insidious, and irreversible. Don't do it. For the love of God don't shoot without hearing protection.

Huh? What?

Take it from me. I have 50% hearing loss and tinnitus from shooting, loud stereo, concerts, and flying planes. I had a heck of a time, but I pay for it every minute of every day and regret it now.

[trentb]

What? Huh?

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[b.thomas]

I'm 71 and do have hearing loss even if it's minimal!
I spent most of my work life around loud noise and a good part of it was from shooting guns/playing drums in high school.
It don't happen all at once.................it builds up over a period of time and it will not come back! So save your hearing..........use hearing protection.

[oilcanhenry]

I use both earplug and ear muffs when hunting cause I don't want to get in trouble with my ears like some guys here

.38 spec or .357 mag cartridges will fill in for ear protection if you forgot it. Fits in the ear pretty good.

[amishfarmer]

WHAT? I CANT HEAR WHAT YOUR TYPING!!!!

lol

The only time I don't wear ear pro is when I'm hunting not good I know but I"m going to get some of those that block out shotgun noise but not ambient. I mostly Dove hunt and it helps greatly to hear them coo.
I also work around heavy cargo aircraft my whole adult life. Loud engines and APUs will take a toll on your hearing. I usuallly wore Earplugs which I just learned are more adapt at hear conservation then earmuffs.
Take it for what it' worth.
I want to be able to hear my children and hopefully my grandchildrens voicese when I'm old

[geoint]

With regards to plinking.... If I'm plinking/training I'll wear ear pro. If I'm hunting rabbits, squirrels or whatever I won't since I won't be taking many shots and I'll risk 2 or 3 shots without ear pro to avoid having the discomfort hat inevitably comes with ear pro.

But now that I have kids idk. May end up wearing ear pro even when hunting small critters just to help them reinforce the habit

[spencerk]

I'm only 25 and have "the ring"... And it's from plinking with .22's and .17home without ear pro. I didn't even do it for that long before I started to notice what what beginning to happen. Started when I was 21 and I'm now 25 and it's not going to get any better. I loose sleep sometimes...

Trust me. You do NOT want to risk it.

[duckman1]

The beauty of hearing loss is that by the time you notice it it's gone and there is no going back.