Can your ear get use to gunfire volume?

[jackliu239]

It's possible to get use to the gunfire without wearing ear protection, does your ear build up tolerance to gunfire sound and it won't hurt your ear drum?

Because any high caliber rifle are very loud, I don't imagine soldiers in the fields wear ear plugs. So do they get use to the sound or are they all semi deaf now?

[ojisan]

Yes, your ear gets used to gunfire by not working any more. : (

Some soldiers use plugs in one or both ears, some use none.
Yup, there is a reason most war vets wear hearing aids.

What?

[XYZ]

Hearing loss occurs as a result of exposure to loud sounds over time. If you get to the point that you build up a tolerance, my guess is that you're losing your hearing. As for the soliders in the field, I'm sure someone will chime in with their experience or knowledge. I double-up when shooting, both indoor and outdoor.

[robcoe]

It's possible to get use to the gunfire without wearing ear protection, does your ear build up tolerance to gunfire sound and it won't hurt your ear drum?

Because any high caliber rifle are very loud, I don't imagine soldiers in the fields wear ear plugs. So do they get use to the sound or are they all semi deaf now?

The pain may go away, but the most common word out of your mouth will be WHAT?

[manuelcardenas77]

I thought the question was a joke. Maybe you shouldn't be firing a weapon at all.

[Rogerbutthead]

I remember being told that a lot of Russian WWII artillerymen were made deaf during the war - so that seems to fall in line with the consensus. They had no hearing protection.

[destro360]

I thought the question was a joke. Maybe you shouldn't be firing a weapon at all.

^^this.

[bden]

Your ears get used to loud noises including gunfire in the same way that Steve Young's brain got used to getting sacked by 330 pound linemen.

[CSACANNONEER]

WHAT? SPEAK UP! I CAN'T HERE YOU. MY EARS ARE USED TO THE VOLUME OF GUNFIRE. DAMN IT! I REALLY NEED TO START WEARING HEARING PROTECTION WHEN GO TO 50BMG MATCHES! THEN AGAIN, I DIDN'T WEAR EAR PROTECTION WHEN I WENT TO VAN HALEN CONCERTS EITHER.

[Exile Machine]

wear your ear protection. Foamy Plugs in, Big cans over the top. Still you will get bone conduction. Every loud sound takes its toll. The damage is cumulative. You don't get "use" to it. Get the plugs and cans with the largest decibel noise reduction factor. 34dB reduction is better than 31 which is better than 24 etc.

I don't know what the soldiers are wearing these days. In the old days they just went deaf, those lucky enough to survive.

BTW just a friendly grammar tip, it's "used to" not "use to." I know it doesn't sound that way but trust me that's the way to spell it.

-Mark

[Tacom]

Methinks you should read up on how hearing works

http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/ear/hearing2.htm

[Turbinator]

Even something like a .22lr can be very loud in certain circumstances (indoors, or if you're right next to the muzzle) and can cause hearing damage. It isn't just large calibers.

Turby

[TurboChrisB]

I have permanent and noticeable hearing damage from firing weapons without ear protection. It is real and it does suck. I'm only 47 and first noticed about 10 years ago that if you are talking to me and aren't facing me...I can't hear what you're saying..or in a crowed, noisy club or restaurant? Forget it.

[Rob454]

It's possible to get use to the gunfire without wearing ear protection, does your ear build up tolerance to gunfire sound and it won't hurt your ear drum?

Because any high caliber rifle are very loud, I don't imagine soldiers in the fields wear ear plugs. So do they get use to the sound or are they all semi deaf now?

You dont get used to the sound. your ear gets to the point where it has enough sound assaulting it and the sound itself is what causes the damage to the ear. So eventually you get the ringing ear and cant hear anything.
Your ear does not build up a tolerance. you are damaging the ear with a high enough DB of sound that it feels like you are building up a tolerance where in fact you are losing your hearing

I use hearing protection whenever I do anything like drilling shooting grinding etc. Gunshots are not the only thing that can make you lose your hearing. i have some hearing damage due to job related noises ( commercial construction)

[Mssr. Eleganté]

It's the same with other aspects of shooting as well. If you shoot somebody enough times they will build up a "tolerance" to being shot. After the fifth or sixth round they will just lie there on the ground, like the bullets are having no effect at all. They will stop bleeding eventually too.