Hearing protection

[Romprunner]

So i was shooting this weekend with my girlfriend and some buddys.

i only had one set of earplugs left and naturally i let me girlfriend use them instead of my self. Normally im shooting a .22 so i didnt think it would be a big deal.

my buddy brought his ar-15 and wanted me to shoot it.
This is the part where i had a major brain fart. i shot off all10 rounds with his rifle.

now it is day three and my left ear sounds like someones blowing a dog whistle in it.
its very sensitive and it feels like its only working about 30%


Has anyone pulled a dumb move like this and had this happen?

This was my first and last time shooting without ear protection and im just wondering if this is a permanent thing or if it will go away.


Thanks for anyone with some input.

(And i know it was a dumb move so no ned to rub it in)

[11b_vet]

i never used ear plugs at the ranges when i was in the army.

your ear problem should go away. but if it persists probably go see a dr.

not much help here, sorry.

[Romprunner]

thanks for the input.

my buddy's a corpsman, he said the same thing. but there are some rare instances where it could cause permanent damage.


fingers are crossed.

[11b_vet]

yeah i wont do it any more. Now that i shoot with my wife she wont let me shoot without ear pro.

[H3llpl3ss]

Some smaller casings fit into the ear just fine and can be used for hearing protection. Ask Gunny Sgt R. Lee Ermey

[Ubermcoupe]

I have many of the disposable ones from work. Throw several in the range bag for instances like that.
No reason to shoot without ears. Damage will occur, if you don't take care of your ears now, you're going to be that old guy:

"What's that sonny??? HUH? WHAT???"

[morfeeis]

went shooting with the family and had a huge brain fart, as my dad was shooting his 30.06 i went to scratch my ear. Now take in mind he is about 3 feet to my left and all i hear is BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! AND THEN FOR THE NEXT 2 HOURS THIS DAM RINGING JUST WONT GO AWAY IN MY LEFT EAR. O'man was i happy when i could stop saying "what?".

[stix213]

I fill up a tennis ball can with them from the hardware store and just throw them in the tub that goes to the range.

You could have gotten minor hearing damage, hopefully its minor or none.

[Fastattack]

Lesson: Always have extra ear protection available for guests. My hearing is down 20dB across the spectrum, probably because of rock & roll and jet engines (with a smatering of guns), but it is permanent. If I were you I'd get it checked out if it doesn't go away.

[ilikeguns]

I once shot a GLock 22 at an indoor range with my earplugs out. Shot about 200 rounds and couldn't hear for about a day and a half. It goes away but I'm sure there is some damage. Like you said, military guys do it... probably gonna be fine.
I should note that I brought them and they were in my ears, but not pushed in. I forgot and simply thought that it sounded loud indoors.

[HKMadness]

There is almost certainly hearing damage after 10 rds of 223 with no ears. Hopefully, its not too much, but it is irreversible, unfortunately.

The pain must suck.

[HKMadness]

And theres no such thing as "getting used to it". What this really means is your hearing has been damaged to the point where its not painful, but damage still occurs

[Merc1138]

I fill up a tennis ball can with them from the hardware store and just throw them in the tub that goes to the range.

You could have gotten minor hearing damage, hopefully its minor or none.

Exactly. I always have a package of cheap earplugs from the hardware store in my range bag. Normally I have my howard leights and surefire plugs, but I always have backup cheapo earplugs for myself or guests. Heck, I keep extra eye protection in my bag too.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202080167/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

$15 for a pack of 80. Take a small sandwich bag and toss a few in. They're dirt cheap so there's no reason not to have spares.

[Ubermcoupe]

I think I have a 1000 box of howard leights disposables from work, keep some (and extra eyes) in the range bag JUST for guests. Range trips are sometimes drop of a hat and I grab and go, without thinking about my wife's/guests/friends ears...

[Fiiyablade]

shot my ar with kac triple tap break without ear protection once and will never do it again lol .40 cal pistol wasn't that bad