Shooting without hearing protection

[voiceofreason]

Outdoors, being around rifle fire with electronic muffs is fine for me.

I wear plugs or Surefire Earpros when actually shooting rifles myself.

I use electronic muffs only when shooting handguns outdoors.

double up anytime I'm shooting indoors.

[Pelicandriver]

Once in a great while I'll forget to put the muffs on OVER the plugs. But have always used eyes and ears. Usually plugs under muffs. I finally got some Howard Leight amplified muffs so that I could hear the range commands.

These would work well in the field for hunting...

http://www.amazon.com/PELTOR-COMBAT-RANGE-EAREAR-PEL97079/dp/B004D9W3GI/ref=sr_1_69?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1316878111&sr=1-69

I inadvertently shot a .40 with just these in combat mode and they cut off the noise quite well.

Unfortunately, even with diligent attention to hearing protection, 3500 hours flying noisy helicopters (I know, redundant term) has left some hearing loss.

[okglockman]

I have a pair of $125 custom hearing protection that allows you to hear regular speech, but filters out the loud noise of firearms, explosions, etc. I wear them if I'm at the range and shooting a lot. When I go hunting, I sadly do not wear any hearing protection. Most of the time..I can't even remember hearing the shot because I'm so focused on the animal that is about to drop in it's tracks.

[Rhythm of Life]

You're scaring me!

The .22 hasn't hurt my ears from the very first time I shot it.

What is wrong with me

Same...

But I know I have bad ears. Had surgery on em when I was young.

[dadoody]

I always use hearing protection when firing high caliber rifles, or any handgun, but never do when I fire .22's

Occasionally when me and my brothers go shooting we will shoot the first round off with no hearing protection (usually a .380). I don't know why, it always just happens.

is this REALLY stupid? ringing usually only lasts about 2 minutes.

What do you think?

My uncle was telling me .22 is high pitched and can still damage your hearing.

Its one of them things you need to take seriously when old folks tell you that you will suffer for it later.

[mauser98k]

i've only done it once while on BLM shooting land...with a 98k. wanted to get the full experience of the rifle. you know, see what the soldiers would have heard. couldn't hear anything after the first shot.

[Ubermcoupe]

Eyes and Ears every time. I have, unfortunately, worked in a profession where loud noises and ear protection weren't conducive to each other. I am glad I am out of that business.

[USMC 82-86]

Not a good idea. I did a lot of bird hunting growing up and as a young adult without proper use of hearing protection and I notice a difference today.

[GoingQuiet]

I always use hearing protection when firing high caliber rifles, or any handgun, but never do when I fire .22's

Occasionally when me and my brothers go shooting we will shoot the first round off with no hearing protection (usually a .380). I don't know why, it always just happens.

is this REALLY stupid? ringing usually only lasts about 2 minutes.

What do you think?

My uncle was telling me .22 is high pitched and can still damage your hearing.

It is REALLY stupid. Permanent hearing damage is exactly that. Even with rimfire.

[jcaoloveshine]

I was adjusting my muffs at an indoor range and a 357 magnum went off right next to my left ear as I was opening the muff.

I sometimes hear faint ringing (sounds like crickets from far away) when it's dead quiet, and that's just from that one round.

I've shot a 22 subsonic without hearing protection and it was loud but not painful.

I would not shoot any other round without hearing protection.

[TheExpertish]

I just don't see the risk being worth it. Even outside with my .22.

[socalocalypse]

Hah yeah I learned my lesson about adjusting muffs at the range!

Back in the day I didn't know anybody that wore ears an eyes for about anything. I worked in the oilfield an caught grief for using them.

I wish Id been smarter about loud engines and guns.

I've had tinnitus forever, and you do NOT want it. It routinely drives people to insanity and suicide, so I've read and unfortunately observed.

For those who don't know its that ringing in the ears that you get after a gun shot or loud concert.

Its actually not well understood, lately some scientists think its cause is located in the brain. Conventional wisdom is its caused by cilia (hairs)in your ears being damaged and dying.

My ears used to hurt, and on suggestin of a doctor I went to a accupuncturist and ill be darned if that didn't help.

Luckily most of the time I don't notice it. I've also been kept up for days by the ringing which was not fun. Having a background noise like a fan masks it for me.

Its funny, you can have it and not realize cuz its so gradual. If I'M someplace quiet like a forrest I hear it loudest.

Sorry to rattle on, I'm a nag about it to my hotrod friends cuz it can and does ruin lives, but you don't hear about it.

I hear when you go stone deaf you still have the ringing.

My fingers are crossed that sooner than later some scientist like thoseaussies with ulcers will figure out the cause and find a cure.



Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk

[UBFRAGD]

About three years ago, I was driving back from a full day of slinging lead to the best of my abilities, multiple calibers. Mostly earplugged, occasionally doubled-up, and every now and then, I'd run a long-barreled shotgun or auto-pistol without ears. Everything seemed good. Tough guy.

Imagine my horror when I was driving home hours later, doing 70mph with the windows open and the dog barking and the hate-filled am rhetoric at full blast and I couldn't hear a dang thing. Nothing. No wind noise, no engine noise, no dog noise......whoa. It took a few minutes to come to some kind of calm. It took a lot longer and a ton of yawning too before my ears were a useful input.

Well, I only like big and loud so it's no surprise. Like bweise, in the last couple months, I would prefer to converse so I could see the face. Realizing that and coming to grips with it as a recognition of hearing damage was a little painful.

Now on to brain damage!! It is Saturday night.....

[calilivin]

Do our troops have any kind of ear protection while patrolling or do they just bare it when the sh!@ goes down?