Shooting without hearing protection

[Buddhabelly]

Anybody who doesn't wear ear protection while shooting is an idiot.

You call all the soldiers in the world idiots?

What an *****.

[Lugiahua]

Anybody who doesn't wear ear protection while shooting is an idiot.

I heard that some foreign military (e.g. Taiwan) discourage their soldiers to use hearing pro, nor allows electricity pro in training.

[350skylark]

Agreed. I was at American Shooting and I wanted to see what my M4 sounded like "for real" and slipped my muffs off to the side when no one was looking. The next few shots hurt my ears and I'm pretty sure I lost some of my hearing; wear your hearing protection at all times...

Same thing shooting my 1911! i cant imagine a rifle glad i didn't try my experiment with the mosin i really would have been hating it.

I remember who said about not wearing ear plugs it was fpsrussia on you tube and he shoots some big *** powerful rounds. I cant believe people can actually shoot without ear plugs and say it doesn't hurt they must not have sensitive hearing or are already going deaf.

[Aufdrahtsein]

These "Airsoft Earplugs" are some of the best investments I've ever made; I just loop them through the holes of my ESS Eye Prot. so I don't have to worry about losing either of them: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...lePLA:11492937 - they fit a lot better than the standard disposable foam-like form fit ear plugs, and the dense post in them allows you to seat them properly in the ear. I have hearing damage from a medical issue when I was younger, and it makes no sense to lose anymore.

[CGT80]

I shot an AR 9mm rifle once without ear pro, well actually I lasted two rounds, because I followed the advice of the guy that owned the gun. "Oh 9mm from a rifle isn't loud, a pistol is what is bad," is what he told me. BS. Luckily I didn't notice any damage, but it did make my ears ring for a few minutes. I already had tinnitus from having ear infections in high school, but this didn't seem to make it increase. I also don't plan to shoot without ear pro again (even 22lr). I have always had very sensitive ears. Some people are less sensitive.

My tinnitus got a bit worse in one ear from another infection this year. A couple months later I hurt my wrist and had anxiety from that. I worried that I would be unable to work for a while. With the anxiety, I focused more on my tinnitus. My wrist got 95+% better but the tinnitus still bugs me. I have been doing CBT classes to learn to get rid of the anxiety. It has helped a lot. I was habituated (didn't notice it most of the time) to the tinnitus before my infection this year. In the past, even when I did hear it, I knew it was not a threat, and I would ignore it and it didn't bother me much. I would read about others here who had it, and think to myself that I was lucky to not have a bad case of it. Now, I know how some of the people here feel.

For those that have tinnitus or anxiety, there are things you can do to help you cope. General anxiety can often be eliminated by adjusting how you think and respond to what triggers your anxiety. Tinnitus is harder to deal with, but some live with it and are not bothered much by it. Others, like my mom, have periods of time where it bothers them but it is not a constant problem. Sometimes I hardly notice it even when it is quiet, but other times I can hear it over the tv. It bothers me just about every day, but it has less of an effect on my life than it did a few months ago.

Do whatever you can to protect your hearing. I have thought about getting a carry permit, but I would fear having to use my gun. Those that say it is better to be alive and deaf than dead, probably have not dealt with much hearing damage. I think I would still like to have the option to protect myself. I might get lucky and not suffer major damage if I did have to use my gun. Some do, and some don't have lasting damage.

[ClarenceBoddicker]

Millions of Americans engage in proven risky & unhealthy behavior: no seat belt, no motorcycle helmet, DUI, unprotected sex with strangers, "extreme" sports or behavior, tobacco/alcohol/drug use, S.A.D. (Standard American Diet = High; Fat, Salt, Cholesterol, Saturated Fat, Red Meat, Sugar, Processed/Chemicals, Simple Carb, Caffeine & Fast Food. Low; Veggie, Fruit & Complex Carb) along with zero or little exercise, long working hours, etc. Why would it be any different with shooting? Look at all the idiot gun owners who ND themselves or others, sometimes to death. Humans in general are not very smart. Society protects & often rewards stupidity instead of punishing it.

[GW]

Tinnitus is the #1 service-related disability, according to the VA. It's no joke, man. I have some and have to sleep with a fan on at night to drown out some of the high pitched whining.

Yep
I have tinnitus from shooting pistols outdoors without hearing protection. Been ringing for over 45 years now and a fan is the only way I can get to sleep. It sucks big time.
The only time I don't wear hearing protection now is on the hunt. Crazy, I know.

[Simply115]

Not a smart idea.


Sent from The Realms Of The Haunting

[Stewdabaker23]

You call all the soldiers in the world idiots?

What an *****.

I was talking about when your going out to shoot like at a range. It would be stupid for soldiers to wear hearing protection for obvious reasons. Don't talk out your a**.

[Horta]

Aways use hearing protection.

[odysseus]

Are you a depressed person? Why do you often go on these tangent rants on all kinds of threads on Calguns?

Millions of Americans engage in proven risky & unhealthy behavior: no seat belt, no motorcycle helmet, DUI, unprotected sex with strangers, "extreme" sports or behavior, tobacco/alcohol/drug use, S.A.D. (Standard American Diet = High; Fat, Salt, Cholesterol, Saturated Fat, Red Meat, Sugar, Processed/Chemicals, Simple Carb, Caffeine & Fast Food. Low; Veggie, Fruit & Complex Carb) along with zero or little exercise, long working hours, etc. Why would it be any different with shooting? Look at all the idiot gun owners who ND themselves or others, sometimes to death. Humans in general are not very smart. Society protects & often rewards stupidity instead of punishing it.

[ClarenceBoddicker]

Are you a depressed person? Why do you often go on these tangent rants on all kinds of threads on Calguns?

Not at all, did I strike a nerve? OP was asking why some people are stupid enough to shoot without hearing protection. Just giving him some other examples of self destructive behavior many people do even though they know is bad for them. It shows an often followed pattern. Many people (mostly guys) don't like to be told or forced to do stuff they don't like or believe in, or give up bad habits just because it's better for their health. When I was young & shooting with buddies, it was considered very wimpy to wear hearing or eye protection. Same thing with wearing seat belts etc. etc.

[odysseus]

Yes, the nerve that thinks you go off the reservation, not unlike in this example, where you rant off about everything for really no reason and context.

Not at all, did I strike a nerve?

[FNH5-7]

AR's aren't as bad without ear plugs, 9mm's aren't either, 12 gauge shotguns are also tolerable.

Now .357's, now those ****en hurt.

[bdubz]

Never even thought about it being a problem for vets.