Ear Plugs

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Ty7940

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Ok I shot an AR-15 Awhile back and ever since then I have used earplugs. (It was after this past hunting season...around Jan. 2009) because I couldn't hear worth crap for 3 days after 15 shots off of it. Well, Since I've began using earplugs I've found that I'm a MUCH Better shot. Way more accurate and all on targets such as pepsi cans and such with the ol' .30-06. Now, would it be a good idea to use em' before a hunt? I would think that if I put em' in BEFORE I left, I wouldn't be able to hear the deer coming. But if I put them in AFTER I hear/see the deer, they may see the movement of my orange (why such an obvious color) ear plugs and run off. So what should I do? Do yall think it would make THAT much of a difference if I put em' in before hunting? Or should I just balls it out and deal with the fact that I'm a less accurate shot without em' and try to improve that?
 
If you think an AR-15 is loud, try a 460 S&W Magnum with a brake.

I use ear protection even when hunting. There are several ways to approach it:

1. Wear an ear plug in one ear (the left if your're shooting right handed). This isn't the best approach.

2. Wear an ear plug in both ears.

3. Wear ear muffs. This will give better protection than plugs. You can use the electronic ones that amplify sound and then turn off when you shoot but my ears tell me they don't turn off quite soon enough. You can also wear them in addition to ear plugs which gives even more protection.

4. Get some quality custom made to fit your ear, electronic hearing protectors like those sold by E.A.R., Inc. I think this is the handiest and best approach for hearing protection while hunting. You can hear you friends talk (actually, you can hear better than usual) and you can wear them comfortably all day. Unfortunately this is the most expensive option but worth it if you want to be able to hear your grandchildren talk some day.

Back when I started shooting there was no emphasis on wearing hearing protection while shooting. Real men shot with no hearing protection. In my opinion, the "ball it out" attitude is one to be discouraged since exposure to gunfire WILL damage your ears if you shoot without protection.
 
plugs and electronic muffs for handgun hunting. electronic muffs for rifle hunting. get rechargiable batteries for the muffs.
 
I find that when hunting, unless you are using the AR, my mauser and long mosin don't make enough noise to tickle my hearing.

An AR15, with that short barrel and little girly whiny noise it makes when it reports, yeah, ear plugs are a must.
 
if you value your hearing always use plugs or muffs.

Get a good pair of electronic ones and you will be pleased
 
Well yeah but see as I said I'm a better shot with em in. I got a Remington Woodsmaster 742 in .30-06 that I hunt with and as it's a carbine the thing is loud and I flinch. Kick does NOT bother me at all....just the noise and I dont get that cause I love loud music and such Ah well, thank you for all the suggestions fellas.
 
i wear muffs when hunting

what with the whining of the small 2 leggeds for their Captain Crunch, the squeal of the hunting carts as they jockey for position at the Ready Foods area and the cry of my dollar being squeezed--my ears need protection. happy though am i that the soft moans from the Charmine's being squeezed is still audible.
 
I have had constant ringing in my ears since december when i killed my last deer. I am only 22 yrs old so this scares me. I never wore ear plugs while shooting until about 2 years ago. now i have permanent damage called tinitus from what i have read.

I also have been trying to figure out a way to protect my hearing while hunting, without sacrificing the ability to hear while hunting (earplugs). I am looking into the walker game ears, the local outdoor store owner swears by them.
 
I second the howard leight electronic muffs. Not good enough for the range, but plenty for a shot or two hunting.

And yes, my shooting also improves. I literally can't get off a useful follow-up shot without hearing protection.
 
My hearing is still pretty good, lucky, because I've shot hundreds of rds. from 12ga. 30-06, 22-250...all this as a teenager, I'm 47 now an wear earplugs for target shooting but not for hunting....but have a idea. We have safety earplugs at work, they have a string attached so they hang around your neck when out. How about these? You could have them right there ready to put in, if time allowed, without alot of movement into your pockets trying to get them. Just reach up an slip them in, an wait for the shot....I think I'm going to start putting this into practice...
 
I wear ear plugs

and I also wear electronic muffs.

With the muffs one can hear considerably better than natural alone. however, once the shot is fired, the muffs turn off and the muffs and plugs are there for one's protection.

I think the combo is the best way: enhanced hearing as well as double protection.
 
My hearing is still pretty good, lucky, because I've shot hundreds of rds. from 12ga. 30-06, 22-250...all this as a teenager, I'm 47 now an wear earplugs for target shooting but not for hunting....but have a idea. We have safety earplugs at work, they have a string attached so they hang around your neck when out. How about these? You could have them right there ready to put in, if time allowed, without alot of movement into your pockets trying to get them. Just reach up an slip them in, an wait for the shot....I think I'm going to start putting this into practice...

Thankfully mine is too...I too have shot lord only knows how many rounds from the 12 ga, .30-06, or .30-30 but the main reason Im so concerned is...as I said earlier. Im a much better shot
 
Wear some type hearing protection!!

Ty, if you are going to shoot a .223 Rem by all means muffs. You can get a cheap set of muffs for about $20 bucks. If you go this way add a set of foam plugs. Heck I wear Howard Leight Electronic Muffs and foam plugs at the range. Hunting EarProTM by SureFire Sonic Defenders work pretty well.

DO NOT TRY TO TUFF IT OUT!!! Damage to your hearing is cumlative. You lose a little here and a little there and first thing you know it 30 to 40 years later and you can't hear a train coming.

The ringing in my ears very bad today more so than normal. But 40 years ago I spent 12 months shooting a M16 just about every day with no hearing protection.

SO WEAR SOME TYPE HEARING PROTECTION!!
 
hearing loss is like a supersonic jet.
you only notice it happened way after its all over.

If you look around, there are ear plugs that are rubber and multi-layered you can just shove into your ear in a second,
no rolling or squishing.
EarPlug%20EAR%20Rubber.jpg
 
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