Someone breaks into your house
- Thread starter boo17
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Some folks keep a set of electronic muffs near their "nightstand gun". They do serve to amplify soft noises as well as reduce the decibels from gun fire, so they could give one a tactical edge. Always nice to see/hear the bad guy before he sees/hears you.
No way. I wouldn't want my hearing (or any other sense) diminished at all if I'm in a danger situation. I also wouldn't want to be digging for earmuffs, wasting precious time, while someone breaking into my house, rather, apartment. Even those electronic earmuffs, they may amplify noise if you have time, but my front door is only about 30 feet from my bed. I'd barely have enough time to pick up the gun and pull the trigger, let alone fumble with anything else.
I am dubious...
about using electronic muffs in this situation, while they are usually the only ones I wear at the range. They will enhance your hearing fer shur, but it will not be "normal". You are used to hearing things around your house and are able to subconciously identify noises and estimate range and location. The muffs can distort this and possibly make assessment difficult.
While I would never shoot without protection in training, I believe that in the gunfight scenario the hearing health issue takes a back seat to fully enabled senses. I am unaware of studies demonstrating permanent damage from a typical domestic gunfight (except for the obvious sucking chest wounds and the like), so I would'nt be overly concerned.
Many people involved in gunfights decribe a change in the perception of sound, especially gunfire, so much so that is has been labled "auditory exclusion". Typically gunshots are reported to be unusually quiet, sometimes causing the shooter to think they have had a malfunction. Hunters identify the same phenomenon.
If you get the opportunity, ask a SEAL or a Marine Force Recon or FAST (if they still exist) fighter what it sounds like to pop off a couple rounds from a short M4 in the compartment or corridor of a ship. I'll take it on faith that it is a touch annoying
And finally a thanks to Massad Ayoob for yet another concept that really does'nt mean much.
about using electronic muffs in this situation, while they are usually the only ones I wear at the range. They will enhance your hearing fer shur, but it will not be "normal". You are used to hearing things around your house and are able to subconciously identify noises and estimate range and location. The muffs can distort this and possibly make assessment difficult.
While I would never shoot without protection in training, I believe that in the gunfight scenario the hearing health issue takes a back seat to fully enabled senses. I am unaware of studies demonstrating permanent damage from a typical domestic gunfight (except for the obvious sucking chest wounds and the like), so I would'nt be overly concerned.
Many people involved in gunfights decribe a change in the perception of sound, especially gunfire, so much so that is has been labled "auditory exclusion". Typically gunshots are reported to be unusually quiet, sometimes causing the shooter to think they have had a malfunction. Hunters identify the same phenomenon.
If you get the opportunity, ask a SEAL or a Marine Force Recon or FAST (if they still exist) fighter what it sounds like to pop off a couple rounds from a short M4 in the compartment or corridor of a ship. I'll take it on faith that it is a touch annoying
And finally a thanks to Massad Ayoob for yet another concept that really does'nt mean much.
Lennyjoe
Member
I wouldnt worry about hearing protection.
My priority would be getting my kids and wife back to the bedroom and in a defensive position while I move forward.
When I say move forward I dont mean from room to room, just up the hallway to another preselected defensive position.
Wife calls 911 and gets the kids out of the house. She has a 9mm at her side. Kids go out the window and over to the neighbors and she follows.
She knows that 3 clicks of the fingers is the sign for her to start bailing out of the house.
My priority would be getting my kids and wife back to the bedroom and in a defensive position while I move forward.
When I say move forward I dont mean from room to room, just up the hallway to another preselected defensive position.
Wife calls 911 and gets the kids out of the house. She has a 9mm at her side. Kids go out the window and over to the neighbors and she follows.
She knows that 3 clicks of the fingers is the sign for her to start bailing out of the house.
WonderNine
member
I keep some earplugs on the nightstand. I don't wanna be dead or deaf.
reagansquad
Member
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Naw... It's usually the dog anyway. Can 3 or 4 rounds really do enough permanant damage to make this worth it?
Ex-MA Hole
Member
Temporary hearing loss vs Wife, Child (the one on the way), or my life/ rape/ beating. Hell, I'd even take the chance of permanent hearing loss to protect my family.
M
M
joab
Member
Yes
I have posted this story bfore, so I'll give the short version.
About 5 years ago I was at my mother's property and decided on the spur of the moment to test fire a .45 I had just bought.
I went outside and fired one round, when I did the percussion echoed off the wall of the equipment shed I was standing about 10 ft from
It felt like someone slapped me across the ear and I felt a ripping sensation in my ear and have had a unbareably irritating ringing in my ears since then.
Now imagine being in a hallway surrounded by walls.
If I have time to grab some ear protection without comprmising my position or advantage I would. If not I'm learning to live with deafness I don't think I could learn to live with deadness
standingbear
Member
chances are good..you wont even hear or notice it because youll be focused on your immediate sitation rather than the loud gun.
gunsmith
member
if I had time
I would put the muffs on
I would put the muffs on
Carlos Cabeza
Member
If you felt truly threatened and had to shoot a baddie that was intent on harming you and your family you wouldn't hear the massive BOOM BOOM of gunfire, but you might say "HUH??" alot to the police afterwards when they take your report. (hopefully) I also speak for myself and haven't had to shoot a BG yet. My experience with the "auditory exclusion" phenomenon is when I shot a large buck deer (My biggest) and the only thing that made me realize I had taken the shot was the recoil and follow up. (and the slumped over deer). Some of you guys would actually put in your earplugs ????????
Not only should you put on your ear muffs, but also your shooting glasses. Then you don your "THR" cap and shooting jacket, clean and polish your pistol, carefully check your ammunition, and determine if you have the right recoil spring for the ammunition you are using.
If all is well, and you have nothing better to do, you might consider shooting the SOB.
You guys are kidding, right?
Jim
If all is well, and you have nothing better to do, you might consider shooting the SOB.
You guys are kidding, right?
Jim
Ivy Mike
Member
If there was any type of sensory protection I'd want, it would be in the form of a flash hider. A ring in the ears, I can work through, being blinded by my own muzzle blast would not be cool. Actually, if I had my way, I'd just get a nice supressor for the FN and not worry about any of it.
Unfortuneatly, those are expensive, hard to get (red tape context) and non-existant for my gun, so that rules that out.
Just grit your teeth and put two in center mass.
Unfortuneatly, those are expensive, hard to get (red tape context) and non-existant for my gun, so that rules that out.
Just grit your teeth and put two in center mass.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Nope. If some lowlife breaks into my house, my first, last, and only concern is to stop the invasion right this instant.
I've lost a great deal of my hearing over the years. I can lose a little more and/or put up with ringing in my ears a lot more easily than dying.
I've lost a great deal of my hearing over the years. I can lose a little more and/or put up with ringing in my ears a lot more easily than dying.
nemesis
Member
You probably won't hear the sound or it will be severely attenuated.
Preacherman
Member
I keep a set of electronic ear muffs with my gun. If I have time, I'll grab them and put them on before investigating a noise: if I don't have time, well, that's OK too. They offer a significant advantage in searching a house or my immediate surroundings, as they amplify normal noises and make it easier to hear them. I've learned this the hard way doing the Terminator at Thunder Ranch: with the muffs on "High" setting, one can hear one's opponent(s) shuffling, coughing, even breathing, long before one can see them. Definitely an advantage under some circumstances.
First of all, ONE shot indoors can cause PERMANENT DAMAGE.
Second, although you may not HEAR the shot, the auditory exclusion is happening in the BRAIN. Your ears will still take a beating.
Ok, I have a set of electronic muffs within reach of my nightstand gun.
Will I use them if someone kicks in the door? Not a chance.
Will I use them if I hear something suspicious and go to check it out? Well, so far I've forgotten to so the answer is "Probably not."
But I MIGHT remember one night and that MIGHT be the night that I have to crank one off. So they're handy--but that doesn't mean I HAVE to use them.
If you reach for muffs when things are definitely in a SHTF situation you will probably die with them in your hands.
BTW, if you get a good pair of electronic muffs they will NOT distort the sound and they will have binaural amplification which will not affect your ability to direction find using the sound. They can amplify considerably which is an advantage in some situations, but you can set the amplification level to whatever you want. Normal, for example.
Second, although you may not HEAR the shot, the auditory exclusion is happening in the BRAIN. Your ears will still take a beating.
Ok, I have a set of electronic muffs within reach of my nightstand gun.
Will I use them if someone kicks in the door? Not a chance.
Will I use them if I hear something suspicious and go to check it out? Well, so far I've forgotten to so the answer is "Probably not."
But I MIGHT remember one night and that MIGHT be the night that I have to crank one off. So they're handy--but that doesn't mean I HAVE to use them.
If you reach for muffs when things are definitely in a SHTF situation you will probably die with them in your hands.
BTW, if you get a good pair of electronic muffs they will NOT distort the sound and they will have binaural amplification which will not affect your ability to direction find using the sound. They can amplify considerably which is an advantage in some situations, but you can set the amplification level to whatever you want. Normal, for example.
Beren
Moderator Emeritus
I really hope to own a suppressed .45 someday for just this reason, but until then, I guess I can always get used to a hearing aid.
threeseven
Member
At the moment the closest thing I have to a 'home-defence gun' is a .303 calibre Lee Enfield No. 1 MkIII, so if I ever have to fire that inside my house the ambulance will probably have two casualties to pick up.
Even if I miss.
Even if I miss.
joab
Member
The only problem is that hearing aids do not help tinitus , they actually increase the ringing unless you get the one that whooshes in your ear all day and night to mask the sound of the endless cricket.
I have not been in a quiet room for 5 years now. I will never know the sound of silence again. Many people have comitted suicide with this problem. My option at this point is to have the nerve deadened which will make me totally deaf
If I have a decent chance to grab something that will prevent it from getting worse I will, as long as it does not lessen my chance of surviving the ordeal in the first place.
I have heard that theory but I just don't buy it. Mt opinion comes from many family members who are combat veterans and some in LE.
I can't confirm but I have been told that it is better to open your mouth, to equilize pressure or something
Ryder
Member
I reserve my earplugs for practice shooting. If you're shooting in an area with carpet and furniture it will absorb a lot of the noise and sound muffled. Cartridge selection is a factor though. A low pressure round like the 45acp makes a big difference.
Daedalus
Member
Maybe it is just me, but couldn't donning ear protection be used as evidence you were planning on discharging a firearm and harm you in the courtroom?
Some prosecutor might argue "While this poor unarmed man was driven to petty theft and sought only cash to feed his poor family, this killer grabbed his gun, took the time to put on ear protection, and set out to take a life" or some other nonsense
Some prosecutor might argue "While this poor unarmed man was driven to petty theft and sought only cash to feed his poor family, this killer grabbed his gun, took the time to put on ear protection, and set out to take a life" or some other nonsense
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