SunnySlopes
Member
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2011
- Messages
- 1,223
I often see experienced shooters wearing only ear plugs for hearing protection. I usually double up with plugs and muffs, but when I'm shooting in extreme cold, sometimes it's uncomfortable (not being able to wear the type of head covering I might normally wear).
I'm headed to the range next week to break-in a couple of rifles, a CMP Garand w/CMP ammo and an unfired M1A w/factory ammo. The charts usually circulated say 140 dB at an unprotected ear causes instant damage. The M1A is a 308 at 156.2 dB and the Garand is 30-06 at 158.5 dB.
My plugs are rated at 31 dB. My understanding (based on statements made by a THR mod) is that because these figures are logarithmic, I subtract 5 from the 31. The plugs actually only reduce the sound by 26 dB. That reduces the Garand, for example, to 132.5 dB.
Assuming one has the plugs inserted correctly, etc, and assuming one is shooting by himself, exposure to instantaneous sounds at 132.5 dB is safe. Especially since I only fire about 20 rounds per (long) gun when I shoot.
After all, even with the addition of muffs, you only add 5 dB to the total hearing protection anyway.
So what do you think? When firing long guns, are plugs by themselves sufficient? Assuming the shooting is alone, etc?
I'm headed to the range next week to break-in a couple of rifles, a CMP Garand w/CMP ammo and an unfired M1A w/factory ammo. The charts usually circulated say 140 dB at an unprotected ear causes instant damage. The M1A is a 308 at 156.2 dB and the Garand is 30-06 at 158.5 dB.
My plugs are rated at 31 dB. My understanding (based on statements made by a THR mod) is that because these figures are logarithmic, I subtract 5 from the 31. The plugs actually only reduce the sound by 26 dB. That reduces the Garand, for example, to 132.5 dB.
Assuming one has the plugs inserted correctly, etc, and assuming one is shooting by himself, exposure to instantaneous sounds at 132.5 dB is safe. Especially since I only fire about 20 rounds per (long) gun when I shoot.
After all, even with the addition of muffs, you only add 5 dB to the total hearing protection anyway.
So what do you think? When firing long guns, are plugs by themselves sufficient? Assuming the shooting is alone, etc?
