Ear/eye protection

[Dewey123]

I have two questions regarding ear/eye protection: when you are hunting, should you still wear ear protection, even if this might inhibit your ability to detect whatever you are after, and secondly, should someone with prescription eyeglasses wear additional eye protection? When I have been to the range, I just wear my regular glasses, is that bad? (BTW, I'm sorry if these are stupid/horribly obvious questions, I only ever shoot when I stay with my grandfather, who literally lives half-way across the country.)

 

[gunlaw]

there is hearing protection that allows you to hear normally but cuts off sound impulses above a certian decible level. some look like ear muffs and some are as small as foam ear plugs. Your prescription glasses may provide some protection however most modern shooting glasses protectan area of your face larger than just your eyes usually fromfrom the top of your nose to the lower forehead and from temple to temple. shop around you can usually find a good pair made from polycarbonate for under 50.00

 

[chevyforlife21]

i say use hearing protection at the range. not huntin you dont fire many many shots like you do at the range. maybe 1 or 2 shots if u acually find your animal. i never use eye protection at all anymore unless im expecting something bad to happen like shooting wierd ammo or a old beat gun or something, partly cuse i wear glasses and cant see my target without them. i wouldnt worry about eye protection to much, hearing is alot more likely to hurt you if you dont protect it.

 

[AKElroy]

I do not use ear or eye protection when hunting anything requiring a rifle, and I do not even recall having ringing ears after a shot. I need to be able to hear to hunt deer. From a stand shooting through a slit, most of the blast & noise is out & away.

I do wear shooting glasses or sun glasses & custom molded ear plugs when dove hunting because I am a bad shot, and a LOT of shells are going to be used. I am a lefty, and my auto shotty's are righties, so plenty of powder residue will find its way into my face.

I double up & wear the plugs and muffs when bench or range shooting or plinking with anything larger than rifle rimfire. I use at least the plugs when plinking with rimfire pistols.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I wear electronic plugs while hunting. I have some hearing loss already and (1) want to keep what hearing I have; and (2) the electronic plugs improve my hearing in the field. I wear shooting glasses as well -- both for maximum protection and to allow me to choose the best lens color for the terrain and lighting conditions.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I do not use ear or eye protection when hunting anything requiring a rifle, and I do not even recall having ringing ears after a shot.

Auditory exclusion only prevents you from hearing the shot, it can't prevent the physical damage.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You can wear electronic plugs, e.g., the Walker Game Ear. This amplifies small sounds slightly but instantly cuts in and muffles the sound "spike" of a gunshot.

 

[ChCx2744]

You should ALWAYS wear eye protection, regardless of what anyone says...Your glasses, if anything, should at least be worn at all times during shooting of any kind...As for ears...When you are at the range, wear ear protection..When hunting...I'd say you should be okay, unless you are shooting a crap load of birds and will be shooting alot...If you are stalking a lone deer or something...Then hell, it shouldn't be THAT much of a problem.

 

[Sharpie1]

Prescription eyeglasses are considered "ok" by most in the context of eye protection for shooting. I always only wear my prescription eyeglasses while shooting - regardless of the gun. If I am shooting a blackpowder rifle or revolver, I make sure I press them up on my face really high - just to "make sure", but I have never perceived them as not offering enough protection.

I always wear hearing protection as well when at the range - but if I am hunting, I never use hearing protection.

If I am shooting with guests or students that I am hosting, these individuals will be wearing both hearing and eye protection - or they won't be shooting. I always keep 2 pairs of inexpensive shooting glasses in ziplock bags in my range bags - and I keep the little orange earplugs and an extra headset in my shooting bag as well for unprepared guests.

 

[Dewey123]

well, that answers my question, thanks everyone. I've only been on this sight for a few days, and I really like the helpful attitude of folks around here, and the willingness to answer questions that might seem obvious to experienced shooters.

 

[bootless]

Always have eye protection. Have ear protection for range. I don't use ear protection while hunting.

 

[chevyforlife21]

no probelm dewey welcome to the best forum.

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm in the habit of wearing Wiley SG-1 goggles/sunglasses all the time outdoors anyway. They are army-approved eyewear for the range, and I have them in prescription and with clear lenses.

Hearing pro? For shooting .22s at jackrabbits, no. For bird hunting, no. For big game hunting where I don't plan on firing more than a couple of shots a year? Maybe I should, but no. All range activity and sustained firing? Yes.

Apparently (I have not yet deployed,) in the army they issue these new earplugs that have a way of allowing normal-level noise but they block high-intensity sound. (My dad's doctor just gave him some to prevent further hearing loss.)

Don't some states ban any electronic hearing device for hunting? I don't know if mine does, it never occurred to me to use one.

 

[danprkr]

Definitely. If I hunted regularly I'd invest a good pair of the ear plugs that close up on the spikes. As more of range guy I do foam plugs and ear muffs both indoor, and just the muffs outdoors.

As to eyes - you may consider having a pair safety prescription glasses made. Then you have the best of both worlds. If money doesn't allow then they make several types of safety glasses - not all of which are marketed to shooters - that go over your regular glasses or clip on to them. Many of them are marketed to construction trades, and meet the same or higher standard that 'shooting' glasses. You probably find them at some of the professional tool outlets. Here in TX I use Texas Tool Traders. Good luck, and protect them eyes and ears.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I use electronic muffs while hunting. They IMPROVE my hearing while protecting my ears. Plus in winter, they help keep my ears warm.

 

[myjudge45410]

I believe in hearing and eye protection all the time when shooting. I have a constant ring in my ears from running heavey equip. and shooting alot when younger. I saw a show about hearing loss and a doctor said if you hear any ringing in your ears after any loud noise, (concerts, equip., shots being fired) you have just experianced hearing lose. I have a pair of NEBO electronic ear muffs that seem to do a good job of blocking the noise of gun shots, but I can hear the other shooters just fine. I would have bought the Walker's Game Ear if I hadn't been planning on the purchase of another pistol, revolver, shotgun, and/or rifle. But again I strongly believe in Eye and Ear protection of some sort.

 

[KenWP]

My hearing aids shut down when I shoot but the bang still bothers me a lot since I suffer from recruitment. When I went to get hearing aids thru Workers Comp they tried to pin it on shooting but lost that one as the wrong ear was worse then if it was from shooting. I have to wear ear plugs even with a 22 now due to the noise being to loud for me. I have alwasy used ear muffs and plugs and still lost my hearing. When hunting I can't wear ear plugs as I have enough trouble hearing anything with out my hearing aids. I shoot maybe 1 shot a year deer hunting anyways.

 

[mustang_steve]

My answer for shooting glasses is I have a set of prescription safety glasses (ANSI spec'd lenses, frame and detachable hard side shields). I oringally bought them when I worked in a factory and got tired of the crappy slip-over safety glasses, and since refuse to have anything less.

It gets some looks from people in the shooting range, when I take my glasses off at the door, snap the side shields in, and then walk on it. A few asked me how much they cost. They aren't cheap though. $200-300 for the frames/shields alone is typical, then add in whatever the lenses come out to. The shields are specific to the frame. An easy way to spot prescription safety glasses is the initials of the Optomitrist that made them will be etched somewhere on the edge of the lenses (insurance reasons).

For hearing protection, look into the earplugs as mentioned earlier in the thread. I used to have a pair, and they're great. Bad part with plugs....easy to lose

 

[mindwip]

I love it when some one says,
"i have not lost any hearing from shooting with out protection."


Cause i always ask,
"oh so you got your ears checked to make sure?"


They reply,
"What, say that again"


Your kidding your self to think shooting with out protection does no harm.:banghead:

 

[MarineOne]

I have a pair of Oakley X-Metal sunglasses with my prescription in them. I get the wrap-around protection I need, they sit high on the face, and I can see very well with them both when I'm shooting or when I need some good eye protection from the sun.

The downside of course is price. The sunglasses by themselves were $330 and the prescription lenses were another $275 - 300, but having them here in Iraq has been a blessing. There is nothing like stepping outside on a clear Iraqi summer day and feel like your eyes are being removed with red hot pokers.



Kris

 

[natman]

I wear large eyeglasses which are fine for eye protection.

I wear muffs and plugs at the range, and a set of these while hunting:

http://www.cabelas.com/p-0006334221904a.shtml

Once properly adjusted they give very realistic sound and shut off when you shoot. I sometimes forget that I have them on. They fold up so you can fit them in a cargo pocket. Highly recommended!

 

[smithmax]

I always wear ears/eyes when at the range. If I'm using my hunting rifle I'll use both earplugs and earmuffs, but for shotguns/pistols/rimfire I'll just use one or the other. My shooting glasses are Bollé with 4 different lens colors that I can switch out depending on what I'm doing. My hearing has been tested and rated excellent, and I intend to keep that way!

On a side note, it amazes me how previous generations paid so little attention to things like hearing protection. I tried flying one of the Pipers I rent without my ANR headphones on for a few minutes and it was so unpleasant that I can't imagine anyone spending any large amount of time in a plane without some sort of hearing protection. Same thing with shooting guns, it's painful to me to shoot without at least something reducing the noise.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I try to wear both ear and eye protection in the field as well as range. Hearing loss from shooting is accumulative, you might not notice damage but, some point down the line you will. The lowly 22LR will damage your ears over time if they are unprotected.
As for glasses, I wear Rx glasses always. Safeties are much better rated if a primer blows or shot from a fellow hunter impacts them in a dove field or duck blind. You only get one shot at seeing and hearing and I want to still be able to to do both at 75.

 

[mcdonl]

I wear ear/eye protection at the range, NOT in the field. I, and everyone I hunt with would LOVE to see someone show up at the hunt with ear protection.... What a laugh that would be

But, I also run with scissors, ride with no helment and smoke cigars and drink scotch.

 

[youngda9]

unless you're blazing away at doves in Argentina or something I wouldn't worry about the rare gunshot noise from hunting.